Yarco

A Very Good Evening Abarb, (UK time lol)

Yes it sounds like you will have other things on your mind next week, so i will look forward to your voyage report in the near future.

Best Regards

Mark :)

Hello Yarco,

Good to hear from you and read your comments and comparisons.

No doubt you are correct in what you say but it still comes down to a difference at the present time from what it started out as.

It would seem to me, that none of the profits from passengers fares are being returned in upkeep and quality of food.

Ron and I went prepared that we were travelling on a working vessel and all that that entailed. I dont want to make a big deal out of the fact that the service and food and state of accomodation did not live up to previous reports, I just think that intending travellers should be aware of the current situation so that they will not be disappointed.

We were fortunate to share the voyage with two other really nice people.

The four of us had a lot of fun and and an added bonus was that one passenger was moving from France to New Calendonia so came with a projector, a hundred or so movies, and some wonderful music on CD's.

It sure helped to pass the time and enhance the ambiance.

 

Abarb

Hi again Abarb,

i would love to hear a more detailed report of your voyage, regarding relations with the officers & crew. Weather and sea conditions, transversing the Panama Canal as well as the Pacific Ocean, ( i'm totally envious of that fact ) as well as other aspects of the ship. Would it also be possible for you to post a few photo's i personally would love to see them.

Best Wishes

Mark :)

Abarb,

I've been waiting with eager anticipation, your report of your voyage aboard a container ship from Tibury to Sydney. So it was good to see you have posted a breif over view of your trip.

What is of interest to me is your views on the ships interior & catering, and how it seems to conflict with other reports, and views you have read. From my own personal experiences, my opionion would be the the same as yours, as for the 1st vessel i travelled on, (except for the catering which was silver service) as she was nearly 30yrs old, we even broke down 3 times & on one occasion in danger of going on the rocks.

The 2nd vessel being a CMA CGM ship would be easier to compare, 'Nabucco' at the time was less than 3 months old & in tip top condition. Again silver service was enjoyed, as i was lucky enough to share the same table as the Master & his Officers. The ship had a fully fitted gymnasium and passenger lounge & the crew was French officers with Romainian crew.

Possibly the difference between my voyage and yours, would be that 'Nabucco' was deployed on the lucrative FAL route between europe & asia, were the ships are the latest in the fleet, 6 new ships this year with another 6 planned for next, each bigger than their predessesor ( CMA CGM operate i believe around 20 ships on this line FAL 1-4) & 'Matisse' is deployed on their round the world route, which maybe not so profitable.

Kind Regards

Mark:)

Having just made my maiden cruise with P&O aboard Ventura, and having already competed two line voyages aboard container ships, from what i have experienced it's much more basic to seperate the two.

Firstly as i have said before elsewhere, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, & there are more than the odd cruise ships afloat that are ugly looking and do not compare in looks to a Freighter.

No a cruise is holiday aboard an entertainment complex which in reality as no real bearing on being on a ship at sea, the other is an authentic experience aboard a real ship, where you are in close contact daily with real sailors with free access to the bridge, & to me it is as simple as that.

Mark

No offence was meant by this post, just my own personal observations :D

I am quite keen to try a freighter trip. Even my wife is keen. She thinks that one of the French ships would be good, both for the food & the chance to learn a bit more French. We have learned to speak a bit of Indonesian while sailing with Holland America!

 

Graham.

Graham, I was lucky enough to do a line voyage with CMA CGM, the food was indeed excellent, & served with silver service. Also the French crew were very friendly and pleasant throughout the trip, the captain even going as far as to lend me some of his dvd's to watch, i can wholeheartedly recommend them.

Mark :)

Many of us lament the ugly apartment-barge look of today's cruise ships & the loss of the elegant style of the ships of yore. It struck me that there cannot be anything afloat that is uglier than a freighter or a container ship, not that this would detract from the experience of course. Is there an appreciation for the look of these 'working' ships & is it something that crosses the mind of those who frequent these vessels?

 

Graham.

Graham,

You are right about one thing, ships of yesteryear having so much more character than most of todays vessels. Having said that, for myself a freighter & / or container ship has so much more kudos than any cruise ship, in my opinion these vessels do have a beauty all of their own.

Some of the modern cruise ships now being built give no thought to good looks, any ship when viewed from a certain angle could look ugly, but some of the colour schemes painted on their hulls dose nothing for their appearance.

I will make my maiden cruise aboard P&O's Ventura this summer, and i chose this vessel as much for her looks ( a good looking ship imho ) as much as for the intinery or onboard facility's. So when thinking about travelling wether on a container ship or cruise ship, looks do come into it.

Mark :)