Remember back in February I posted about my proposed trip by container ship to Australia? I then further investigated my fears about this, especially given the pirate activity in the Indian Ocean.
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| Photo courtesy of Darren B. Hillman at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dazzy1960/5922809930/sizes/m/in/photostream/ Not my exact ship, but the same Container company |
Anyway, after discussions with the shipping agent and a long think, plus that discussion with my father, I decided to go for it! So today, I have placed a deposit for a proposed July 2013 departure date. However, having looked at finances, I will not be going as far as Australia. I will take the following route:
m/v Ever Chivalry:
Itinerary:Hamburg
Thamesport (2 Days)
Piräus (10 Days)
Suezkanal (12 Days)
Jeddah (15 Days)
Colombo (23 Days)
Tanjung Pelepas (28 Days)
Kaohsiung (34 Days)
Ningpo (36 Days)
Shanghai (37 Days)
Taipei (39 Days)
Hongkong (41 Days)
Thamesport (2 Days)
Piräus (10 Days)
Suezkanal (12 Days)
Jeddah (15 Days)
Colombo (23 Days)
Tanjung Pelepas (28 Days)
Kaohsiung (34 Days)
Ningpo (36 Days)
Shanghai (37 Days)
Taipei (39 Days)
Hongkong (41 Days)
Yantian (42 Days)
Tanjung Pelepas (46 Days)
Colombo (50 Days)
Jeddah (56 Days)
Suezkanal (58 Days)
Piräus (60 Days)
Rotterdam (68 Days)
Hamburg (70 Days)
Tanjung Pelepas (46 Days)
Colombo (50 Days)
Jeddah (56 Days)
Suezkanal (58 Days)
Piräus (60 Days)
Rotterdam (68 Days)
Hamburg (70 Days)
In purple is the route I will take – so in total: 31 days from Piraeus to Hong Kong and spend a few days in Hong Kong.
Looking at this itinerary, the longest stretch at sea will be between Jeddah and Colombo (8 days) and then Tanjung Pelepas to Kaohsiung (6 days).
How will I spend my days I wonder? Well, don’t forget I’ve already travelled by container ship across the Atlantic, so I am aware of what to expect. It’s a good job I now have a Kindle to store loads of good reading material before I go – plus write up a fantastic log of my journey!
Am I excited? Oh yes! My next question: does anybody know anybody in Hong Kong who’d like to show me around? Or any idea of affordable accommodation?
And if any publication is interested in featuring my journey, do please get in touch. I would love to hear from you.
Now that sounds like one crazy adventure. I might have been up for that in a younger day, but not now. Besides, I’m not a real fan of ocean traveling. I’ve never tried it, but it kind of puts me off.
Have a great adventure.
Lee
Wrote By Rote
Yes, I guess if you’re not a fan of the sea, then it wouldn’t appeal. For me, part of the adventure of travel is the journey – I am not an A-B kind of person. And I can’t stand cruise ships and all the pretentious people on them – much rather get down and dirty with the crew!
Hi
It sounds brilliant – I quite fancy this myself – feeling inspired now
T
Oh jeeze now I am going to have to read all about your trip across the Atlantic! I am suppose to be working on my own blog today but you have me completely distracted!
Hahah! Yes, my Atlantic trip was good too. More passengers, but good as well. I loved travelling in this way. I hope one day to do it again. Merchant seafarers are very special people – almost spiritual, yet tough people too.
Eye-opening. I didn’t even know this was a thing. Glad you made it through safely!
Thanks Kevin. Yes, container ship travel is a wonderful way to ‘cruise’