Flexibility is the key to freighter travel. Ships aren`t bound by rigid schedules, so port time can be extended or limited, stops can be added or dropped. Avoid air fares with penalties for changes.
Aboard Pacific Span, it was a hike up and down stairs (elevators are rare on freighters). Freighter cruising is not recommended for people with handicaps, those older than 80 or active passengers. Take books, games and a radio/tape player. Good walking shoes are a must for negotiating stairways and slippery decks.
Medical: Under Maritime Law, ships with fewer than 12 passengers need no ship`s doctor. Take seasickness medication; the ride can be rockier than cruise ships.
Ivaran Lines: Ivaran`s Americana is a popular choice with the freighter crowd; up to 88 passengers are accommodated in luxury comparable to upscale cruise ships. Solo passengers pay no surcharge. The Americana carries cargo on 46-day round trips from New York to South America. Call 800-451-1639.
My booking was through Freighter World Cruises, 180 S. Lake Ave., No. 335, Pasadena, Calif. 91101; 818-449-3106. It publishes the twice-monthly Freighter Space Advisory; subscription is $27 a year.
