More and more holidaymakers are looking for a
different kind of cruise experience, away from the huge
juggernaut cruise vessels, crowded by thousands of passengers
and far from the traditional way of travelling by sea.
Grimaldi are an Italian family owned company and
is one on Italy’s leading ship owners. They have been involved
in passenger business since the early 50’, first with regular
line service across the Atlantic, then for more than 30 years
with Mediterranean cruise operations and since 1999 with the car
ferry services between Italy, Spain, Malta and Tunisia.
Grimaldi started to offer passenger
accommodation on our cargo vessels in 1989, it started with the
Repubblica di Genova running circular voyages from Europe to
West Africa and Brazil. Today we offer Freighter Cruises on 32
of over 50 vessels. Destinations include Europe, the
Mediterranean Sea, South America and West Africa.
There are many one way options available.
Departures are frequent and on regular basis, many weekly with
fixed day departures.
The vessels fly the Italian or the Swedish flag.
On the Italian flag vessels, the majority, the master and some
officers are Italians and the food is Italian.
The accommodation available vary according to
the type of vessel, from the inside cabin with a bed and an
upper berth to the owner’s cabin with separate day room. All
cabins have private facilities (generally shower and WC). All
cabins and areas designated to passengers are air-conditioned.
The vessels have an elevator to reach the deck where the
passenger accommodation is located. The maximum of passengers a
cargo vessel can carry is 12, but not all of our vessels reach
that capacity.
We accept passengers up to 89 years of age, but
passengers 79 years or older will need a doctor’s certificate
stating that they are fit to travel on a cargo vessel. All
passengers need to be in good health and to have an insurance
coverage for accidents, illness and medical assistance abroad.
One of the great features Grimaldi offers, is
the possibility to carry passenger accompanied vehicles (cars,
caravan, camping cars, busses and motorcycles).
Travelling on a cargo vessel is different from
any other kind of voyage. On a cargo ship, freight has the
priority. The passenger is, in a certain way, a paying guest,
that has to adapt to the life on board the cargo vessel. The
service on board is simple. sometimes your cabin may not be made
up. During peak working periods, the master and the crew may not
have much time to spare to look after the passengers. The food
is prepared by a standard navy cook and is prepared for the
requirements and the preference of the people working on board.
The duration of the calls is determined by the volume of cargo
to be unloaded and loaded and can be short or long, during the
day or during the night.
But travelling on cargo vessels will give you
other satisfactions. You will learn about what working on board
means, you will enjoy a journey on the high sea similar to what
it was in the past (but still travelling in today’s comfort).
