Grimaldi Lines ??

[Corky]

I'm looking for info on Grimaldi Lines.  Specifically the Euro-Aegean Cruise and the Euro-Med Cruise. If anyone has sailed on either of these, please let me know.  If you have any pictures of the accommodations on any of the four ships assigned to the Euro-Aegean cruise I would like to see them.  Any info will be appreciated.

Tnx, Corky

[Steve]

Hi Corky

Have you seen the Grimaldi website?

[Corky]

Thanks for the reply Steve!

I have spent the last month looking at all the freighter cruise info on the net.  I have read every word on the Grimaldi site as well as all the agents that handle them.  I have looked at every photo of the Grimaldi ships that I can find.  There are photos of most of the ships that carry passingers.  There are not however any inside photos of any of the four ships that are used on the Euro-Aegean route.  My question arrises from the ship lines description of the passinger accomodations on these four ship, "The Line has advised us the furniture in the cabins and the public areas are simpler than that of the ships that serve the Northern Europe/Mediterranean routing".  The accomodations on the Euro-Med route look vere nice, but I would like to see some photos of the Euro-Aegean ships with "simpler" furnishings.  I contacted Grimaldi directly and was told they did not have any photos of the ships in questions.  I have contacted three agents and they have no further info either.

Tnx, Corky

[Steve]

Hmm ..

Well, you have already done everything that I could suggest - so let's hope that someone reads this who has done the trip.

I can't say that it's something I would worry too much about personally - for me, the most important consideration would be does the voyage match my requirements, in terms of ports visited etc - and is the fare a good daily rate?

Grimaldi are very good value compared to most shipping lines, so I suppose most people would be prepared to accept slight compromises on things like furnishings.

Steve

[Corky]

Thanks again Steve!

Slight compromises on things like furnishings will not be a problem if that is all it amounts to.  The trip is 28 days and I just want to make sure that we will be comfortable.  They (Grimaldi) do not have TV's, VCR's, DVD's or refrigerators in the cabins.  I can overcome most of that with my laptop, the refrigerator is a problem.
I use insulin and for that long of a trip it should be refrigerated.  I am trying to get Grimaldi to put a mini-frig in the cabin.  I am willing to pay an additional 50 euro to get it for our trip and they get to keep the frig.  Mini-frig's here in the US go for about $60 US.  Seems like a good deal to me.

Tnx, Corky

[Steve]

Ahh, yes - I can understand your concerns now. Good luck with that - please post back and let us know how it works out for you.

Have you seen a website called Freighter Travel Review?

Do a search for "freighter travel review" in google and you will find it.

In the voyage logs section there is an article about a voyage on a Grimaldi ship - no pictures of cabins, but some interesting extra info on facilities available etc.

Steve

[Corky]

Thanks Steve!

After much searching I found the artical and found it very interesting.  It has giving me renewed interest in the trip and renewed faith in Grimaldi Lines.  It looks like it will be about mid 2006 before the trip comes to fruition.  I will keep the forum up to date.  If you run accros any further info on Grimaldi trips, please let me know.

Tnx, Corky

[Corky]

Matz,  Thanks for responding to my post.  It is never to late to inform others about your experience.  My wife and I have postponed that trip and this year (Septemberf 30) will be going insted on the CSAV Homburgo from Port Everglades, Flordia, USA thru the Panama Cannel and down the coast of South America and return.  Sorry to here that you had problems with Grimaldi Lines.  From the personal stories I have read, the trip reports and the emails I have received from other travelers on Grimaldi I must say that you are in a minority.  The 28 day trip from Velencia Spain to England and back down and thru the mediterranean sounds vary interesting and the cost is less than $100 USD per day, which is about on a par with most freighter cruises.  The agency I have always dealt with (Freighter World Cruises) always requires a 25% down payment and full payment 60 days prior to sailing.

Thanks Again, Corky

[Frachtschiff]

As much as I know the vessels on the Euro Aegean are all pure car carriers (no containers on deck as with most other Grimaldi-vessels. The vessels have outside cabins which can be used as single, double (two beds) or even 3 and 4-berth cabins. I just heard today from a passenger who did enjoy his trip from Antwerp to Salerno. If you ever go in September be aware that a lot of Grimaldi-vessels go into drydock in August, so routes and sailing dates are mixed around quite a bit. June or July is in this respect better to plan.

The big advantage I see in the Grimaldi freighters is, that the cabins all all public rooms normally are on the same deck and that you have a lot of open deck space, something which is not common anymore on a modern container vessel.

Urs

[Corky]

The Gran Bretagna, Grande Mediterraneo and Grande Europa are sisterships in the Grande "A" class. These ships were built in 1998 and 1999 and their gross tonnage is 51,799 GRT. Each ship has one outside Owner's Cabin with one double bed and a separate sitting room; there is one large window in each room, and plenty of drawers and hanging space. The sitting room has a sofa, armchair, table, and desk with a chair, and the bathroom has a bathtub. There is also a single outside cabin with a single bed, a sitting area with a sofa, and a bathroom with a shower. Also available are 3 inside double cabins with lower and upper berths, and bathrooms with showers.

[Frachtschiff]

On the Pure Care Transport Carriers of the Grande Benelux Class one can book single cabins. Grimaldi does offer those cabins officially with a "DE1" fare.

Urs

[lunamara]

I have had a lot of experience with Grimaldi Lines. They are among my favorites.

 They have great routes, interesting ship configuration and operations, excellent food, and free wine at lunch and supper. The prices are competative. The cabins are simple but comfortable. They are not by far the only ships that don't have refrigerators and/or dvd players and TVs in the cabins. Passengers are welcome to put medications and even special things in the cook's refrigerator with permission.  Books, dvds etc. are available in the lounge.

The crew will be Italian Captains, and beyond that it can vary from mostly Italian to  Indians or Phillipino. The Captain sets the mood and usually they are quite friendly. These ships frequently carry cadets.

A freighter traveller with many expectations  may be dissappointed on any ship. Even the booking agent can't predict if the captain and crew are friendly, if the weather will be good if there is lots of port time and so on. It is a gamble in some respects. It is also a privilege to be allowed to enter the working ship's world. And remember, the crew has no say if passengers are allowed or not.    
 

[lunamara]

Matz
- Amazing details.

I am a bit more relaxed in my travel. Warm beer, wine or not, cranky captain - I still love the sea and never had a bad voyage - including pirate attacks, "widow maker" storms, fires on board, etc.
 
I have been on 58 voyages on 37 different ships. That doesn't count 33 cruises on 26 different cruise ships (usually now to get to a freighter port if I need to catch a cargo ship).

[lunamara]

The sad reality is that these days the ownership country has little to do with what nationality of crew one will find aboard. The shipping lines are always interested in cutting costs. That is why they are increasingly having Phillipino, Indian, and former Soviet Union crews. So in booking it is fair to ask what the Nationality of Capt., officers, and crew is. Also I like to know if other passengers are booked.

 I expect nothing so I am never dissappointed and maybe 90% of the time pleased in one way or another by what I find. Having said that, Freighter travel not at all a bargin way to travel. The ship and experience is the destination for me.

I would advise the new freighter traveler that this is a mode of travel that is full of un-predictable variables. It is an unusual adventure. Seems to me if one has bad experiences with it one should fly.

  By the way, the cruise ships many times are MUCH cheaper than the freighters if you go at re-positioning time in space available. Last year I went Houston to Lisbon - with nice port visits enroute. 15 days for $800.  

[lunamara]

The readers of this forum can decide who they think is making "stupid statements." And of course such as you, can have their own opinions.

Proficiency in English and cohesiviness of crew frequently depend on the nationality represented.

Each adventure such as you mention, is a unique experience. Some are open to all but freighter travel travel is somewhat limited  (and expensive).

I stand on my statement that ANY ship, Company, crew, etc. can be good sometimes or bad sometimes. To bash across the board is narrow- minded. Again I say flexibility in expectations is part of the freighter travel experience.

On this forum many readers are new to the cargo-ship world. It is good to share our info but with a dose of reality about the limits of planning the ideal trip.

The crew, particularly the Captain, has no incentive to be friendly to passengers who in many cases might be a huge annoyance and even cause extra work. They don't get to decide if they want this - or get extra pay for this so it comes down to their personalities. They can provide the best fun you have ever had and become friends for life OR make it miserable. Most is somewhere between.