Anyone travelled between continents by ship?
 

Was wondering if it was an option nowadays to get a berth on a ship, preferably a working berth, between say Aussie and South America.

The plan would be to get bike and myself on same ship and work my way across. I have heard stories of people doing this, but I can't recall where I heard these stories or where to begin to do it myself.

Has anyone done this or have any idea how to approach this?

Shipping bike/self
 

Look at "Shipping Agents" in your phone book or on web for agents for freight lines that operate from your area. I took a Yugolinia freighter (some years ago) from NY to Marseille- cheap and good, although it was supposed to go NY to Tangier in 10 days, and took 38 to get to Marseille....

As shipping has converted from breakbulk to containers the crews have gotten a LOT smaller, and port time is MUCH less.

A few travel agents might be helpful--get on the phone and start asking questions and for referrals.

good luck.

Matt, I think you're about 75 years too late to do what you want to do.

I shipped my moto by sea from New York to Southhampton, England a few years ago, on the Cunard ferry 'Queen Elizabeth II' - but that boat has since stopped running on that route. I don't know if the replacement boat has a garage on it or not - I don't think it does.

It wasn't a working voyage - in fact, one had to wear a Tux to dinner each night.

Hi!

Grimaldi lines took me and my bike from Dakar to Hamburg this April.
Great adventure, but i don't think one can find work on the vessel.

Cheers,
Adam.

Ships and passengers
 

The old "Passenger Cargo" ships vanished when the International Conventions added the requirement that all ships carrying passengers must also have a doctor on board. That has been in force since sometime in the 60's.
If you want to work your passage on a ship you could try the International Mariners Union and get registered with them, most mariners are hired through the Union hall. With the newer requirements for security especially for entry into the US you may have to do considerable paperwork to prove who you are.
With modern cargo handling systems and ship automation there are few jobs available for people to walk on board and do without some special qualifications and experience.

a seamenscertificate is the way to go i am afraid..
From all my searchings and shippings that I had in the past years (i.e.since 1982) I have only been able to travel as a so called work-a-way from USA to New Zealand and from Australia to the USA. That was on the Colombus Lines. Never found any other possibility and always had to go as a paying passenger for the rest. But am not sure if Colombus Lines (= Hamburg Sud) still accepts workaways as unfortunately there have been too many bad experiences where the work-a-ways turned out to be sleep-a -ways

Hi Adam , was there any problem in bike and rider travelling on the same ship ?
And is this normal policy for Grimaldi lines ?
I researched this last year for a possible trip from Canada to Germany and although a berth on a freighter was easy ,it proved impossible to take the bike as well .

Grimaldi (www.grimaldi.co.uk) has a West africa and a South America service with RoRo ships with accomodation for 12 passengers. One can opt for either just freighting the vehicle or travelling with the same ship. Pro is that for the last option the bike (or car or truck or whatever) is seen as handluggage (i.e. cheaper and no port,storage,handling charges etc as you have to drive it on /off board yourself)

NZ - Japan possible
 

We had a mate staying that booked a cabin on a freighter going from Tauranga, new Zealand to Japan and only had to pay an extra $100 to put his bike on the boat...

I believe that you can do the same NZ - South America from the feedback Daniel got from the shipping agent - have yet to hear of anyone doing it though...