Facilities and Food

Although the mantra on freighters tends to be “the cargo comes first”, this is not to say that passengers’ comforts and well-being are overlooked.

The variety and extent of facilities on board vary greatly from ship to ship and from company to company, but the following amenities are fairly standard.

Passenger Lounge

Sometimes combined with, or adjacent to the restaurant–with TV, video and/or DVD, music centre, a selection of games, books, videos/DVDs and CDs. Bear in mind that on, for example, a German ship, the bulk of books and videos are likely to be in the German language; however previous English-speaking passengers may well have donated their unwanted items to the libraries for the use of future voyagers–you might like to do the same! On some ships the lounge incorporates a bar, on others you are invited to share the Officers’ bar. In any case, although the range of drinks available may be somewhat limited, the prices are duty-free and usually profit-free too.

We are indebted to one of our regular voyagers, Mary Sketch, for permission to reproduce extracts from her journals.

Swimming Pool

Not necessarily up to the standard of the Olympic-size pool in your local lido, but very refreshing nonetheless after a hard day sunbathing in the tropics. Some vessels have an indoor pool and even a sauna. Deck chairs are provided and if you are in a solitary mood, you should be able to find a secluded spot on one of the decks well away from your fellow passengers (all eleven of them!).

“After lunch it was too hot, being in the low 90s, to sit in the sun so I went down to the pool on the 1st deck. The awning covers the benches and half the pool so there is some welcome shade. Nobody else seemed to want to swim so I had the deck to myself for the whole afternoon. It was bliss, sloshing to and fro with the swell. The water temperature was perfect and it was only the fact that I had to get cleaned up for our ‘happy hour’ that I got out.”

Fitness Room

Usually shared with the crew and with variable types of equipment, such as an exercise bike, rowing machine and a table tennis table. Since many ships don’t have lifts, the three-times daily stair negotiation from cabin to restaurant and back again will probably be all the exercise you need. For those who like a long walk, subject to the design of the ship and the Master’s permission, it may be possible to circumnavigate the ship on the container deck.

Laundry

Your steward will normally change bed linen and towels at regular intervals, but for personal items there is a self-service launderette, shared with the Officers. Since they have limited off-watch periods when they can make use of it, you may be asked to refrain from doing your smalls at certain times.

“I decided to master the intricacies of the Laundry Room. How any washing machine can keep working while the ship is in motion is a miracle, but it seemed to manage it better than I did. An iron and ironing board were too much of a challenge–it would be literally dashing away with a smoothing iron–so I reckoned that if the sea is this crumpled, I shall be also.”

Meals

Most often taken with the Officers and sometimes the Captain in the Officers’ Restaurant. Generally the passengers have their own table and often the same steward who looks after your cabin will serve you in the restaurant, except, of course, when a buffet is laid out.

Meal times are usually earlier than you may be used to–this is to accommodate the routine of the Officers’ watch times since there are not enough crew on board to cater for separate passenger sittings. For example, breakfast may be 07.00–08.30, lunch 11.30–12.30 and Dinner 17.00–18.00.

The cuisine is usually simple, plentiful and with no frills and will reflect the nationality of the ship, Officers and/or the cook. Don’t expect the choice or variety that a cruise ship, hotel or restaurant offer; do be prepared to be adventurous!

“The Sunday evening meal is traditionally the best of the week. The menu was a choice of three starters–soup, melon or corn on the cob, then steak and jacket potatoes, onion rings and mushrooms, with a choice of salads, followed by homemade meringues with strawberry cream. If you still had room there was a variety of cheese and biscuits and coffee (forgot to mention that we have complimentary wine as well on Sundays.)!”

For in-between-meals snacks and drinks, there is normally a pantry available for passengers to help themselves.

Many ships hold a deck barbecue–weather permitting–when you have a chance to mix with not only the Officers, but also the crew.

“This evening was to be Barbecue Night on the covered Bridge Deck. The rain fell all afternoon but I was informed that this rain in the tropics always cleared away and it would be a beautiful evening. The food was excellent with lovely salads, pre-cooked chicken drumsticks and steaks, lamb chops and sausages. There was chilled white wine, beer and soft drinks and everyone came–and still the rain cascaded down and sloshed up and down the deck. As darkness fell, so the storm heightened–lightning substituted for fireworks and thunder enhanced the CD player. And then the ship rolled slightly on a bigger wave and a wall of water cascaded right under the cover. Everyone and everything was positively drenched. There was no way we could pretend the gravy was a bit thin tonight–the remains of the food were positively floating in inches of water. It may not have been the best barbecue I have ever been to, but I think it will probably be the most memorable!”

Ship Shape