Working Ships

There is a cruise to suit everyone – and if the latest super-liners aren’t what you want, have you considered a cruise on a "working ship"?

You can help the crew on one of the three unique Star Clipper ships, and you can also take a cruise on a commercial vessel. A cruise on a working ship is a completely different experience from the one you would get on an ocean, sailing or river ship, simply because they are working – travelling on a journey for a practical commercial purpose rather than just for the passengers’ pleasure. The ships tend to be smaller and offer a relaxed way of life onboard. Working ships also give passengers the opportunity to meet local people, and visit smaller ports, as well as experience a whole new working environment.

Three companies in the Cruise Information Service have working ships:

Curnow Shipping

St Helena, in the tropical South Atlantic Ocean, has been British for more than 350 years. It can only be reached by sea – a 14 day journey from the UK, and five days from Cape Town. There is no airport on the 47 square mile island. The St Helena Line operates a regular service to the island from Cardiff, carrying passengers and cargo. The visits by RMS St Helena are the only regular, scheduled link to the outside world. The ship is one of the last scheduled passenger services anywhere in the world, and also one of the few Royal Mail Ships remaining in service.

St Helena is best known as the final place of exile for Napoleon Bonaparte, but it has also been visited by Edmund Halley (viz. Halley’s Comet) who built an observatory there, and Captain Bligh, who introduced breadfruit to the island in 1792.

RMS St Helena is 6767 tonnes and carries 1500 tonnes of cargo, 53 officers and crew and 128 passengers. There is a swimming pool, library, comfortable lounges and a traditional dining room. There are organised deck tournaments for games such as quoits, shuffleboard and deck tennis and also clay pigeon shooting. Evening entertainment of film shows, dances, parties and quizzes are also arranged.

Various cruise options are available on the St Helena:

• Southbond - Sail to Cape Town from either Cardiff or Tenerife, calling at Ascension Island.  Spend two or eight nights on St Helena before rejoining the ship bound for the Cape.
• Northbound - Join RMS St Helena in Cape Town to cruise to Cardiff.  In addition to the two to eight day stay on St Helena the ship will also call at Ascension, Tenerife, and, subject to cargo requirements, Banjul and Vigo.  Northbound fly cruise packages start at £2859 per person.
• Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha - Each January the RMS St Helena sails from Cape Town to Tristan Da Cunha, the most isolated inhabited island in the world.  Flying to and from Cape Town, packages for this unique voyage start at £2621 per person.
• Cape Town to St Helena - As an alternative to the longer sea voyages, it's possible to cruise for five days between South Africa and St. Helena, spend between two and 12 nights on the island before heading back to Cape Town.  Fly/sail/fly packages are available from £1905 per person.

 Safmarine

Safmarine currently offers accommodation of a high standard for a small number of passengers on six of its cargo containerships. More ships are currently being upgraded for this purpose. Fares vary from voyage to voyage according to direction, time of travel, and type of cabin but are based on an average formula of US$100 per person per day, inclusive of all meals. Spirits and wines are sold to passengers, not only at duty-free prices but also at very low crew rates.

Europe-South Africa-Europe

Four Safmarine containerships make regular scheduled voyages between main ports in the UK and Northern Europe, Canary Islands and the South African ports of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. The ships are fully air-conditioned, fitted with stabilisers and all six of the twin bed cabins have en-suite facilities. All cabins have a TV and video, and there are extensive video libraries. The ships have an outdoor swimming pool and sheltered sundecks, and a lift to all decks. Passengers dine at the Captain’s table.

Europe-Caribbean-Europe

The MV Author makes round trip voyages approximately every 42 days between the UK, North Europe and ports in the Caribbean.  Ten passengers are carried in five twin-bedded cabins.  There is a large indoor swimming pool.

South Africa/Far East/South Africa

A new addition to the range of passenger services is the container ship SA VAAL which offers accommodation for up to ten passengers between South Africa, South East Asia, Japan and Korea on a round trip basis of 60 days.  The ship is air-conditioned and there is a swimming pool.

Norwegian Coastal Voyage

Every day since 189e a Norwegian Coastal Voyage (NCV) ship has set sail along the Norwegian Coast carrying passengers, cargo and essential supplies for small hamlets, towns and island communities on the Norwegian coastline.  NCV has three types of ships:

• Traditional ships - 30 years old with smallish cabins and around 160 to 230 berths.  About half the cabins share communal shower and toilet facilities.
• Mid-generation ships - these succeeded the traditional ships in the 1980's and have larger cabins, and easier loading access for cargo.  They also have better facilities such as restaurants, coffee shops and lounges.  There are 322 berths, all with private shower/WC's and capacity for 40 cars.
• New-generation ships - these have hydraulic doors for quieter loading of cargo.  There are 490 berths, space for 50 cars and facilities such as a library, exercise rooms and sauna.  There are lifts and special cabins for disabled passengers.

NCV's prices all include flights between the UK and Norway, but it is also possible to take a ferry to Norway rather than fly.  There is a choice of four voyages.

• An 11-night journey, plus one night in Bergen, travelling from the south of Norway to the country's northernmost ports such as Kirkness on the Russian border. 
• The ship then returns south stopping at different ports, islands and fjords en route.  Prices form £980 per person.
• A half voyage offers the option of spending five nights on the ship and two ashore, flying into Bergen or Oslo.  Prices are from £1,395 per person.
• A mini voyage of a four night mid-week break is available in spring, late summer and autumn on NCV's new generation ships.  Ports of call include Kristiansund, Molde and Trondheim.  Prices start at £399 per person.

General Information

Summer sailings offer the opportunity to experience 24 hours of daylight once north of the Arctic Circle.  On winter sailings from mid-November to mid-January the sun stays below the horizon north of the Arctic Circle and daylight is therefore a form of twilight.  This is when passengers will have the best chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

There is no commercial entertainment on board NCV's ships, with the emphasis being on "getting away from it all". 

There are usually "no supplement" holidays for single travellers on mid and new generation ships.

Couples celebrating an anniversary during their voyage in April, May and September can qualify for a 10% discount, with complimentary flowers and champagne.

For further details on cruises, contact David Brown Travel

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