On holiday? Take the freighter
Antwerp native opens first Belgian agency for travel between containers
- by Amber Vuylsteke, Het Laatste Nieuws, 20/02/2019
Travelling on a cargo ship. It may not be what you think of when you plan your summer holiday. Yet in April the first Belgian travel agency that organises cargo ship trips opens. "On the ship there is no internet connection, you can finally really unwind without those constant smartphone notifications".
We already knew that we all travel too much by plane. But who would have thought that a cargo ship would become the alternative? "We fill up empty cabins and let passengers hitch a ride, as it were," explains Joris Van Bree, the Antwerp native who opened the first freighter travel agency. The price tag? On average between 75 and 100 euro per day. A trip by freighter starts at six days and can last up to 119 days.
"Where you want to depart and arrive you choose yourself. It can be the same port so that you actually make a loop, but only an outward journey is also possible. Then you can travel further around from there, or return by a different means of transport."
When Joris turned 40, he was faced with a new chapter in his life: should he return to working in the graphics sector like in previous years or opt for something completely different? In search of space and quiet to think, the Antwerp native boarded a 300-metre freighter with destination New York. "I was on board with five other passengers. Normally there is room for a maximum of twelve tourists, but you can also be the only one. At each stop new people can board, which makes for a changing group. And there were still the 32 crew members."
Travelling with a cargo ship also means: no internet. "Without a smartphone, it frees up an insane amount of time, ideal for people who are looking for answers," he says. "Think of artists or scientists, they need inspiration and need to be able to concentrate. On a freighter you can retreat for a while, you live alone with the air and water. When we talk about age, there are three categories: 20′ers, 40′ers and 60+'ers. These are groups that are in a pivotal moment, they need to reflect on what they want to do with their lives." Despite the lack of WIFI connection, a container ship is not lacking in luxury. As a passenger, you can enjoy all the facilities available to the crew. Such as a swimming pool, sauna, library and gym. "You have to consider that certain crew sometimes don't come ashore for months at a time. Then the two most important things are relaxation and good food. After the captain, the chef is the most important person on the ship."
Travelling on a freighter is not comparable to a cruise, according to Joris. "It has little to do with each other. On a cruise you are one of 5,000 tourists, whereas on a cargo ship you are unique. You get a nice insight into the life of a sailor and you have access to places that are otherwise off-limits, such as the wheelhouse and the engine room."
The travel agency Joris founded is called CptnZeppos, a reference to the childhood series from the 1960s. With his start-up, he won a Bertje in 2018, an annual award that helps innovative entrepreneurs start their own business. CptnZeppos offers 150 itineraries worldwide, including 37 departing from Antwerp. The full program will be available from April on the website www.cptnzeppos.com
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