The CMA CGM Christophe Colomb can carry up to 13,300 twenty-foot equivalent containers and ten passengers. It is one of the largest container ships in the world, too big to fit through the Panama Canal.
This vessel pulled into Southampton yesterday evening – it’s the ship’s first visit to the port.
The world's largest passenger carrying container ship / Photo by Stephen Chapman
Capable of carrying 10 passengers to the Far East
Marginally bigger that the world’s largest passenger ship – Oasis of the Seas, it measures 1,198ft by 168ft (that’s 40 London Routemaster buses long and the width of a Boeing 747) and makes 69-day voyages along the Europe/Asia trade route. There are four double bed cabins, one twin cabin, a dedicated passenger lounge, library, outside terrace, swimming pool and gym for a total of 10 passengers.
The CMA CGM site says:
“For vacationers looking for an authentic travel adventure far off the beaten path, CMA CGM organizes uniquely exciting freighters on board its container ships.”
CMA CGM is the third largest container line in the world and once included a number of great ocean liners in its fleet. In commemoration of that history chairman Jacques Saadé decided some years ago to carry passengers on their voyages around the world.
World's largest passenger carrying container ship pulls into Southampton / Photo by Stephen Chapman
The fare for a full 69-day Far East round voyage from Southampton or Rotterdam is about £6,275 per person for a double cabin. One-way and part voyages are also available. It’s not particularly easy to find out information about the opportunities available to aboard these type of cargo ships but it seems that The Cruise People is a good place to start.
Container ships seem to be a great intercontinental mode of transport – and, as long as you don’t think of them as transport alone, good value for money as well.
I met a chap recently who’d been on the road for 32 years. He’d given up flying and used container ships to cover large expanses of ocean. For the price ($90-$100 per day of voyage typically), you get your own private suite with 3 meals a day served to you, invitations to the bridge to socialise with the officers who are usually happy for the opportunity to spice up their job with some new company, trips to the engine room, etc.
If you totalled up the equivalent number of hotels nights and restaurant meals, suddenly it doesn’t seem so expensive any more. I can’t wait to give it a try…
Great insight, thanks Tom. I think catching a ride on a cargo ship is a fascinating prospect. It’s clearly not ideal for the short-term traveller but an interesting option for anyone on a longer journey.
I am very interested indeed in container ships. However, I think the estimate of $100 per day is waaay out. If it were that much, I’d be on those ships like a rat up a drainpipe. However, a fair bit, but not too much, research told me that it was much closer to £150 per day or more. Admittedly we were travelling at the time and therefore research wasn’t easy, but we had a big ringaround session too. The short answer is – these are marketed as private cruises and have a matching price tag. It’s sad but that’s the way it goes.
Just came across your article. I had a wonderful experience. Just finished a trip on CMA CGM Eiffel with Sea Travel Ltd – http://www.seatravelltd.co.uk. They are agents booking cargo ship travel. I went from Charleston to Egypt and had excellend service from them and the crew. Recommend it to all. You will love that type of travel.
In fact, Stephen, we have a few clients who do this all the time, a couple back and forth to Australia and New Zealand and another to and from Singapore, not to mention North America. Others come back every winter for different routes. Any chance of getting permission to use one of your photos of the CMA CGM Christophe Colomb? She spent her first year carrying mostly company guests and is only now getting into carrying passengers.