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Loading ...BANANA BOAT CRUISE
You may not associate buying a bunch of bananas in your local supermarket with a cheap cruise to Central America but there is a holiday connection. There are places available on a Banana Boat Cruise.
If the thought of noisy entertainment, strenuous deck games, over planned shore excursions and competition to eat a formal dinner at the Captains table don’t particularly excite you, there is a cheaper and quieter alternative.
There are still freight companies, following in the tradition of famous names such as Fyffes and Geest, offering the rare combination of fare paying passengers and ripening bananas traveling across the Atlantic.
Typical vessels are now Reefer ships with refrigerated containers on deck and accommodation for up to a dozen passengers. 12 is a magic number, since above this number means the ship has to carry a doctor. Companies operate age limits and good health is obviously essential. The round trip is about 35 days in total and costs are in the region of $100 per day.
Accommodation is usually in 6 twin bed cabins with a steward, en suite bathroom, with access to a sun deck and in some cases a pool. The salon will have a bar, library and TV/video facilities. Passengers eat with the Captain and his Officers.
The ship will leave Europe with a general cargo and a typical itinerary will be a 9-day crossing to the West Indies with calls at Guadeloupe and Martinique. Although only a few hours in port, passengers may wish to stay longer and either fly home or await the next ship. Final destination is Moin in Costa Rica, calling at Cartagena and Turbo in Columbia.
At Moin the return cargo of bananas is loaded. Harvesting is a race against time and the fruit must be at the supermarket within 20 days and is shipped green, at less than 14.5 degrees C, to allow perfect ripening. The 1-2 days in port will allow sightseeing ashore. The return 13 day trip to Europe is direct and non stop across the Atlantic.
If you require casinos and the frenetic activity found on board conventional cruise ships, this is not for you. Your fellow passengers will probably be older, retired professionals with some younger people looking for a different travel experience. You will spend time relaxing, reading, chatting, perhaps making lasting friendships or just watching the ocean slip by. Remember to take that favourite book with you or any other hobby items that you haven’t had time for in your busy schedule.
Selecting a bunch of bananas in the supermarket may now give you new ideas and prompt you to take a holiday with a difference, a Banana Boat Cruise.
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