Cruise
Cruise ships offer an
increasingly popular alternative way of travelling. Cruise vessels vary enormously in terms of itinerary, dining and
entertainment, so it is essential to research carefully before committing.
Generally speaking, if you want to enjoy the social buzz, pampering and
facilities onboard, a larger ship is for you, but if you are more interested in
greater cultural exposure to the destinations and more intimate social
interactions with fellow passengers, a smaller ship may suit you better.
Cargo
ship
Cargo
is constantly being transported around the world by sea. The ships often cover
long distances slowly (compared to air travel) and while they are not geared to
passengers, they can carry a limited number, offering an interesting
alternative to flying longhaul and a bit of an insight into the marine shipping
industry. Passengers are usually offered their own cabin and share meals and
facilities with the crew. To find shipping companies that offer transport,
google ‘cargo ship cruises’.
Ferries
Island
nations can be challenging to those wishing to travel without flying but
ferries can often be the answer. Ferries ply the waters around the Greek
Islands, for example, and the Philippines, and keep the British Channel busy.
Ferries can often take vehicles, have little by the way of baggage limitations,
and some will allow pets to travel.
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| Crew a passage on a sailboat |
Crew
a passage on a sailboat
Even
without sailing experience it is possible to be invited to crew a sailboat on a
trans-oceanic voyage. Privately owned sailboats are frequently relocated from
one sailing area to another. Crew are often recruited to get the boat to the
new destination and, while the work is unpaid (for most except professional
sailors), food is usually provided and a flight home sometimes too. Boats need
some crew to have experience but sometimes offer a space to an inexperienced
person if they seem keen and willing to help. To find crewing opportunities
google ‘crew sailboat’.
Yachts
If
you’re looking for a chance to be paid to sail the world super yachts are it!
The majority of super yachts don’t travel huge distances, favouring cosy
marinas, but expedition yachts sail around the world. While also being paid,
your food and living expenses are covered, but the downside is that unless you
have been employed temporarily you are expected to commit to the yacht’s (owner’s)
itinerary. You may see some interesting places, with someone else picking up
the tab, but you will work exceptionally hard for it, may not get time to
actually experience much of the places you see along the way, and may not end
up where you expected to. Read more about working on yachts here.
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| Luxury Yachts offer a flight-free travel opportunity |
Rail
There
are some magnificent train journeys to try for the experience alone. For
incredible mountain scenery the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada makes a good
choice. Australia’s wide, open spaces can best be appreciated from the Ghan,
running between Darwin and Adelaide, or the Indian – Pacific, running from
Perth to Sydney. Europe has fantastic rail links between hundreds of towns
across lots of countries. It is also possible to travel from Singapore, through
Malaysia to Thailand. The historic Mombasa – Nairobi train link in Kenya offers
an alternative safari and you can even take the Eurostar under water from
London to Paris or Brussels and connect with other destinations across Europe.
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| Rail travel |
Road
For
the freedom and adventure, driving yourself to or around a new destination can’t
be beaten. Go where you want, when you want, and stay as long as you want. Car
hire is relatively straight forward if you have a valid driving licence and a
bit of money or a credit card to offer as a deposit. In some locations car hire
companies allowing customers to leave the vehicle in a location other than
where they started, need the vehicles driven back. If you are flexible on dates
and can return the car at the right time, this can be an inexpensive way to
drive yourself. There probably won’t be much time for sightseeing on the way
though.
Coaches
For
long road journeys I prefer to let someone else do the driving and coaches are
perfect for that, some are even quite comfortable these days and movies are
commonly shown during the journey. While sometimes overlooked, coaches are one
of the most common forms of public transport and are usually relatively
inexpensive. Coaches offer transport over long and short distances in countries
as varied as Turkey, Cambodia and the United States.
Road
transportation
Freight
vehicles, like cargo ships, can cover long distances by road and may be
amenable to taking passengers. In
some places this is a common way to get around, but in others health and safety
concerns may limit these opportunities.
Have
you travelled without flying? Did you deliberately set out to avoid air
transport, or was it just coincidence? I’d love to hear your story. Please feel
free to share your experiences in the comments below.
