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| Sailing every 9 weeks: New York; Norfolk, VA (Day 1), Charleston, SC (3); Savannah, GA (5); Kingston, Jamaica (9); Colon, Panama (11); transit the Panama Canal (12); transpacific to Pusan, Korea (31); Xiamen, China (33), Kaohsiung, Taiwan (34); Shecku (36), Yantian (37) and Hong Kong (38) all in China; transpacific and through the Panama Canal (58); - Colon (59) and Kingston (60) 2nd calls; New York (64). |
| ZIM Ontario Passengers: 6 Containers: 4,860 teu Deadweight: 63,300 tons Length: 275 m Speed: 24 knots (45 km) Built: 2009 Officers/Crew: German/Int’l Owners: NSB, German Charterers: ZIM, Israel |
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| Passenger accommodations include three double bed suites (bed size 2.05 x 1.80 m), located on the F deck (one suite is facing forward and the other two forward and side), consisting of a bedroom with private facilities and shower and separate sitting room, each equipped with a refrigerator, TV/Video and DVD set and a mini HiFi tower. |
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Daily fares are as follows: €95 pp double, €110 single occupancy for the 34-sqm corner suites. €90 pp double, €105 single occupancy for the 27-sqm forward-facing suite. Plus €275 per person per voyage for port and vessel fees. |
General Information and Reservations |
| Passenger cabins and shared facilities, such as the dining room, lounges and fitness room are located on various decks. There is no elevator on board and passengers must be fully mobile and able to negotiate the stairs. Front and aft views may be obstructed by the containers stowed on deck. |
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| Self service laundry facilities are available. The electrical current is 220/50 AC. A two-prong round adapter and converter are needed for North American appliances. A steward will clean the cabin once a week, or more often if necessary. A small onboard shop provides a limited selection of beverages, cigarettes and toiletries at duty free prices. Onboard expenses may be paid for with cash in EUR (€)/USD ($). Tipping is at the passenger’s discretion; $/€3-5 per person per day is recommended. Telephone, fax and email (not the Internet) connections are available through the Captain’s office. The average port time is one day. Reservations can be made by completing a Registration Form and providing a 25% deposit. The balance of the fare, plus port fees, is payable 70 days prior to departure. The fare may be paid for by check or wire (by exception only, credit cards may be accepted) in either the basic tariff currency, as quoted by the steamship line, or in USD/CAD at the prevailing exchange rate, subject to the final adjustment at the time the ticket is issued, a few weeks before departure. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the anticipated return date, and a visa for the USA and China must be obtained, depending on the citizenship and voyage. A Medical Statement of Good Health and International Health and Accident Insurance are required on all voyages, as is a vaccination or exemption cerificate against yellow fever on voyages through the Panama Canal and to China. The age limit is 8/80. Cancellation fees are as follows: over 60 days, loss of deposit; 30-59 days, 50% of the fare. No refund will be made within the 30 days from departure. Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is highly recommended; it protects your investment from the moment you buy the policy (at the same price as it would be one day before the voyage). And if you take it within three weeks of your initial deposit, pre-existing conditions are waived. Travelex Insurance packages are available to Maris customers worldwide on our website page Before You Sail. |
 Special discount for Maris Club members on roundtrip voyages to the Far East: EUR 500 |
Please contact us through the Inquiries page.
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"Chef" and author: Massimo Brandinali,
on a roundtrip voyage with the ZIM San Francisco,
from Italy to the Far East through the Panama Canal.
May, 2010
"This was a beautiful and interesting voyage for us, especially visiting ports in Asia and Israel where we had not been before.
Accommodations on board are very good; food varied and abundant (a bit too "German" for our Italian taste). We shared the return voyage with two pleasant single passengers: from Hong Kong to New York, a German guy from Bavaria, really a jolly fellow, and Ralph Tromater on a voyage from Halifax around the Mediterranean, an American from Chicago who also booked his voyage through MARIS. He was dealing with a young lady from your office, so we had a chance to talk a lot about your very professional service and approach to your clients. Ralph is more restrained than Alwin, but all the same very enjoyable to be in company with. Both of them came ashore with us in every port because they liked the guide booklet that I had prepared at home prior to the voyage. |
| The Captain and senior officers were German, while crew and junior officers were Filipino. All very pleasant, kind and open. In particular, I set a friendly feeling with the third mate, a 27 y.o. boy, married and father of a 6 months old girl, who looked at me as his father who he had never known. I spent many hours on the bridge when he was on watch, chatting but also monitoring ships at the radar. |
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| Our days at sea were filled with relaxing activities. In the morning, when the sea was calm enough, we'd usually spend some time in the whirlpool; the steward would fill it up with fresh warm water. In our opinion the whirlpool is much better than the swimming pool that we had on other freighters. In the afternoon, after siesta, we would often have guests joining us in our cabin for an Italian cup of coffee (we had brought from home not only coffee but the electric moka-express machine as well). |
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And when we had grill parties we'd serve coffee to all officers and crew members; they liked it. Of course, walking on deck all the way to the bow was one of the main activities whenever weather and sea conditions were right, and looking for the flying fish, dolphins ... we even saw herds of turtles swimming along, then diving down when they got too close to the vessel. |
| In the middle of the Pacific Ocean we celebrated my birthday. First I had to do some work in the galley helping prepare dozens of Napolitan mini pizzas, smoked salmon canapés and various cocktails. |
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The cook prepared a sumptuous dinner with a small roast pig, fish covered with a sauce depicting Italian colours, a large tray of noodles (a must for Filipino), mixed salad, roast potatoes and two huge cakes. The food was washed down with beer, white and red wine which I previously asked the steward to set cool (but not the red wine!) and German champagne, which I bought from the storeroom. We were all bursting with cheerfulness, the seamen singing karaoke and toasting Rita and myself until late in the night." |
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| We are most grateful for the support, including comments such as the following, which we have been receiving from our valued customers and club members as well as from the steamship lines and media over the years: |
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Become a member of Maris Freighter Travel Club Int'l - or give a gift membership Take advantage of the knowledgeable advice that comes from our vast experience. Find the ship and voyage that's right for you and, for each booking, you'll receive an automatic discount of up to $500 -- Please see the Special Discounts page. |
| To subscribe, simply use your credit card through Google or PayPal, or mail your check. As a bonus, you'll receive our monthly e-mail with SEAWORTHY NEWS, starting approx. the 1st of the next month, and be among the first to read about new services and passenger firsthand stories. It's a well-illustrated e-publication, often being the only one available anywhere for many of these voyages. |
The same low price (in USD) is valid internationally. By placing your order, you agree with our Terms |
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