 P E A R L S T R I N G |
| This unique service combines the best of two worlds - the comfort of modern ship and the slow, relaxed pace of the past. Sailing every two weeks it offers the followng approx. 100-day voyages as well as transatlantic and transpacific segments: |
 |
|
Singapore (Day 1); one or two ports in Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City or Haiphong, Vietnam; Hong Kong, Shanghai (20), Xingang, Dalian and oe a few other ports in China; Masan, Korea; Yokohama (32 and possibly Kobe, Japan; across the Pacific and a possible call at the US West Coast, then transit the Panama Canal, and likely call in Central America, then Houston (65), New Oleans, Philadelphia, PA (78) transatlatic to Antwerp, Belgium (88), Hamburg, Germany (92) and Genoa, Italy (100). Port times vary from one to several days. Please see the Tariff and Deck Plan (3 pdf pages, 530 KB). |
 |
Nine 30,000-ton multipurpose ships carrying both general cargo and containers: The Rickmers Antwerp, Dalian, Hamburg, Jakarta, New Orleans, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Vessel Details Passengers: 7 Length: 193 m Speed: 19 knots Built: 2002/4 Owners/Managers: German/Rickmers Officers & Crew: Croatian, Polish & Filipino |
| Two double and three single cabins are available for passengers. All cabins have private facilities with shower, and all are equipped with a mini refrigerator, TV/DVD and stereo sets (except the Rickmers Hamburg, which has a TV/VCR set). |
|
Three single cabins, #s 604, 611 and 612, located on the Captain’s “D” deck, with unobstructed side and or aft views, consisting of a bedroom (bed size varying from 200 x 90 cm to 200 x 130 cm) with a sitting area, measuring approx. 15 sqm each. Double cabin # 513, located on “C” deck, one below the Captain’s, with an unobstructed aft view, consisting of a bedroom (bed size 200 x 150 cm) and a sitting area, measuring approx. 18 sqm. |
  |
  |
The Owner’s suite # 602, located on the Captain’s “D” deck and facing forward (view might be partially obstructed by cargo stowed on deck), consisting of a bedroom with twin beds (200 x 90 cm each) and a separate sitting room, has a total area of approx. 30 sqm. |
 An illustrated story by Heidi and Greg Bathon Voyage from Singapore to Houston, January 2011 |
| Our three traveling companions, in our stateroom: Catherine Bozzi from (variously) France, Senegal, and Uruguay, Lexx Marshall (New Zealand,) Ursula Graf (Switzerland. |
 |
  |
Cable car ride and the Sentosa Resort & Spa. The Merlion, symbol of Singapore, seen from a boat in Marina Bay. |
|
A chilly, foggy morning, arrival at Haiphong Bay anchorage, Vietnam. Da Long Bay and its floating fishing village is a short boat ride from the anchorage. Da Long is a World Heritage site. Hard to get to for tourists: a six hour ride from Hanoi to the coast. Two thousand islets, tumbled like chess pieces- rooks, bishops, queens, knights- into a jade sea. It is breathtaking. |
 |
 |
We hired one of the sampans that come alongside, for a day in Da Long Bay. Mom, Pop and Baby live aboard, and sell everything from fresh fruit to beer and toothpaste, to the ships that visit Da Long. |
|
Back on the ship, in the South China Sea, heading north through the Taiwan Strait, into the Yellow Sea. In the lounge in our cabin, knitting. This was a two-sweater trip. After a port call in Dalian, we cleared immigration and jumped ship in Xingang late at night, rented an SUV, and headed west for Beijing. Getting out of the port was hell, huge trucks jamming the access roads in the dark, but the four hour drive to Beijing was fine. We found a hotel two blocks from the Forbidden City. |
 |
 |
The Great Wall at Badaling. Pretty cold in December, with the wind howling down off the Mongolian steppes. Not very summery, at the Summer Palace. |
|
On December 22nd at 9am, we eased out of Beijing South Station, heading for Shanghai. Within ten minutes we were traveling at 350 kph. We arrived in Shanghai at 7pm, on time to the minute. We used Shanghai as our base for trips to Hangzgou, Souzhou and Zouzhwang. |
 |
|
We left Shanghai two days after Christmas, bound for Kobe, Japan. Then back south, for the Panama Canal. 21 days at sea, 8,500 miles. It’s a big ocean- we saw only two other ships the whole time. |
 
|
|
General Information and Reservations
Passenger cabins and shared facilities, such as the dining room, lounges, exercise room and swimming pool are located on various decks. Passengers must be able to negotiate the stairs. |
| Due to the nature of cargo operations on these ships, the voyage often takes longer. At other times it may be shorter. There will be no fare adjustment in either case. |
|
|
Reservations can be made by completing a Registration Form and providing a 25% deposit. The balance of the fare, plus port and vessel fees, are payable 70 days before 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 a 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. A Medical Statement of Good Health and International Health and Accident Insurance are required as is a visa for China, Indonesia, Vietnam and the USA, depending on the nationality; passengers should verify this with the respective consulates or a visa service such as the one listed on our web page Before You Sail. The age limit is 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 30 days of departure. To protect your investment, 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 web page Before You Sail. Please contact us through the Inquiries and Reservations page. |
 |
| 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: |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
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 |
|||||||
