Expert: Ken Rapoza Cruz - 8/23/2006

Question
    Hello,
    I am interested in traveling to Brazil by ship, not as part of an organized tour, but as my destination - i.e., in lieu of traveling by air.  I would like do depart from a California port and land in / around Sao Paulo.  Please advise me of any cruiselines, ship transports, etc. which offer this "old-fashioned" style of travel service.
    Thank you!  Ellen Sander

Answer
I dont know of any affordable crusies that go to Rio from California, and certainly not Sao Paulo, which is not a port of call on any intl cruiselines I am aware of.  Now, you can travel by freight line, but Im not exactly sure how that works. I used to write for this magazine that advertised for freight travel -- think merchant marines, traveling like youre working on an export freight carrier...or a pirate. Something about it didnt seem worth it, but I forget what.

http://www.freightertrips.com/bookings/index.html

The others are very costly, like Abercrombie and SeaStar or something lilke that.  It is very expensive, over $5,000. They go to Brazil, but again its part of a tour. Sorry I cant give you more details on this.  You want just to arrive in Sao Paulo.  You might have to change ships in Panama.

Contact Bill Hinchberger at Brazilmax.com.  Go to that website and ask him a question on this issue.  He might know.  Im traveling at the moment and cant do much research for you.