AboutJerry Yares Expertise Travel, sightseeing, dining, and sleeping here in East TN and the Great Smoky Mountains. Not a golfer, camper, boater, or fisherman.
Experience Lived here since 1998; many years of travel here before that.
Organizations belong to Local photo, nature, garden, and bird clubs
Expert: Jerry Yares Date: 8/20/2002 Subject: UK to USA
Question I would like to travel from the UK to Tennessee USA. Do you know of any way i can go by sea as I cannot fly. I do not want a luxury cruise, just a basic trip to get me there. Thank you.
Answer Lita:
We just returned from two marvelous weeks in the UK. It is a shame that you cannot fly because British Airways new WorldTraveller-PLUS service buys you, for a few hundred extra pounds more than basic Economy class, a bigger seat, more legroom, your own TV, and better food. Almost as nice as Business class at far less cost.
Tennessee is a beautiful state--400 miles wide and 100 miles high. Actually three states in one. W TN begins at Memphis and the Mississippi River. Central TN is Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry country music. My area, E TN begins the Tennessee River and ends at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Appalachian Mountains.
Spring and Fall are the best times to visit--summers are quite hot and humid and winters can be a time of unpleasant weather. Here in E TN, prime time is during April when the wildflowers abound and during October when the forest trees' leaves become of riot of brilliant colour.
I am not an ocean cruise guy, so I would not enjoy a regular cruise ship such as the QE II (which to my knowledge is the last of the transAtlantic passenger boats).
My advice is to investigate travel by ocean freighter. I am told that food and accomodations are quite comfortable and the cost averages about 100 Euros (60-70 UK Pounds) per day for a single traveler in a single cabin.
Booking passage will require a fair amount of time and effort and advance planning. Now would be none too early for you to begin to arrange a spring 2003 trip.
Most regular travel agents do not book freighter cruises. Trips are booked through specialist agents and through the agents or managers of the ships themselves. There appears to be no central source; you must develop your own prospect list to contact.
Recently, US public television ran a series in which Monty Python's Michael Palin traveled around the world in 80 days. My memory fades, but it seems to me that he sailed from the US to the UK on either a container ship or a banana boat in a matter of days. I also dimly recall a recent trade conflict in the banana business which revealed a steady parade of banana boats from Central America to the UK and Europe. Surely they must be able to carry a passenger or two.
Try the Internet browser www.google.com. Also, visit your local public library. Years ago, I recall seeing a book on freighter travel by (I believe) a man named Norman Ford. Check www.amazon.com to see what books might be available now.
