Last updated: 22 October 2026

Booking cargo ship travel is different from booking a cruise or a flight. There is no instant online checkout: each ship has only a few cabins, schedules follow the cargo, and the shipping line needs medical and insurance paperwork before you sail. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how the process works, so you can secure a cabin with confidence.

Before you book: what to decide

• Route: where you want to start and finish, for example the UK to the USA or London Gateway to Australia
• Travel window: a range of two to three weeks, not a single date
• Cabin type: a standard outside cabin, or a larger owner’s cabin with a lounge
• One way or round trip: round trips suit travellers who just want the voyage
• Budget: fares run at roughly US$90–150 per person per day, plus insurance and transfers

Step-by-step: how to book a cargo ship voyage

1. Send an enquiry. Tell a specialist agency your route, travel window, number of passengers and cabin preference.
2. Receive sailing options. The agency checks which ships on that route carry passengers and have free cabins.
3. Hold your cabin. Most lines ask for a deposit, often around a quarter of the fare, to confirm the booking.
4. Complete the paperwork. Send a passport copy, a signed medical certificate and proof of travel insurance.
5. Pay the balance. The remaining fare is usually due several weeks before departure.
6. Confirm boarding details. A few days before sailing you receive the terminal address, boarding time and the port agent’s contact.

What documents do you need?

When to book

Livre six to twelve months ahead for popular routes, summer sailings and owner’s cabins. Last-minute cabins do appear when a ship’s schedule changes, but you need to be ready to travel at short notice.

How much flexibility do you need?

Cargo comes first. A ship can leave a day or two earlier or later than planned, skip a port or spend longer in one. Build in a buffer:

• Arrival: stay near the departure port the night before, and keep that booking refundable
• Onward travel: avoid non-refundable flights or trains on the day you are due to arrive
• Updates: keep your phone on for messages from the agency in the days before sailing

Boarding day: what to expect

You meet the port agent or go to the terminal gate at the agreed time. Port security escorts you to the ship, the crew checks your documents, and the steward shows you to your cabin. Within the first day you will join a safety briefing and drill. Then you settle in, unpack and watch the cranes load the cargo before departure.

Tips for a smooth booking

• Ask what is included: meals, bedding, towels and port taxes
• Check the luggage allowance, which is usually generous but not unlimited
• Ask about the onboard shop for drinks and snacks, often paid in US dollars or euros
• Bring enough cash in small notes for port days
• Save the agency and port agent contacts offline on your phone

Frequently asked questions