FYI: I got off the Grimaldi ship with my BMW 1200 a couple of days ago.

Everything went great, on the whole.

Some minor issues:
1. The trip should have been 30 July to early September.
The ship only left Hamburg 09 August, arrived in Buenos Aires 16 September.
(Well, they say from the start that there might be delays. Feight has priority over passengers.)
2. Food was plenty. Alas, it was not always tasty. I guess I just had bad luck with the sicilian chef. I often had some of the crews Indian curry instaed. The officers and crew were very friendly and helpful though.

Positive:
1. Very quiet trip across the Atlantic. Seasickness wasn't even remotely an issue.
2. The delay was mostly due to longer than expected time in the harbours. Therefore I could take my bike out for day rides in Tilbury, Antwerp and Le Havre. I went to Canterbury, Bruges and Rouen. Great!
3. There is a big problem with theft in the African ports of Dakar, Conakry and Freetown. The crew was on high alert and the bikes were safely locked up in a small compartment after we had left Europe.
4. Customs procedures in Buenos Aires were a breeze: The 2 necessary forms were already filled in, I just had to sign them and off I went to the harbour gate were I got my passport stamped. No-one wanted to look at the bike or the documents. All was done in 5 minutes and I could into town.

__________________
“It’s just a walk in the park!”
“You mean people are going to mug us and steal all our money and kick us viciously in the ribs?” Terry Prachett

Total damage?

About € 2300, 1950 for the inside cabin (single, no window, otherwise fine) and all meals, 350 for the bike.

__________________
“It’s just a walk in the park!”
“You mean people are going to mug us and steal all our money and kick us viciously in the ribs?” Terry Prachett

I should probably post the link to my photos here too:

2010c_Hamburg to BsAs pictures by frankinasia - Photobucket

__________________
“It’s just a walk in the park!”
“You mean people are going to mug us and steal all our money and kick us viciously in the ribs?” Terry Prachett

Ok this is just to compare with the container+plane option.

Total damage last year from Antwerrp to Buenos Aires (shared container)

260 (shipping) + 570 (port charges) + 500 (plane ticket) = 1330 €

This is while sharing cost with another person. Alone, the option would have cost 1160+1140+500= 2800 €, more expensive and much more stressful than the "ferry" option.

Don't forget that I had 35 days accommodation and food on the ship and visited a dozend ports on the way for free. Of course you need to have that extra months time, but then you save a month living expenses. That's 1000 € right there :-) Well, I still had to pay extra for and cigarettes ;-)

Alas, to get you and your bike back to Europe, Grimaldi is probably not an option. They state on their website that they only take people on bord in BsAs that have done the trip from Europe to BsAs with them. But you can always try to call them or, better, contact Mr. Grabowski at Hamburg-Süd Travel Agency in Germany:
Bjoern.Grabowski[at]hamburgsued-reiseagentur.de

__________________
“It’s just a walk in the park!”
“You mean people are going to mug us and steal all our money and kick us viciously in the ribs?” Terry Prachett

Hi MekongFrank,

can you clarify a few things for me

1) Did you have to pay $850 custom clearance charges in Argentinia when you landed. I have been told that this is a standard charge.

2) you cabin fees was for the cabin, if you travel with 2 people is the cabin charge the same or per person.

thanks heaps for your info, we have ridden fron Australia to Spain and are currently looking for a way to south america

Simon

The first time I sailed with Grimaldi was Bs As to Tilbury in '04, even though I hadn't used them on the way out. That time I dealt directly with the head office in Naples by 'phone and e-mail but this is no longer an option.

Coming back in '08 I booked through their Bs As agent, J E Turner at Reconquista 336. They were very helpful. Once you've sailed with Grimaldi twice you can join the Grimaldi Freighterclub which gets you (but not the bike) a 5% discount.

I was the only passenger on my first trip, but early booking is now essential as popularity has snowballed. I've already booked for October '11.

Regards, Mick