German-Version: (english version see bellow)
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Wir planen eine Motorrad-Tour entlang der Panamericana. Nun suchen wir eine möglichst einfache und unkomplizierte Passage von einem beliebigen Hafen in Europa an einen beliebigen Hafen an der Ostküste von USA oder Canada. Am liebsten wäre uns ein Schiff, wo wir mit unseren Motorräder drauffahren könnten und mit dem gleichen Schiff mitfahren könnten ohne grosses Kistenbauen etc. Alle nötigen Papiere für uns (Visum) und für die Motorräder (Carnet de Passage) sind vorhanden. Könnt Ihr uns bitte entsprechende Angebote und/oder Varianten als Alternative angeben.


English-Version (german version see on top)
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Hello
We are planing a Motorbike-Tour arround the World. For this reason we are looking for easy ship possibilities on Freight-Ships/Container-Ships to cross from any Port in Europe to any Port East-Coast USA or Canada (Departure Europe aprox. 09.2001)
for 2 Persons and 2 Motorcycles. We have already organised all necessary documents (Carnet de Passage for Motorbikes and Passports with Visa) for all countries. We drive directly to the corresponding departure port, and if possible directly on the ship if a ramp is available. So, we only need a lift for the bikes on board of the ship if there is no way to drive on board using a ramp. Please send us offers or carriers with corresponding possibilities.
Special thanks for your help.

Dear TravelTom

I do not know if the shipping companies will allow you and your bikes on the same boat, as usually passenger vessels don't take cargo and vice versa. However, you can try P&O Nedlloyd - contact details below for Rotterdam.

Rotterdam
P&O Nedlloyd
Willemswerf Building
Boompjes 40
3011 XB Rotterdam
Holland

Tel: (31) 10 400 7666
Fax: (31) 10 400 6075

If you are unable to accompany your bikes on the boat, you might consider flying them from Europe. Lufthansa is very experienced in flying motorcycles to/from Europe to the US with a minimum of hassle, so I would suggest contacting their cargo office in your city.

Good luck and please let us know whether you are successful with this, so that other travellers can also use the service.



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Susan Johnson
Share the Dream at <A HREF="http://www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
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Dear Traveltom,
I too am looking for the same information and have been looking all over the net. I would like to keep in touch with you if you gain any new information, and I will do the same if you agree. I am also looking to ship my bike, and myself, to the US at the same time you are, possibly there is a deal to be worked out bulkwise. If you are interested, please contact me at Sosay72@yahoo.com

Wie gehts es ihnen, mein herr? Or something like that?

It's actua;;y quite easy to ship from UK/Europe to Canada. Inland, too. The main eastern CDN ports are Halifax, Montreal, Toronto and Thunder Bay. Okay, I don't about getting to Thunder Bay, but other things get there so why not a bike? I know a little from R'dam to Montreal, and Toronto. (Basically just add a little more for Toronto). From Canada to Europe, you just show up at the shipping agents warehouse about a week before departure, where the company takes care of packing - which leaves them liable for anything in transport or any repairs due to packing. The journey is about 7 days +, no more than 10. (To Montreal, 1 or 2 more to Toronto). The price was around $350 for the bike AND crate, CDN $$$$.

As for accompaning the bike, that may be hard, although some shipping companies offer passenger berths, yet I doubt you decide which boat - ie the one with your bike. It also gets quite expesive, about $80 - $100 per day.

Air Canada transports bikes, though it is about $1200 CDN, just for one bike. (I have a KLR 650, single, which is probably 1/3 the weight of a BMW).

Does it help? I last shipped about a year ago, so it's somewhat vague. There is a website, linked to this one, called "Alex's Alpine Touring" or something like that. He's a Canadian, and I think he's shipped his BMW a few times to Europe.

Don.

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