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When these vast expanses of open water are all that lie between you and your dream destination, fear of flying or carbon footprints does not have to stop you travelling. If you have time to spare and a reasonable amount of cash to burn, one of the best ways to travel to more far flung destinations is by ferry or freighter ship.
By Ferry
There are many ferry companies that can easily get you to from the UK to Europe and since these are often popular routes, you can often get cheap deals if you go at certain times of the year, so keep an eye out for advertisements and offers in newspapers. By being a pedestrian passenger, you'll also save a significant amount by not having to pay for vehicle fees.
The increase in interest in sea travel means there's no shortage of ferry agents and websites to help you find the cheapest deal, like Ferry Cheap which compares some of the leading ferry operators to help you find the best price for all of the UK's major ports.
The Man in Seat Sixty-One can help you again with his Ferry Shop by providing lots of useful links to popular ferry companies to help you set sail on your journey. He can even get your from the UK to Australia by boat, and it'll only take you 32-40 days.
By Freighter
Australia in 32-40 days? Impossible? Not if you jump aboard a freighter ship. Not to be mistaken with cruise ships, freighters are otherwise known as carrier ships and are basically cargo ships with room for around twelve passengers.
While the cost may leave you feeling a little queasy at first, when you consider that you'll get all your meals included and of course your accommodation, it doesn't sound as bad as you may have thought. Your accommodation and food will be good, but don't expect any room service- freighter ships are working ships so passengers come second, you'll be left to your own devices, hanging out on the decks, watching the world go by…very slowly. Also, unlike most passenger ships, many freighters don't have stabilisers, so expect a certain amount of motion- just a heads up if you are prone to sea sickness.
This type of travel is particularly popular with American students and adventurers since so many of the routes tend to go via ports in the USA, but if you plan your journey carefully, you could start your voyage from one of the UK's ports or in Europe.
Websites like Freighter World Cruises and Maris Freighter Cruises offer detailed itineraries, durations and pricings for many different routes across the Seven Seas. For example, in 29 days, you could go from Thamesport, England to Hong Kong. If you want to really commit to a life at sea, your best bet is to get to Europe first where you'll find the open sea becomes a lot more open; from Rouen, France you could sail to Fortaleza, Brazil or from Rotterdam, Holland your next port of call could be Mumbai, India.
The Internet Guide to Freighter Travel is a site set up by a fellow freighter who has pooled all his knowledge into this incredibly handy resource, full of information about freighter companies, frequently asked questions, travel tips and links to other useful websites.
Travelling by freighter is guaranteed to be a unique way to start your gap year adventure. While you might not meet as many backpackers as you might on other types of transport, since most freighters only have room for a maximum of twelve passengers, you can be sure that by the time you finally arrive into your final port, you'll have seen and experienced more of the world than you would watching it pass by underneath you on a plane.