Beatrice & Pierre C. travel on the vessel Judith, from May 26th to June 3rd, 2025
We are very happy to have made this trip. The Internationale Frachtschiffreisen Pfeiffer (IFP) assistance, professionalism and responsiveness were very helpful and gave us a great confidence.
We really lived a special experience, in specific conditions, discovering a « new world ». We were, however, very disappointed by the crew behaviour; our expectations about the human exchanges, shown in the testimonies of the IFP website, were far from being met.
Before leaving, we had many travel changes (of boat, of route, of dates…), even in the last days. How disappointing it may have been (not having our travel choice), we understand that it is « the rule of the game », and we appreciated the IFP responsiveness to deal with this situation.
We parked as indicated, in the Altenwerder terminal parking. The person who registered us asked very firmly that we move our car out of the parking, in a very harsh manner, without listening to our explanations or questions (even in German, which Beatrice speaks). We parked outside, further in the street.
Our arrival on boat was… surprising: 30 seconds to exchange the passports and our room key. No welcome. We at least could ask for our destination, and we discovered that it was Riga. We put this harshness on the stress of the manoeuvres. We guessed that the crew was Ukrainian, which was confirmed later.
We had written information about the travel (lunch times, ship access…) in the cabin – The English version was badly translated, and not very comprehensible. We could, however, understand the minimum. When we joined the mess room for dinner, we were alone at a table. That can be explained by the tables design: one for the Philippine crew, two small for the European crew, and one for the « guests ». But absolutely nobody came to welcome us or give us any information. This « distance » was maintained during the whole travel: we had quick « good appetite » when people passed our table, and no more.
We went to the bridge at the time indicated in the paper guide. We could not have a discussion with the officer.
We had the luck to eat with an outside German pilot when we were on the Kiel Canal. He could tell us who was the Captain… We thus were able to ask him and the Chief to visit the engine room (Pierre has been working on rotating machines some years). We could do a (quick) visit, but it was obvious that the Chief was looking at us from above and that it was a waste of time for him.
The cabin was comfortable, with a beautiful view: we never got tired of the sea view, at any time of the day – or night! We discovered the work of loading and unloading containers with great interest. But as for the information about how it works… We were lucky to be able to speak with the cook, very helpful, nice and interesting, who gave us much information about the job, the working conditions, the everyday life on the vessel.
Speaking of the cook… The meals were very good and diversified – even for breakfast! We were surprised by the quality. The discipline of fixed eating times is not a problem. We follow the time as it comes… Having nothing to do or to think of is a great comfort. It was a good experience to live at the same time the Kiel Canal and the open sea. We did not know this canal yet, so important. And we were looking forward to the feeling of the open sea.
We had a 2 day stop in Riga. Going out of the harbour was difficult because it was discovered that the crew list made by the officer did not contain our names… A kind policeman helped us to go out, but it was even more difficult to go in when we came back! However, we had the opportunity to visit the city, and this break was very welcome.
The travel schedule changed all the time, as expected. We had the information through an Internet site, and… through the cook for the last-minute changes.
All along the travel, we were not at our ease with the crew. We even felt bad. We got smiles only from the Philippine people, but the Ukrainians were polite at the most. We still do not understand the situation.
We could not have some moments with anybody but the cook; even the Philippine crew was gathering at their own table, and the recreation room was always empty.
When we came back, our arrival port was changed from Hamburg Altenwerder to Bremerhaven. Until the last moment, our disembarking was delayed… The route between the two places took taxi + train + train + taxi; it went well (we can give you information for the best way!).
We do not regret this experience. But if we had to renew it, we do not know how to do to ensure having the human experience that we expected.