I'm off on a 17 day adventure on a cargo ship in a few months' time.  Felixstowe to the Canaries, then up the coast of Spain and back. It's the sort of trip I've been wanting to do for many years.  My first experience of such a voyage was as a 24 year old 'hitching' a lift to Lisbon on MV "Biak".  Now, as a bus-pass carrying senior, it's time to get on with these things before it's too late.  However, the upper age limit for travelling this way varies so have a look at www.cargoshipvoyages.com for more info.