I've got an odd request.

[cleoqc@mstdn.ca]

@Teaceratops
What a situation to be stuck in! Of all suggestions that I've seen, this one sounds the most feasible. I would expect boats to Vancouver to be frequent. The train Vancouver-Montréal is expensive but what a ride it is! So much better than being stuck on water going halfway around the globe.
@Fran

[dasgrueneblatt@wien.rocks]

@Teaceratops

I researched a similar question in 2019. I remember that there was an upper age limit for the cargo ship option. Children were completely impossible, so I abandoned the plan and didn't research any further. I seem to remember the age limit was pretty low, maybe 60? Depends on the company of course, and it might have changed. I think it's because there's only minimal medical support on a cargo ship, and the risk of e.g. a heart attack rises with age.

There are around-the-world cruises that stop in Australia and in Europe. That's a completely different price range though!

I guess you could find cruises from Australia to South America. There's definitely lots between South America and Europe. Maybe that's less expensive?

@krans @va2lam @stonebear2 @DamonHD

[jamesk@sfba.social]

@lydiaschoch What a problem to be presented with! This is one of the few occasions when I’m glad that I can no longer be put in such a spot.

[agowa338@chaos.social]

@Teaceratops probably via boat. Land route is probably not a great idea because of current world politics...

[erikarn@mstdn.social]

@Teaceratops @janet AFAIK it's still running, eg https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/guest-information/timetables/the-indian-pacific-2025-2026-timetable/ . Just note it's not a cheap trip!

if in doubt there are bus services that travel between cities too.

They're gonna spend a week on the trip, but it's definitely doable.

[slowtiger@berlin.social]

@Teaceratops Any travel insurance company should be able to answer this (if they're worth the money).

[celesteh@hachyderm.io]

@DamonHD @Teaceratops

Cruise ships have doctors on board, but cargo ships do not, which is something to consider.

What a nightmare. I'm sorry for your frustrations.

[capnthommo@c.im]

@Teaceratops I don't know if this is of any use but it's still possible to get passage on cargo vessels. I used to have a link to one company and I'm sure there must be more. Might be a bit pricey though. Probably less of a viral Petri dish. Anyway, best of luck.

[benaveling@mastodon.world]

As others have noted, there is a quite nice (but not fast) train from Melbourne to Perth, and a perfectly tolerable train from Sydney to Melbourne.
But, that having been said, if they're in their 70s, and still in ICU, they probably won't be fit to travel until much before March anyway.
Insurance company is probably the best placed to make the decision.
@Teaceratops

[mikefromlfe@cupoftea.social]

@Teaceratops @hedders
The travel insurers will have extensive experience in arranging medical repatriation. They have contracts with companies which do nothing else.
Until the insurance company says 'no' then you should stop worrying and leave it to the experts.

[kittylyst@mastodon.social]

@Teaceratops Would a container ship be an option? Limited numbers of passenger births are available.

[bthylafh@nerdculture.de]

@Teaceratops This is a reach, but is there an altitude limit, below which they could safely fly? If so they could hire a small aircraft to get them to a city with a cruise ship departing sooner. From Perth to Singapore, for example.

[mjd@mathstodon.xyz]

@Teaceratops I know nothing firsthand, and I apologize if this is useless. But this web site claims to organize travel by cargo ship, and the very first page I saw had a big graphic that said “Travel from UK to Australia by Cargo Ship”.

I hope this is helpful.

https://cargoholidays.com/cargo-ship-travel-cheap-from-europe-to-any-destination

[joeyh@sunbeam.city]

@Teaceratops last year, @gianluca_grimalda made it from Papau new Guinea back to Italy by freighter etc

[chateaubrackidh@mas.to]

@Teaceratops

Some merchant vessels can take a few fee paying passengers. The vessels that do this are never oil tankers, but container ships often have space for a few passenger cabins. It’s pretty luxury travel, so not cheap. You’d need to check with a company like Maersk if they have a suitable ship going Australia to UK and dates.

[catmisgivings@stranger.social]

@Teaceratops lot of good suggestions downthread, but honestly I think the surface travel options that would get them out before March are quite grueling for anyone whose health is delicate. Best option might be to recover on the east coast until March (hopefully they've left the hospital within that timeframe) and join the cruise

[gcvsa@mstdn.plus]

@Teaceratops Take a boat. Might have to learn sailing, first. Heh-heh. There are freighter companies who accept passengers. It's rather a nice way to travel, although obviously berths are limited.

[rhelune@todon.eu]

@va2lam @Teaceratops @krans @stonebear2 @DamonHD Yeah, when I was looking into one company (Hamburg to South Africa) the passengers had to be under a certain age limit and have a physician's certificate that they are healthy enough to travel for a month without medical care. Also, cargo ships do not take care of passengers' dietary needs (but do stock the onboard shop with their preferred brands of cigarettes) 🙄

[mjustm@awawa.gay]

@Teaceratops@peoplemaking.games maybe the british embassy to australia can help? this seems to me to be in their purview

[dgold@goblin.technology]

@Teaceratops Hi,

I'm not really in a position to be of much help, but...

Have you looked into Cargo Cruising? Its where your parents could travel as passengers on Cargo Ships. The Medical situation would possibly complicate matters -- as much as, if not more than, a cruise ship -- but its a feasible method of long distance slow travel.

From memory of a trip a friend took to Hong Kong, the route would be $AUSTRALIA (If they could get to Brisbane, that would make the sea travel shorter) to Singapore, then Singapore-Suez, finally Suez-Southampton or similar commercial port.

It all takes about 4 weeks from Singapore, so its a long term commitment, and the amenities, while perfectly functional, are basic.