Yes! If you want to
travel instead of simply being human cargo, then I think your idea of jumping on a boat is perfect.
In 2009, I was a passenger on a Polish freighter that took me from Duluth, Minnesota, to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. I didn't have to work on the voyage, which lasted for 18 days. It cost slightly more than an air ticket but all of my meals were included in the price. The only drawback was that I had to make a booking months in advance, and because of the nature of freighter travel, I didn't know exactly when I would leave (or where I would go) until a few weeks before the voyage. You MUST be flexible in that regard.
If you're interested, check out
The Cruise People online. The website looks sketchy, but I can personally vouch for a wonderful experience.
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