This voyage has been on our calendar for almost two years. But the day finally did arrive, way too soon. In San Diego, California, at 1pm on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, we boarded the MV Explorer, the ship that has been the home of
Semester at Sea for the last ten years.
To say the ship is impressive would be an understatement. But I am equally, if not more impressed by the 200 or so constantly busy and always cheerful crew members who take care of the ship, as well as all of us - approximately 550 students, 30 faculty and 40 staff and all their families, and the 60 life long learners...
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| Monumental stairs in two locations connect the ship's 7 Decks |
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| 24 hour Cafe on Deck 6 |
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| View Across Deck 7 and down to Deck 6 just outside the smaller Dining Hall |
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| Deck 7 |
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| Deck 7 |
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| Deck 5 Cabin - Home Sweet Home until May 2nd, 2014 |
We settle in and meet the other faculty and staff and family members. We are from institutions all over the United States. Many are repeat voyagers who have forged strong connections and with each other and have nothing but praise for the mission of ISE (Institute for Shipboard Education) and the defining experience Semester at Sea can be to all those fortunate enough to have the opportunity share the voyage.
We stay docked in San Diego tonight...don't have to worry about the possibility of the dreaded sea-sickness...yet...
Wow, cool ship - thanks for posting photos, Deepika!! What an adventure.
ReplyDelete- Kathleen and Mark