MV Explorer is a great ship. We took a tour of all seven levels and had a wonderful orientation by Les McCabe, president of the Institute for Shipboard Education; Ms. Sullivan, president of the University of Virginia; and Captain Jeremy, a Brit with a great sense of humor.
Here are the statistics on those sailing with us:
- 627 students from 27 different countries and 125 universities, 68% are female
- 45 professors (all with Ph.D's), 43 of them are Fulbright Scholars
- 38 Life Long Learners, like me
- A dozen or so children belonging to professors, the youngest is 3-months-old
- 55 staff members connected with the University of Virginia
- 112 workers including the kitchen staff
The idea for Semester at Sea idea is at least 100 years old. It became a floating shipboard reality in 1963. More than 60,000 students are alumni, including my son Joe.
We sail from Ensenada, Mexico, tomorrow night, January 9. Our first stop is Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Please post your questions or comments.
God's speed on your adventure!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a roommate? How big is your room?
Anxious to see pictures of the ship.
Mary Morrison
Wishing you an extra-memorable experience on your Semester at Sea voyage! Your friends in Chicago already miss you and we look forward to sharing in your adventures through your blog.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Emel Singer