Semester At Sea - Tips for Future Voyagers

So before I finish my voyage I want to leave a list of tips that I've compiled throughout the last few months. I asked as many people as I could what they wish someone would have told them before they got on the boat. I compiled all the tips I got and threw in a few things I wish I would have known. I really hope these help some of you future voyagers out! If you have any questions please feel free to shoot me an email: ogvanni@comcast.net and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
 

• Don't worry about not having an international cellphone plan (but if you really want one look into T-Mobile, they have the best one). I recommend buying a local SIM card in each country, especially if you are going on the spring voyage because Wi-Fi is really hard to come by in some of the countries you are going to. It makes keeping in contact with family and friends a lot easier plus SIM cards and data are SUPER cheap.
• When you get on the Facebook page its going to look like everyone on the voyage is looking for roommates. DO NOT TRY TO FIND A ROOMMATE ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE. Everyone does a random roommate and it always works out! It's part of the fun of the voyage!
• I recommend bringing snacks. If you are going on the fall voyage, pack them with you cause you will really want them. If you are going on the spring voyage, don't pack them just be prepared to buy all your snacks in Hawaii. Not packing them gives you just that much more room to pack extra stuff if you need it.
• PACK A BLANKET. Put it in an vacuum sealed bag to get the size down and you can just donate it at the end of the voyage. I promise you will want one during the voyage. Trust me.
• If possible, bring a paper map with you. It doesn't have to be super big or fancy but people normally sign each others maps at the end of the voyage and it's nice to have one. They have some in the ship store the first week but they sell out normally within the first few days of the voyage.
• Over the counter medication is a MUST. I guarentee you will get really REALLY sick at least once on the voyage and you will really want some NyQuil, Tylenol, Immodium (for travelers diarrhea) etc. and it's so much easier when you have it with you already. I also recommend getting a Z-Pack (antibiotics) from your doctor if you can, they will come in handy.
• Seasickness. Some people get seasick, some people don't but if you are not prepared that first week at sea can be rough. So be prepared. You don't need to buy seasickness medication if you don't want to, the boat provides free medicine but if your nervous just buy a few seasickness patches from your doctor. I'm telling you now, put on a quarter of a seasickness patch or take two of the seasickness pills the ship provides before the boat leaves port that first day and continue to take them as prescribed that first few days. You will thank me when you are one of the few people that isn't feeling miserable.
• This tip is more for the students packing for the spring voyage. The first few countries, Japan and China, are going to be freezing but DO NOT overpack with winter clothing. The rest of the countries you are going to will be extremely hot and very humid so you will want a lot of summer type clothing. Also try to limit the clothes packed because I guarantee you will buy a ton of clothing along the way especially in countries like Vietnam where clothing is cheap. ALSO make sure to bring two or three classy "going out" outfits even if you aren't the type of person to go out. They will come in handy at some point during the voyage.
• Keep in mind that internet on the ship is extremely limited and very VERY slow. If you can, keep in contact with someone during the voyage that can help you book flights and hotel rooms because that will come in handy when you are trying to travel independently. Also keep in mind that at some point during the voyage you will have to register for your classes back at your home university, so ask someone ahead of time if they can register for you. It will save you a lot of frustration.
• BRING LOTS AND LOTS OF MAGNETS!!!! You cannot tape things on the boat but the walls in your room are magnetic so if you want to put up photos or a map I recommend you bring tons of magnets.
• One of the best tips I got from a former students Semester At Sea blog was to buy a cheap over the door or closet shoe storage hanger like you would buy for college. You can roll your shirts and pants up and put them in the pockets. It is a huge space saver!
• Do not over pack on toiletries! You will not need as much as you think. Pack one small travel bag for traveling in ports but other than that just be smart when purchasing your toiletries. If you run out you can get more on the boat, so you will be ok. Bring a lot of sunscreen though!
• I cannot stress enough how important it is to bring an external hard drive to back up your computer or to just hold your documents. People's computers crash all the time on the boat because of humidity, vibrations etc. and they lose everything. So consider buying one. Also bring a few thumb drives with you so you can trade music and movies with everyone on the boat.
• Which brings me to the next tip. Bring a few books but also bring as many movies and tv series as you need to last you 4 months. Download them ahead of time on to your computer because you will definitely want to watch some during the long 10 to 12 day stretches at sea.
• DO THE EXTENDED FAMILY PROGRAM! Everyone on the ship does it and it is a great way to meet new people, including faculty and life long learners who will most likely be your extended "Mom" and "Dad". PLEASE do it because it was one of the best things I was involved in on the ship.
• If there is one thing that I would stress more than anything it would be to get involved as much as you can. Semester At Sea is what you put into it so the more you do, the more you get out of it. PARTICIPATE IN NEPTUNE DAY AND SEA OLYMPICS! You will regret it so much if you don't.
• Get the addresses, phone numbers and emails of friends and family you will want to stay in contact with ahead of time and write them down somewhere! Laptops crash and phones get stolen all the time during the voyage so having them written down in a journal or on a piece of paper helps a lot.
• Independent Travel vs. Field Programs. This is a really hard thing to give tips on because everyone feels differently. The way I did it was I bought 4 big over night field programs to places that I knew I wanted a guarantee I would see (like the Taj Mahal for example). Everywhere else I did independent travel. My personal opinion, do not buy day programs because you can do any of those day programs for cheaper and independently with no issues. Also do not buy more that 4 big overnight programs because you will regret it if you do. Last but not least DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, buy any programs for the last leg of your voyage because you will want to travel with all of your friends, I promise you.
• OH! One thing that I would have appreciated a heads up on is the fact that the Semester At Sea clothing store on the boat does NOT restock throughout the semester. If there is any SAS clothing or memorabilia that you think you might want go buy it that first week because chances are it will be gone. If you are not picky, wait till the end of the voyage to buy stuff because there is always a huge sale with discounted prices.
• One thing I wish someone would have elaborated more on is that the "Drunk Tank" is a real thing and if you try to board the ship intoxicated you will get thrown in it and you will have to pay $150 and call your parents. If you get thrown in 3 times, you get kicked off the boat so don't be that person (also don't try to break out of the drunk tank...and be successful...or you will automatically get kicked off). Also "random" drug tests happen every first day at sea after a port, keep that in mind before you get on the boat (also if you are a cigarette smoker, chances are you will get drug tested first and more than once). Cabin searches also happen and are supposedly "random" but they normally happen to people who have been thrown into the drunk tank or are suspected of smuggling alcohol or other prohibited items on board. Be careful who you talk to about stuff like that because chances are someone will find out.
• BRING A LARGE AMOUNT OF AMERICAN CASH (or EUROS if that is easier for you). It will come in handy, I promise. Credit cards and debit cards don't always work in every country so having American cash on hand to exchange will save you. Be sure to give your credit card/debit card company a full itinerary of where you will be going and for how long so that they won't flag your card when you try to use it. Also check to see if you card company refunds the transaction fees when you use it at an ATM because those add up quickly.
• Make sure to be kind to all of the crew members. They are some of the most amazing people you will ever meet. Say hi, ask how they're day is going, just be nice and you will become quick friends (Say hi to Bravo and Edwin for me if you get the chance!). Bringing American cash on board also helps if you want to tip any of the crew at the end of the voyage or during, which you should do.
• Getting on the boat can be a pain if you don't pay attention to what the prohibited items are. Security will confiscate twist off cap drinks, already opened food, some wooden items if they think they are hallow, salad dressings, henna, holi powder, if you have too big a bag of food etc. If there is something you think is questionable, chances are Dirk will take it so just don't bring it on the boat.
• BUY A MONEY BELT AND DO NOT TAKE IT OFF EVER. I know quite a few people that had things pick pocketed/stolen ranging from phones and credit cards to cash and passports. Put everything in your money belt (including your phone) and keep it on you at all times and you shouldn't run into any issues with having things stolen.
• I know it can be hard to keep branching out when you find an amazing group of people on the boat that you love and are friends with but keep trying to meet new people. You can still have your group of friends but getting to know as many people as you can will help make your voyage that much better. Programs and joining clubs on the boat is a great way to do that! Even just sitting down at a random table with people you don't know (even 3 months into the voyage) is a good way to meet new people.
• BRING A LAPTOP or tablet etc. Some people say not to bring one, I honestly don't think I would have been able to get anything done if I didn't have my computer. It's ultimately your call but I recommend at least bringing a tablet to help you write you papers, email, take notes in class etc.
• If you are on a budget or even just trying to keep track of your spending, buy a notebook to write down what you buy and keep all your receipts. It really helps to keep your spending to a minimum when you are able to see exactly how much money you are spending in every port. A little extra work doing that can save you a few hundred dollars in the long run which can give you the option to buy an extra flight or buy that tapestry you fell in love with.
• Since my voyage is the last voyage on the MV Explorer I'm not sure what the painting situation in the new rooms on the new ship will be like but if it is anything like the MV Explorer, bring a small pocket knife with a screwdriver head in it. You will want it to help take the paintings off the wall in your room. On the Explorer, there were at least 10 years worth of messages from past voyagers on the back of our paintings. On the new boat there might not be any messages yet so you should restart the tradition!
• When it comes to traveling to someplace you REALLY want to go, don't compromise on it! I guarantee you can find someone else on the boat that wants to travel to the same place as you. Ask around, spread the word, put a flyer on your sea's bulletin board. DO NOT give up and go someplace you really don't want to just because your friend group is going there. You can get to wherever you want as long as you try!
• At the beginning of the voyage a lot of people will talk about traveling Europe after the voyage is over (this is more for the spring voyage because we get dropped in London or Greece). Don't freak out if you're not sure if you want to! A lot of people may be saying that now but as it actually gets towards the end people get tried, plans change and funds run out. So don't feel like you are missing out on anything if you don't plan on traveling there BUT I recommend NOT booking a plane ticket home until the last 20-30 days of the voyage.

No matter how many tips I throw your way, you will forget something or something will go wrong but that comes with traveling and you will learn to go with it. Most of all have fun. The more you put into the voyage, the more you get out of it. Get out of your comfort zone, try traveling alone for a day (don't tell your parents I said that). You always have the ship to come back to. Just remember to travel safe and be smart but HAVE FUN! You are traveling the world and that in itself is a once in a lifetime opportunity, make every second count.

Morocco - Casablanca, Fez & Chefchaouen


Day 1
The first day in Morocco I spent exploring Casablanca. I was able to visit the Hassan II Mosque which has the tallest minaret (the large tower) in the world and the mosque itself is the 7th largest in the world. There wasn't all that much other than a few markets and stores in Casablanca. I grabbed lunch and dinner then headed back to the boat for the night.


Day 2
I left for Fez on the 4 am train, it was about a three and a half hour train ride along the coast and through the capital city, Rabat. We arrived in Fez at around 10:30 in the morning and made our way to our hostel in the medina. People had warned me that the medina was confusing and that you could get lost lost easily. That was all very true because it ended up taking us an hour to find our hostel. Our hostel ended up being a riad which is a traditional moroccan house with a small courtyard in the center and it was absolutely beautiful. We had the hostel owner, Nor, get us a guide for the medina and we spent the rest of the day wandering around the old city.








Day 3
While in Fez we made plans to have a driver pick us up from our hostel early in the morning and drive us to the city of Chefchaouen, also known as the Blue City. It was about a three and a half hour drive through the Moroccan countryside to get there and it was one of the most beautiful scenic drives ever. Once we got there we grabbed brunch and then spent the day wondering around the blue streets of the city. At around 3 in the afternoon we made the three hour drive back to Fez and spent the rest of the night in the hostel.


Day 4
Early this morning the majority of the group I was traveling with left to make their way to Marrakech. Myself and one other girl stayed behind to spend the rest of the day in Fez. We did some last minute shopping, grabbed lunch and the caught the afternoon train back to Casablanca where we spent the night on the boat. 


Day 5
I spent the last day in Morocco and a local market in Casablanca and getting wifi. I wish I would have had a few more days in Morocco to go visit a few more cities. Overall Morocco was beautiful and I will have to go back and spend more than just 5 days there.
 

Namibia - Walvis Bay, Sossusvlei & Swakopmund


Day 1
I spent the first day Namibia wandering around the port town, Walvis Bay. To be honest there wasn't much there other than a few restaurants and a couple stores that were open. We arrived there during Holy Week which is something the people in Namibia take very seriously and it is considered a holiday in their country so mostly everything in town was completely closed for the week. Walvis Bay was an interesting city though. Everything there was surrounded by sand and sand dunes which was a totally unlike any place I have ever been.




Day 2
This was day number one of a three-day camping trip that I joined probably a day before we arrived in Namibia.There were about 18 of us in total and we met up with our guides at about 9 am and embarked on the 6-hour drive to Sossusvlei. Although the majority of the drive was through the desert we passed by some of the most unique landscapes I have ever seen. We also passed over the Tropic of Capricorn which was a lone sign on the side of the highway (which was a sand/dirt road), in the middle of a desert. Overall, even though the drive was long it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. We made it to Sossusvlei at around 4 pm that afternoon, set up camp and cooked dinner.




Day 3
Our guides, Gabriel and Phillip, had us get up at 5:45 am and be on the bus at 6:00 am to go out into the park to climb a sand dune and watch the sunrise over the desert. I was about a 20 minute drive to get to Dune 45 and it was still pretty dark when we arrived. I learned fairly quickly that even though sand dunes look easy to climb you will be completely winded in about 60 seconds. I also learned the top is never the top, you might think that you are getting to the top but once you get there you look 30 feet in front of you and there is another high point for you to hike to. Once we all made it to what we decided was the top, we were able to look behind us to see the moon setting and look in front of us to see the sun rising. Sitting up on the dune and watching the sunrise was by far one of my favorite moments of the entire trip. There are not words to describe how beautiful it was. After enjoying the sunrise and breakfast down at the bottom of the dune we headed out to Dead Vlei, which is a dried up river bed surrounded by one of the tallest dunes in Namibia. I would have loved to go there at night to see the stars but being there during the day was just as surreal. After about 45 minutes we headed back to camp for the day, cooked dinner then went out after to watch the sunset.




Day 4
We got up fairly early this morning to make the 6-hour drive back to Walvis Bay. On the drive back we saw a couple herds to wild Zebra's and a few Springbok here in there but the drive was exactly the same as the way to Sossusvlei. Once I made it back to the boat that afternoon I pretty much went back to my room and passed out for the night.


Day 5
The last day in Namibia I spent in Swakopmund. We drove to Dune 7 just outside of Walvis Bay and hiked around for half an hour before making our way to Swakopmund to ride camels for an hour in the dunes. Riding camels was definitely an experience but I'm glad I didn't spend more than an hour on one because about half way in it started to get really uncomfortable. I then headed back to the boat for the day and we left Namibia later that afternoon.

South Africa - Cape Town & the Garden Route


Day 1
The first thing I did when we got into port in South Africa was get off the boat and make my way to Table Mountain (pictured above) to hike it. I had been told by a friend of mine on the boat who was from South Africa that the hike was extremely strenuous so I was somewhat mentally prepared for the hike. There was originally five people in my hiking group, ten minutes in we had one person turn back, thirty minutes in we had two more people turn back and take an easier trail then me and one other girl finished the hike. It ended up taking two and a half hours and it was more of a vertical boulder climb then a hike but making it to the top and seeing the view made it all worth it. We then took the cable car the runs up and down the mountain back down to the base and made our way to the V&A Waterfront for lunch/dinner. then spent the night on the boat.


Day 2
I had no set plans for this day so a friend and I went back to the V&A Waterfront and did some shopping. When then got a taxi and had him drop us off on Long Street which is a popular street in South Africa with restaurants for lunch. Just down the street from Long Street is also a popular market where we did some more shopping. This port is definitely where I spent the most amount of money. Both us had no idea what else to do so we found a taxi driver and told him to take us somewhere interesting. He ended up taking us on a 30 minute seeing drive to a small bay where we hopped on the last tour boat out to a seal island which is where I saw the man in the photo above feeding a wild seal (yes, the seal is not a trained pet) food from his mouth. After the boat we took the same drive back along the coast and made it to the boat for sunset.

Day 3
This was the last day before I left for my safari and again I had no plans, except for a morning university exchange that SAS had set up with the University of the Western Cape. I ended up sitting down for breakfast with a group of kids that I sort of knew and they mentioned that they were going to pet cheetahs. The safari that I had signed up for originally was going to allow us to pet and walk with some of the cheetahs they had on the game reserve but a few days before we got to Cape Town they informed us that the cheetahs had been rehabilitated and released back on to the reserve so we were not going to interact with them. When I heard that this group was going I joined in and met up with them after the university exchange. The Cheetah Outreach we went to ended up being about an hours drive away so we all go to know out taxi driver very well who had some interesting perspectives on everything happening in South Africa. Once we got to the outreach it ended up being a very long wait to pet the cats because if the cats aren't in a resting mood then they have to wait for them to lay down. Once they calmed down I was able to pet Joseph (the cheetah pictured above). He was 12 years old and the oldest cat they had at the outreach. After that I made my way back to Cape Town, stopped at the boat for ten minutes then went out and hiked Lions Head Mountain for sunset which was the most breathtaking view ever.



Day 4
This was the first day of my three day safari. Our safari was on the Garden Route Game Reserve which was about a four hour drive from the ship in Cape Town. Once we got there we had a few hours to unpack before we headed out on our first game drive. We saw all kinds of animals from wildebeests, zebras, many wild birds and other game. We then went back to the lodge for one of the most amazing meals I've ever had and had an star gazing session where I was able to see the southern cross.



Day 5
The second day of the safari we had two game drives, one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon. In the morning we were able to go view the lions who are known for being a little bit temperamental and ended up charging on of the cars so we had to leave them. We went and found the two hippos that are on the reserve and witnessed a blue crane, South Africa's national bird, teaching its baby how to fly which was amazing to witness. On the sunset drive we set out to find the cheetahs on the reserve but were unsuccessful. The sunset was beautiful and we had another amazing meal.

Day 6
The was the last day of the safari and the last day in South Africa. On our last game drive that morning we set out to find the cheetahs and we ended up just missing it kill an ostrich by just ten minutes. We spent the rest of the time looking for the cheetah and seeing the last of the game. We ended up finding one of the cheetahs on our way out of the reserve (pictured above). We packed up our stuff and made our way back to Cape Town. The immigration set up ended up being insanely complicated and we made it back on the boat about three hours after we were supposed to. I hated leaving South Africa and this is one country that I will definitely have to come back to.
 

Sea Olympics - The Battle of the "Seas"

Sea Olympics is a Semester At Sea tradition that every voyage participates in. For my voyage the Sea Olympics happened during the six day stretch as we travelled from Mauritius to South Africa. Sea Olympics works by dividing the shipboard community into different Seas based on where your cabin is located on the ship. There was the Yellow Sea, Red Sea, Bering Sea, Baltic Sea, Caribbean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Arabian Sea (which was my sea!) and the Sea-lebrities (which was the faculty, staff, children and life long learners). The day is then spent competing against different seas in challenges ranging from basketball and relay races to synchronized swimming and lip syncing performances (which my sea KILLED, I'll have to post a video at a later time).

I participated in the Minute to Win It games. For those of you who don't know, Minute to Win It is a TV game show where participates are giving different tasks that all have to be completed in a minute or you lose. I had to cover my body in shaving cream and catch as many cheetos as possible that were thrown at me. I came in second with 42 cheetos. My sea ended up winning the entire Sea Olympics which was mainly thanks to the boys in our sea doing a lip synch performance to Anaconda by Nicki Minaj that received a standing ovation because it was so good. This specific Sea Olympics was also extremely bittersweet because we are the last Sea to ever be Sea Olympic Champions on this ship (the MV Explorer) because the boat has been sold off to a French cruise line that will pick up the boat when our voyage ends.

Overall the entire day was fantastic and I recommend, to any future voyages that are readying this, that you participate in as many games as possible, be as spirited as you can and cheer on everyone because it makes the day just that much more fun for everyone.


(Opening cheer off of the 2015 Sea Olympics. My sea was the Arabian Sea Rap Gods.)


(This is me participating the Minute to Win It game which was a lot harder then it looks.)


(This is my entire sea! WOOH ARABIAN SEA 2015 SEA OLYMPICS CHAMPIONS!!!)

Mauritius - Port Louis

Mauritius was the half way point for us on our way to South Africa from India. Unfortunately, due to some incidents with students on past voyages at this island (300 plus students getting drunk tanked and SAS having to use our largest lecture hall as the drunk tank & six students almost burning down a hotel) we only stopped at the island for 12 hours to refuel. We were also only allowed off the boat if we purchased a field program through Semester At Sea or had a field lab for one of our classes. I had a field lab for my Intro. to Oceanography, where I was able to go to a Mangrove restoration that was started by the women of a small coastal village and a coral reef restoration NGO that is being funded by the United Nations. I wasn't able to spend as much time experiencing the diverse culture the island had to offer but it is hands down the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The beach to mountain contrast was breathtaking and I really hope I will be able to travel back there at some point in my life.


(Mauritius is covered in the these open fields of sugar cane which are planted everywhere throughout the island because it is one of the few crops that withstand the severe storms that constantly hit the island due to its location in the Indian Ocean.)


(This is one of the few mangrove restoration areas scatter across the coast line. The mangroves are those tiny little tree like plants sticking out of the water. They help stop erosion of the shoreline by collecting sediment washed in by the tides.)


(One of the many beaches that make up the sandy coastline of Mauritius.)

Neptune Day - The 'Crossing of the Line' Naval Tradition (March 14th, 2015)





For those of you that don't know, the crossing of the equator is a big deal in the maritime world. Neptune Day is an almost 400 year old naval tradition that celebrates the crossing of the equator. Every Semester At Sea voyage that crosses the equator celebrates this day to pay tribute to King Neptune, as we transition from "Pollwogs (those who have not crossed the equator)" to "Shellbacks". In order to make this transition you must follow this step-by-step guide:

1) Get woken up by crew members marching through the halls with drums & cymbals.
2) Meet Queen Minerva along with The Emperor of the Ocean King Neptune on the top deck.
3) Get fish guts (actually just green water) poured on your head and jump in the water.
4) Kiss the fish.
5) Kiss King Neptune's diamond ring.
6) Get knighted by the Royal Chamberlain
7) (optional) Have your head shaved by the Royal Barbers.

I would have taken more photos but it was a very water oriented day so my camera stayed away. You can look at more photos on the Neptune Day blog post if you're interested:  http://www.semesteratsea.org/2015/03/16/photo-gallery-neptune-day-2/