Blogs from Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean, Oceans and Seas

We got our first ship-to-shore call from Maggie today. If we need to call her, it will be $4 a minute! But thankfully, she can purchase calling cards on board for a much more reasonable price (about $5 per hour). It was great to hear her voice, though we do miss FaceTime and seeing her. She's started classes, and says Global Studies is going to be great because it's totally geared toward Semester at Sea and she loves SAS! She will also be taking World Music, Oceanography, and Introduction to Global Theatre. Her biggest news is that everyone on board is experiencing seasickness....except her! Not sure where she got her sea legs, but she's very grateful she is currently being spared the symptoms her shipmates are enduring right now. She did say that the constant rocking ... read more

Sunday – Embarkation Day After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel we taxied to the port and were on board and in our room before noon. There were balloons on the door and flowers in the room and a bottle on Champaign from our dear friends Bob and Beverly. Our cabin location is very convenient, just steps from the elevator and stairs. We enjoyed lunch in the dining room with Jane & Dwayne (I kid you not) retired air force personal then wandered about the ship, checked out the gym, the pools and the buffet and when we got back to the cabin our suitcases were there. We were unpacked and settled in by 2:00. The emergency drill is mandatory now and we were not dismissed until all cabins were accounted for. ANYONE who refuses to ... read more