#619 Snowflakes and Semester at Sea

No two snowflakes and no two Semester at Sea voyages are alike. 

Here are some of the new things that happened on Fall 2013 that have not happened to us before.

• Heard the announcement "Captain Morgan to reception" (code for a pirate attack drill)
• Participated in an indoor lifeboat drill.
• Participated in a combination crew and passenger safety drill.
• Competed in balloon smash during the Sea Olympics.
• Served on King Neptune's Court.
• Added an extra port.  We've had an itinerary change on every voyage, but we've never just added an extra stop.
• Weeded a photocopier.
• Contributed our Halloween costumes to the shipboard auction.  Our astronaut flight suits raised $300 for the SAS scholarship fund.
• Topped out with 11 study days.  These are on-ship days with no classes. We've never had so many.
• Lucked out with amazingly mild temperatures and smooth seas throughout.  No jackets required.  No meclizine required.
• Freed a whale.  While in Cape Town, the ship's crew were instrumental in helping to save a one-year-old humpback whale which became wedged between the dock and the MV Explorer.
• Participated in a ship-wide event in port.  Our first day in Cuba, 17 buses transported all faculty, staff, and students to the University of Havana.
• Not asked to complete an end-of-voyage evaluation.
• Assisted the ship's photographer with kitecam, aerial photography of the ship from a kite.
• Given an original painting of the shipboard library.  It's going up at Chez Johnston!
• Took an all-Virginia photo.

 

Yours in loving the uniqueness of our Fall 2013 50th anniversary voyage,
Mary