Exploring the Ship

Upon arriving in Southampton, UK, I exited the bus and immediately met another Resident Director (“RD” - my position on the ship; 8 RD positions total), Carlos, who just happened to be sitting at the far end of my bus. We walked to the hotel, grabbed a quick lunch, and got ready for a social to meet other members of the Faculty/Staff (and their families) for the Fall 2013 voyage! After trying to learn as many names as possible, the 10-person Student Life Team on the ship went out to dinner together. We went to a British Pub whose bathrooms had old newspaper articles regarding the Titanic. For those of you who aren’t aware, the Titanic’s last port was Southampton…clearly this was a good sign before boarding the MV Explorer the following day.

The Faculty/Staff Orientation began the next morning, and by 13:00 we were heading to the ship! It really felt like Christmas morning for me. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had that feeling of intense anticipation. When we saw the ship in port, I felt pure excitement (similar to my feeling when opening the Nerf Bow & Arrow at age 7) and couldn’t wait to board. Walking up the gangway was exhilarating, as I started realizing this will be my “home” for the next 4 months.

 The MV Explorer

After some necessary paperwork (including a slip with credit card information…this is necessary because we only use our staff ID when purchasing anything on the ship. This includes items from the bookstore, drinks from the Faculty/Staff Lounge, etc. This is dangerous, as all we’ll get is a bill every month showing what we owe. It’s just so easy to swipe our card and not worry about the bill till later, but I know to not think of it as “fake money”…most of the time), we were given some time to unpack in our cabin…and it was fantastic to know I don’t need to haul huge bags around until our final port in Fort Lauderdale, FL!

The next day and a half flew by with various orientation sessions, continuing to meet faculty/staff, and becoming familiar with the ship. The night before Embarkation, a Parent/Family Reception was held on the ship. This was for any family members in Southampton who wanted to check out the ship (though no students were allowed on board). I quickly learned my way around and volunteered to serve as a tour guide for the event. I found many parents had been alumni of Semester at Sea (SAS) and thus convinced their son or daughter to do it as well (as if much convincing was needed). I also realized many of the families here are wealthy, as a lot of the parents/families were going to fly somewhere along our voyage to meet up with the ship. Many people explained they will be flying to Cape Town, South Africa for another Parent Reception. One set of parents even nonchalantly explained they bought first class tickets after seeing they were only $14,000. Hmm…right. But seriously, the parents were great and they were all really excited for their student to experience this voyage. 

It only took about 30 minutes for me to get a good handle on where everything was on the ship and the most efficient way to get there. Here’s a short tour around the ship via my own pictures. More detailed tours/pictures can be found on the SAS website here.

 My Cabin - Facing The Door

 

 My Cabin - Facing the Window

 Standard Photo Collage (usually placed in my office...many people are in this. Try to find yourself!)

The Union - Largest Classroom/Space on the Ship (holds 400 people)

Glazer Faculty & Staff Lounge 

7th deck forward...awesome location and the bartender Mandy is fantastic!

The students are definitely jealous of this lounge...and probably the happy hours/drinks too.

Garden Lounge Outdoor Seating Area

6th Deck Aft

Best Place to Eat on the Ship (or just sit and watch the wake)

Pool & Bar

7th Deck Aft

The students are always hanging out up here...especially on Beverage Service nights.

 Main Dining Hall 

5th Deck Aft

Piano Lounge (& 24-hour snack bar)

Hallway of the Baltic Sea (my "Sea" with 74 students)

The staff all went to bed early knowing the student’s arrival & Embarkation (as well as the days that followed) would be long days.

"One of the most common truths in life is that we all take for granted things that simply are. Whether a spouse, a friend, a family, or a home, after enough time has passed that person, place, or situation becomes accepted norms of our lives."