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Spring 2010 Visas, Inoculations, Travel Documents and Ship Locations


Important Information Regarding H1N1 Influenza

The Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) is closely monitoring developments related to the outbreak of swine influenza (H1N1 Virus) in Mexico, the United States, and other parts of the world. At this time, no special requirements are expected for this voyage. As part of our Health and Safety Awareness program, students, faculty, and staff receive detailed information from medical staff and senior administrators about best practices for safe and healthy in-country travel. In addition, during situations of heightened alert, MV Explorer personnel will escalate efforts to ensure that all members of the shipboard community follow more stringent preventive measures. For additional information, please consult your physician, as well as the CDC and the WHO.

Required Travel Documents

The documents outlined below are required to participate on this voyage. Due to very strict international regulations, you will not be able to board the vessel without these documents.

  1. A Valid Passport is required for all participants. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six (6) months beyond the completion of your travel and must have at least eight (8) blank unused pages available, in addition to those reserved for amendments and endorsements at the back of your passport.
  2. Entry Visas are required for China, India, Ghana, and Brazil for U.S. and Canadian passport holders. All other nationalities should consult directly with the consular agencies of each country on the itinerary.

    Note: Due to the short duration of Brazilian entry visas, Semester at Sea will arrange to obtain Brazilian entry visas for all participants while the ship is in Cape Town. Brazilian visa fees will be charged to your shipboard account.
  3. Yellow Fever Vaccination is required for entry into Ghana. Please consult your physician and the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov/travel) for assistance and for more information about this requirement.

Assistance with Passports and Visas

Semester at Sea has retained the services of Pinnacle Travel Document Systems to assist participants with passports and entry visas. If you choose to use these services, please download the Spring 2010 Visa Application. For more information, please contact Pinnacle directly at 1-888-466-0620.

  • If you wish to apply for required entry visas on your own, please contact the consular agencies directly.
  • All Non-US citizens should determine visa requirements directly with the embassies or consular agencies of the countries on the itinerary. For general questions and assistance, please contact Pinnacle. For the Spring 2010 Voyage, US Citizens require visas for Ghana, India, China, Viet Nam and Brazil. However, due to the short duration of Brazilian entry visas, Semester at Sea will arrange to obtain Brazilian entry visas for all participants while the ship is in Cape Town. The Brazilian visa fee of 1,300 Rand (~$174.00) will be charged to your shipboard account. Viet Nam requires a visa for all American citizens, which will be obtained en route, as well. A visa fee of $50.00 (subject to change) will be charged to your shipboard account.
  • Note: Obtaining the proper visas in a timely fashion can be a complicated process and Semester at Sea strongly encourages the assistance of Pinnacle Travel Documents.

Passport Information

If you do not have a valid passport, we strongly urge you apply for one as soon as possible, as you will need it to apply for entry visas.

Special Note for Non-U.S. Citizens

Most of the information provided in this section related to entry visas is specific to U.S. and Canadian passport holders. Specific required may be applicable to passport holder of different nationalities. We urge non-U.S. or Canadian nationalities to inquire directly with the consular agencies of the countries on the itinerary, including the countries where the voyage start and ends. Special attention should be given to those itineraries that include Hawaii as a stop on the itinerary. Please call our office for assistance.

Special Note for Partial Voyagers

Depending on which segment of the voyage you join, some of the travel documents requirements may not apply to you. Please consult our main office for additional guidance.

Traveler's Health and Vaccination Information

Semester at Sea recommends that you consult your physician and the CDC at www.cdc.gov/travel regarding your health condition and any vaccination requirements or recommendations specific to the countries you will visit. Please be advised that vaccination requirements may be imposed at any time by the governments of countries on our itinerary. The CDC provides health information and recommendations for foreign travel that is available 24 hours a day with the use of a touch tone phone by calling 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747). Callers may select any one or all of the informational messages by following the instructions which are given. The information will be updated as needed.

H1N1 Vaccination Recommendation - H1N1 influenza continues to be a concern on college campuses across the country. To minimize the spread of this virus and other illnesses on our shipboard campus, the Institute for Shipboard Education and Semester at Sea have implemented a proactive H1N1 Prevention and Contingency Plan. As a result, we are pleased to report zero cases of H1N1 influenza since its outbreak earlier in the year. As part of our continuing H1N1 Prevention and Contingency Plan efforts, we will screen all faculty, staff, students, and participants when they embark the vessel in San Diego, CA or Ensenada, Mexico for the Spring 2010 voyage. Please be aware that individuals who test positive may be denied admittance. In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, we strongly encourage all voyage participants, in consultation with their physician, to consider the H1N1 influenza vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine before embarkation. Proper immunization can help minimize the risk of infection and reduce the risk of quarantine while traveling in countries where strict screening procedures are in place.

Disclaimer: The Institute for Shipboard Education/Semester at Sea cannot advise regarding the prescription of inoculations and cannot be held responsible for unannounced health requirement changes. Please be sure to discuss any disease prevention with your physician.

Discount Travel and Accommodations

Discounted rooms are available May 4 - 6, 2010 in the Sheraton Airport and Cruise Port Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. You may either book a room online or call the hotel's toll free number at 1-800-325-3535. When calling please ask for the Semester at Sea block.

Port Information and Ship Location

SAN DIEGO, CA USA (FACULTY/STAFF CHECK-IN):
Name of Port: Unified Port of San Diego
Address of Port: 1140 North Harbor Drive
Berth: Broadway Pier or B-Street Pier

ENSENADA, MEXICO (STUDENT CHECK-IN):
Name of Port: Ensenada Cruiseport Villaje
Address of Port: Blvd. Costero S/N Interior, Ensenada, B.C. Mexico 22800
Berth: TBA

HILO, HAWAII USA
Name of Port: Hilo Harbor
Address of Port: 80 Kuhio Street, Hilo, HI 96720
Berth: Pier 1 and 2

HONOLULU, HAWAII USA
Name of Port: Honolulu Harbor
Address of Port: Aloha Tower
Berth: Aloha Tower, Pier 10/11

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
Name of Port: Yokohama
Address of Port: 1-1 Kaigandori, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Berth: Ohsanbashi terminal
http://www.city.yokohama.jp/me/port/cruise/en/

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
Name of Port: Yokohama
Address of Port: 1-1 Kaigandori, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Berth: Ohsanbashi terminal
http://www.city.yokohama.jp/me/port/cruise/en/

KOBE, JAPAN
Name of Port: Kobe
Address of Port: 4-5 Shinko-cho Chuo-ku Kobe city 650-0041
Berth: Shinko Pier No.4 Q-1(Port Terminal)

SHANGHAI, CHINA
Name of Port: Shanghai Port Int'l Cruise terminal
Address of Port: No.800 Dong Da Ming Road,Shanghai
Berth: Shanghai Port Int'l cruise terminal

HONG KONG, CHINA
Name of Port: Harbour City
Address of Port: Canton Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Berth: Ocean terminal, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIET NAM
Name of Port: Nha Rong Port
Address of Port: 3 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Berth: TBA

CHENNAI, INDIA
Name of Port: Chennai Port Trust
Address of Port: Rajaji Salai, Chennai 600 001
Berth: West Quay

COCHIN, INDIA
Name of Port: Cochin Port
Address of Port: Willingdon Island, Kochi - 682 009
Berth: Berth Quay 5 / 6 or Berth BTP

PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS

Name of Port:Port Louis Port
Address of Port:Terminal No 1, Port Louis Harbour
Berth:Quay A or D

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Name of Port: Port of Cape Town
Address of Port: V&A Water Front
Berth: # 2 Jetty

ACCRA, GHANA
Name of Port: TBA
Address of Port: TBA
Berth:

SALVADOR, BRAZIL

Name of Port: Salvador Port
Address of Port: Avenida da França nº 1551 - Comercio
Berth: Shed 02 or Shed 03

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
Name of Port: Port Everglades
Address of Port: 1850 Eller Drive
Berth: Terminal 21

Important Notice Regarding Independent Travel In Hawaii

Due to travel restrictions imposed by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, Spring 2010 participants will not be able to debark in Hilo, Hawaii, and travel independently to Honolulu, Hawaii, to rejoin the ship.  Please call our office if you have any specific questions in this regard.