Study Abroad Voyages

Summer 2010 Required Travel Documents, Vaccinations, and Port Information

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.

A Valid Passport is required for all participants. Your passport must be valid until February 21, 2011 with 8 fully blank visa pages. Please contact us now at [This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots; you need JavaScript enabled to view it] for assistance with first time or renewal of U.S. passports or to add pages to your existing U.S. passport. Note that the pages at the back of your passport reserved for amendments and endorsements do not count among the blank pages require for this voyage.
Entry Visas for Turkey and Egypt will be obtained en route onboard by the ship. You will not need to apply for any visas in advance of sailing.

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. For more information, please contact Pinnacle directly at 1-888-466-0620.

For the Summer 2010 Voyage, US Citizens will need visas for Egypt and Morocco. Both will be obtained for you en route and do not need to be obtained prior to the voyage. All participants leaving Istanbul will be required to get a visa, as well. The ship staff will assist with this process, there is no need to obtain the Turkey visa prior to the voyage. The fee for US citizens is currently $20.00 (subject to change), which will be charged to your shipboard account.
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.

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. Some entry visas have a short expiration, which means that they must be obtained close to the date of your departure.

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.

If you wish to apply for a U.S. passport on your own, please find instructions on the State Department's travel site.
For lost or stolen U.S. passports, please see the State Department's travel site.
Non-U.S. citizens should consult passport authorities in their country of citizenship.

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 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.

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

Summer 2010 Voyage Departure
To reserve a discounted room as part of the Semester at Sea room block (June 12-15) please contact the Four Points by Sheraton, in Halifax, NS.

Four Points by Sheraton
1496 Hollis Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3Z1 Canada
Phone: (902) 423-4444
Fax: (902) 423-2327
Special Offers Reservations: (866) 716-8101

If the Four Points has no availability you may want to contact The Westin. The hotel is in walking distance to the ship.

The Westin
1181 Hollis Street
Halifax, NS B3H 2P6 Canada
Phone: (902) 421-1000, (877) 993-7846

Summer 2010 Voyage Return
To reserve a discounted room as port of the Semesterter at Sea room block (Aug 20-22) please contact the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, in Norfolk, VA.

Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel
777 Waterside Drive
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
United States
Phone: (757) 622-6664
Fax: (757) 625-8271
Special Offers Reservations: (800) 325-3535

Flights
Semester at Sea has retained the services of BCD Travel Agency to assist with flight arrangements to Halifax, Nova Scotia as well as from Norfolk, VA. If you choose to use this service, please contact BCD Travel Agency at 1-800-245-1099.

Port Information and Ship Location

HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA (STUDENT CHECK-IN)

Name of Port: Port of Halifax - Seaport Terminal
Address of Port: Marginal Road
Berth: Pier 23 ( Cunard Centre).

BARCELONA, SPAIN

Name of Port: Port de Barcelona
Address of Port: Port de Barcelona
Berth: TBA

CIVITAVECCHIA, ITALY

Name of Port: Civitavecchia
Address of Port: Porto di Civitavecchia, 00053 Civitavecchia (Roma) ITALY
Berth: pier n. 10 (to be confirmed)

NAPLES, ITALY

Name of Port: Porto di Napoli
Address of Port: Stazione Marittima, Molo Angioino, Piazzale, Stazione Marittima, Porto di Napoli, 80133 Napoli, Italia
Berth: pier n° 5 at the Maritime Station

DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

Name of Port: Port Dubrovnik
Address of Port: Obala pape Ivana Pavla II, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Berth: pier n° 11 in Gruz port (on 10.7. 2010 she has to leave berth and stay at anchor fm 06.00 hrs to 15.00 hrs)

PIRAEUS, GREECE

Name of Port: Piraeus Cruise Passenger Terminal
Address of Port: Akti Xaveriou, (next to OLP building), Piraeus
Berth: Terminal A

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Name of Port: Istanbul Cruise Port/Salipazari Yolcu Salonu or Karakoy Yolcu Salonu (European Side)
Address of Port: Salipazari or Karakoy, Istanbul
Berth: TBA

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

Name of Port: Alexandria Port
Address of Port: El Nasr Street, Gate #10, Eigomrok, Alexandria, Egypt
Berth: Terminal A or B. TBA

CASABLANCA, MOROCCO

Name of Port: Port of Casablanca
Address of Port: downtown near the train station
Berth: TBA

NORFOLK, USA

Name of Port: Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center
Address of Port: 1 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510
To airport: 18 minutes - 9.6 miles
Berth: TBA