Parents

Staying Connected With Your Student

Your student is off on the experience of a lifetime, but how do you keep in touch?

What can you provide for them while they are away? How are you staying connected?.The resources below will help you to know what is possible for you as a parent to stay involved and keep up to date with the voyage

Voyage Communications

Follow the Voyage Online

The official SAS blog, News from the Helm, is the best way to follow the current voyage. The voyage page website is another way to access important information, including a voyage map and itinerary details. Parents and family of currently sailing voyagers will have access to a voyage portal in advance of embarkation to help students stay on track with voyage prep requirements and voyage updates.

Contacting the Ship in an Emergency

The official SAS blog, News from the Helm, is the best way to follow the current voyage. The voyage page website is another way to access important information, including a voyage map and itinerary details. Parents and family of currently sailing voyagers will have access to a voyage portal in advance of embarkation to help students stay on track with voyage prep requirements and voyage updates.

The fastest way to reach your voyager on board is to call the ISE 24-hour emergency phone number at (602) 693-0839. You will either be connected with the ship or a member of the ISE Senior Leadership Team in Fort Collins, CO, who can assist in an emergency. Please note — this phone number is only listed and active immediately before, during, and after active Semester at Sea voyages. 

Submit a Cake or Wellness Center Request

Cake Request Form

Is your student celebrating a birthday during their voyage, or do they just have a sweet tooth? Order a cake as a fun surprise! Requests must be made a minimum of four days in advance.

Scroll to submit a cake request.

Spa and Wellness Center Request

Help your voyager relax by gifting them with some pampering time at the on-board Spa and Wellness Center. Requests must be made a minimum of four days in advance.

Review the Spa Menu and then scroll to submit a wellness center request.

Wellness Center Request Form

Requests must be made a minimum of 4 days in advance. All charges will be placed on the student’s shipboard account after the celebration.

"*" indicates required fields

MM slash DD slash YYYY
Requester Email*

Please make your selection from the services list:

A gift certificate will be delivered to the cabin. Please write a brief inscription here (5 words max):
You will receive an immediate confirmation to the email address you specified above. If you do not receive anything or have additional questions, email parentprograms@isevoyages.org.

Getting Funds To Your Participant

The Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) cannot accept checks or other forms of payment for transfer to a participant after initial embarkation. The most efficient way to increase your participant’s funds is to deposit money directly into their bank account. Participants are strongly encouraged to carry a debit card, which allows them to withdraw cash in local currency.

In the case of an emergency, or if a participant does not have a debit card, they must request a cash advance from the ship’s purser. Cash advances cannot exceed $300, are limited to one per port, and carry a $15 surcharge. Cash advances are charged to a participant’s shipboard account and must be supported by a valid credit card.

This is the current ISE Cash Advance Policy / Regulations that we are enforcing onboard for your reference:
  • For emergency cases only (i.e. lost wallet that included credit cards, in-port robbery, ATM card eaten by ATM machines, and/or as per ISE approval).
  • Voyagers should have an active credit card on file, and it cannot be the same one as the card that was lost.
  • Cash advance amount maximum of $300 with $15 transaction fee regardless of the amount requested. Over $300 must be approved by ISE.
  • Cash advance to be requested during last day at sea prior to arrival in port from 15:00 to 17:00 hours only unless otherwise approved by ISE.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to keep in contact with my child?

Email is the most convenient and economic method. All students receive a free email account through Semester at Sea – FIRSTNAME.LASTNAME.Voyage@semesteratsea.org (ie. Jane.Doe.SP16@semesteratsea.org). The ship is also equipped with wireless internet access that enables participants to access web-based email services. A limited amount of free Internet time is allotted to students, and after it is used up, additional access minutes may be purchased on the ship. Encourage your child to download Whatsapp, Viber, or another international messaging application on their cell phone. While in port (wifi services are not strong enough on the ship), students will be able to easily communicate with friends and family at home, so long as everyone involved has the app downloaded.

How do I send mail to the ship?

You cannot send mail directly to the ship, but you may send it to the port in which the ship is headed. Mail will be collected in each port and delivered directly to the cabin of your son or daughter. To find mailing addresses for your student’s voyage, please visit the Voyage Overview page.

It is recommended to send international mail at least two weeks in advance preferably via courier, but please see specific recommendations in ‘Mailing Addresses’ section of each voyage page. Do not send currency, food or medicine. Although sending packages is possible, we do not recommended sending items of value or items that cannot be replaced because of customs restrictions and/or duty charges (as a result, packages are not always received by the intended recipient onboard). ISE is not responsible for any mail not delivered to the recipient for any reason, even if sent by suggested airmail dates.

Should I be worried if I don’t hear from my student everyday?

Before departure we encourage you to establish a system of communication with your child while they are away. However, do not worry if you do not hear from them as regularly as you would like. The demands of travel in so many different ports can make communication difficult at times. If there is any cause for concern you will be notified by ISE and Semester at Sea officials immediately.

Will students have telephones in their rooms that can call out? Will I be able to call these telephones?

Every cabin aboard the MV World Odyssey is equipped with phones that enable around the clock ship-to-shore calling (both receiving incoming calls and placing outgoing calls). Students can make outgoing calls by purchasing pre-paid calling cards from the Purser’s Desk on the ship. Family members and friends can call the ship 24-hours a day by dialing the toll free number: 800-305-9203. The caller will be asked to provide a credit card that will be charged approximately $3.95 per minute. Your call will then be connected directly to your son or daughter’s cabin.