Setting Sail

We made it! We set sail last Wednesday night the 12th at 8pm. We were supposed to leave earlier, but the closing of the Atlanta airport caused many students to be delayed to the ship. Because of the high number who would have missed the ship, the captain delayed our departure as well. (Has anyone else been thinking that Atlanta needs to invest in some additional snow plows?) Anyway, when we left there were about 100 parents and ISE staff on shore waving us off. Students were yelling their last “I love yous” to the parents and a few tears were falling. It was a neat moment. It’ll be even more emotional when we pull into San Diego at the end. More on that in April.

The faculty and staff were on the ship from Jan 9-11 for faculty/staff training. We were busy getting ready for the students so didn’t have much time to get off the ship and see the Bahamas. It was a fast training. Last time I sailed the training was 5 days and this time around I didn’t feel as prepared when the students arrived. I believe the change was entirely financial, but it’s definitely made it a little tougher for us.

MV Explorer docked in the Bahamas

During the four days we were docked at Nassau we saw new cruise ship neighbors each day, mostly Carnival ships with rock climbing walls and water slides and dwarfing our 7 story, 600 foot vessel. The cruise ships would arrive in the morning and leave at dusk. It’s really impossible to see The Bahamas or any country in eight hours. I couldn’t help but wonder, “what’s the point?” It reminds me that we are definitely not on a cruise we are on a voyage, and for that I am very thankful.

our home for the next four months