hide
Refer Friends. Get $10*

San Diego

Search U.S. by State:

  • A
  • C
  • D
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • Canada
  • Other Countries
x hide

Oh no... You're too late for this Groupon!

Sign up for our daily email so you never miss another Groupon!

Three-Month Educational Voyage – 15 Cities, 12 Countries

Semester at Sea Trip from The Institute for Shipboard Education with a Variety of Course Options. Age 40 or Older Only.

from$17,095
Buy
No Longer Available
Tue Sep 25 06:59:59 UTC 2012
Value
$28,495
Discount
40%
You Save
$11,400
T954x610
  • Always Learning
  • Once in a Lifetime

Three-Month Educational Voyage

Staticmap?size=186x186&sensor=false&channel=www
  • A

    15 Cities, 12 Countries

    3165 Pacific Hwy., Port of San Diego
    San Diego, California 92101
    Get Directions

Reviews

106-Day, Four-Continent Educational Voyage

The Institute for Shipboard Education was born from an idea to create a floating campus that reflected the ideals of the United Nations and the realities of globalization. Over the years, college students have enrolled in the Institute's Semester at Sea academic program, an intercontinental voyage that has attracted Mikhail Gorbachev, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and other world-famous guest lecturers to speak along the way. Today, the university tours the world aboard the MV Explorer, with each educational voyage featuring informative lectures, courses, and optional field excursions that delve into each port of call's culture and history. And with the Institute's Lifelong Learning Program, travelers 40 or older can join college students for a once-in-a-lifetime odyssey across four continents.

With this Groupon, you'll set out on a 106-day voyage starting on January 9, with stops at 12 countries, including China, Japan, Spain, Burma, and Ghana. Aboard the ship, scholars and field specialists lead several engaging and informative courses, from Buddhism in the Modern World to Puppet Theatre to Marine Biology. As a Lifelong Learning Program member, you can audit these courses, lead share your experiences, or mentor an undergraduate college student. On land, you can explore each port of call independently or participate in the Institute's hands-on field studies, which might include touring the Great Wall, attending an African dance workshop, or watching a traditional Spanish bullfight (additional costs for official field excursions).

Click here to view the full trip itinerary.

Travelers must be 40 or older, have a doctor's clearance to travel, pass a criminal background check, and complete the travel application. Click here for a complete list of requirements.

January 9–14: Transfer from San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico, to board the ship bright and early and disembark for Hawaii.

January 15–16: Hilo, Hawaii See Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes, Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens, and postcard-worthy views at Rainbow Falls State Park.

January 27–31: Yokohama and Kobe, Japan — Yokohama is Japan's second-most populous city, home to the Yokohama Cosmo World amusement park, featuring one of the world's biggest ferris wheels. In Kobe, visit the Kobe Port Tower observation deck, overlooking Osaka and Mount Rokko, and the famous Arima Onsen hot-springs resort.

February 3–8: Shanghai and Hong Kong, China — See futuristic skyscrapers along the Yangtze River and breathtaking 16th-century gardens with placid ponds and ornate pagodas in Shanghai. Downtown Hong Kong is a flurry of activity day and night, with flashing neon signs and bustling night markets. Ride The Peak tram for panoramic views of Hong Kong's skyline and harbor.

February 12–18: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — At the largest city in Vietnam, visit the incense-laden Emperor Jade Palace and sample rice dishes at the Ben Thanh Market.

February 20–21: Singapore — This Southeast Asian city-state is known for its exotic cuisine, including stingray, fish-head curry, and oyster omelets. Visit the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to see exotic wildcats and monkeys.

February 25–March 1: Rangoon, Burma — This city is home to several sacred Buddhist stupas, dome-shaped temples thought to resemble Buddha's form, including the famous Shwedagon Paya pagoda.

March 6–11: Cochin, India — Called 1 of the "50 greatest places of a lifetime" by National Geographic Traveler, this west-coast Indian city’s rickshaws rattle down streets lined with ancient mosques and synagogues.

March 18–30: Port Louis, Mauritius and Cape Town, South Africa — An island nation about 500 miles east of Madagascar, Mauritius is rife with picturesque beaches and tropical forests and is home to the rare pink pigeon. Afterward, you’ll visit Cape Town, South Africa’s second-largest city. Just south of the city, you’ll find two renowned African landmarks: the flat-topped Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope.

April 6–10: Tema, Ghana — Ruins of dozens of Portuguese and Dutch forts and castles dating as far back as the 17th century can be found along Ghana’s southern coast.

April 18–25: Casablanca, Morocco — The largest city in Morocco features the Hassan II Mosque, a stunning example of Moorish architecture with carved wooden ceilings, granite columns, and glass floors above turkish baths.

April 25: Barcelona, Spain — Your final destination, Barcelona draws visitors to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, most notably Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished art-nouveau cathedral. You’ll disembark from the ship here.

Ask a Question
17 Questions 22 Answers

What You Get

Lifelong Learning Program for adults 40 or older. 106-day, 12-country voyage, valid for travel with a friend (two Groupons required), or pay an additional fee to travel solo. Read about package structures here.

  • $17,095 per person for an inside stateroom (up to a $28,495 value)
  • $17,970 per person for an ocean-view stateroom (up to a $29,950 value)
  • $18,895 per person for a junior ocean-view suite (up to a $31,495 value)
  • $19,950 per person for a deluxe ocean-view suite (up to a $33,250 value)
  • $20,700 per person for a superior ocean-view suite (up to a $34,500 value)

Solo traveler fees

  • Inside stateroom: $9,598
  • Ocean-view stateroom: $10,175
  • Junior ocean-view suite: $15,748
  • Deluxe ocean-view suite: $33,250
  • Superior ocean-view suite: $34,500

To forgo the solo traveler fee, Semester at Sea can partner single travelers wishing to share a room with a roommate of the same gender. This share program applies to inside and ocean-view staterooms only.

Book by: 10/10/12
Travel between 1/9/13–4/25/13

Included in all options:

  • Room and board
  • Shipboard meals
  • Premium travel health insurance
  • Shipboard email account

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Amenities

  • 9,000-volume library
  • 24-hour computer lab
  • Onboard dining
  • Swimming pool
  • Desmond Tutu will be on board

We Stand Behind Your Getaway

The Groupon Promise

We're confident in the businesses we feature on Groupon and back them with the Groupon Promise. Learn more.

  • Handpicked Destinations. Our travel experts and writers research every getaway for you.
  • Unbeatable Deals.We negotiate directly with hotels and resorts to get you the deepest discount available — as only Groupon can.
  • Booking Guarantee. If the merchant is unable to book the stay you want during the available dates and before the book-by date, we'll refund your purchase.

More Great Deals See all

17 questions 22 answers

The Fine Print

  • Book by 10/10/12 or promo value expires
  • Travel 1/9/13-4/25/13
  • Limit 1/person + multiple as gifts
  • Limit 1/visit
  • Submit cancel notice in writing
  • Valid for option bought
  • Cancel 89-60 days in advance & fee of 25% Groupon price applies; 59-45 days & fee of 50%; 44-31 days & fee of 75%; 30 days or less & fee up to Groupon price
  • Must be 40+ to travel
  • CC required at check-in
  • Not valid w/rwd pts
  • $9598, $10175, $15748, $33250, or $34500 fee req'd for solo travel
  • Field excursions, internet fee, visas, incidentals & up to $9 daily fuel fee/person not included
  • Groupon Concierge will contact you for reservation set-up post purchase
  • See the rules that apply to all deals.

Other Details

Room Details

In All Available Rooms

  • Standard occupancy: 2
  • Maximum occupancy: 2
  • Adding occupants above standard: not allowed

Inside Stateroom and Ocean-View Stateroom

  • Two twin beds

Junior Ocean-View Suite

  • Two twin beds converted to a double bed

Deluxe or Superior Ocean-View Suite

  • Two twin beds converted to a double bed plus a pullout sofa

Hotel Policies

  • Rollaways: not available
  • Smoking policy: no smoking in cabins; smoking restricted to designated areas
  • Pet policy: pets are not allowed onboard.
  • Accessibility: handicap-accessible cabins are available upon request during booking.
  • Room upgrades: guests can pay a single-supplement fee to have their own cabin.

Getting There

  • By shuttle: Travelers will transfers by bus from San Diego, California, to Ensenada, Mexico, where they’ll board the ship.

Traveler's Tips

  • Before international travel, always check the State Department's website for important info on the destination and its entry/exit requirements.
  • Travelers must be 40 or older, have a doctor's clearance to travel, pass a criminal background check, and complete the travel application. Click here for a complete list of requirements.