15-Day, 6-Country Latin America Cruise for One from Institute for Shipboard Education
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Experts in wildlife, politics & arts lead onboard discussions to enrich explorations of Central & South American coastline
What You Get
15-day, 6-country Enrichment Voyage for one through Central and South America aboard the MV Explorer
- $999 for a shared inside cabin
- $1,249 for a shared outside ocean-view cabin
- $1,545 for a shared junior ocean-view suite
- $1,945 for a shared deluxe or superior ocean-view suite
Book by: 4/20/12
Travel by: 5/4/12
Included in all options:- Complimentary shuttle from San Diego to departure port of Ensenada, Mexico
- All meals on board
- All lectures and most workshops onboard
Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.
Country-Hopping Cruise Led by Cultural Experts
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. As Chinese shipping magnate C.Y. Tung put it, “Ships can transport more than cargo—they can carry ideas.” From humble beginnings, the program went on to attract world-famous guest speakers including Mikhail Gorbachev, Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela. Today, the cruising university onboard the MV Explorer offers two-week Enrichment Voyages for learners of all ages, with educational programming that digs deep into each port of call's culture and history. This 15-day cruise incorporates both lectures and hands-on exploration as it passes along Mexico’s Baja peninsula toward the Isthmus of Panama and Ecuador.
At each port on the itinerary, available excursions range from dive trips to volunteer service projects, such as plastering houses or feeding kindergarteners (additional fees apply for shore trips). Or you can set off on your own, armed with knowledge acquired from the recommended reading list.
Days 1–3: After cruising from Ensenada, Mexico, to the southern tip of the Baja peninsula, the ship anchors at Cabo San Lucas. El Arco, the city’s iconic seaside arch, forms a scenic backdrop for a day of kayaking and snorkeling.
Day 6: Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala lies within easy range of Antigua, named an UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved baroque architecture. It's ringed by mountains playing a very slow-moving game of duck-duck-goose.
Day 7: Nicaragua’s largest Pacific port, Corinto, borders León, an old-world town dotted with 17th-century Spanish colonial churches such as the Cathedral of the Assumption.
Days 9–10: Balboa, Panama, stands at the entrance to the Panama Canal—still an engineering marvel. The nearby overflow reservoir, Gatún Lake, is home to crocodiles, iguanas, and sloths.
Days 12–13: Dipping toward South America, the ship docks at Manta, Ecuador, a trade city dating to pre-Columbian times. Pounding waves on Playa Murciélago create attractive surfing conditions.
Day 15: The journey concludes at Puntarenas, Costa Rica, leaving you free to explore inland rainforests or head home.
During each day at sea, college professors and other experts lead a string of seminars. Subjects are as varied as marine ecology, cultural anthropology, and photojournalism, and they often relate to the next port of call.
The ship retains vestiges of its former life as a commercial liner. There are barstools in the 9,000-volume library, for instance, testifying to the space's former role as the ship's tavern. Despite the emphasis on education, there’s still plenty of relaxation aboard. The Wellness Center spa offers massages, manicures, and other pampering services. Nightly live entertainment offerings include an all-male a cappella group, a magician, and staged readings of old Love Boat scripts. During the day, you can even skip class to lounge by the pool, located on deck 7.
See the full trip overview for more information.
Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.
Other Details
Room Details
In All Included Rooms
- Standard occupancy: 2
- Maximum occupancy: 2
- Adding occupants above standard: may be allowed on a case-by-case basis during reservations, based on room type and availability (extra fees apply)
- Fridge, phone, and safe
- Built-in desk and wardrobe
- Closed-circuit TV with movies
- Private bathroom with hair dryer
- 110-volt and 220-volt outlets
Inside and Outside Rooms
- Two twin beds
- Outside rooms include a picture window or porthole
- Closet-size shower
Junior Ocean-View Suite
- Two twin beds converted to double bed
- Small sofa
- Closet-size shower
- Picture window or porthole with ocean views
Deluxe or Superior Ocean-View Suite
- Two twin beds converted to double bed plus pullout sofa
- Private ocean-view balcony with deck furniture
- Bathtub in bathroom
- Sitting area
Hotel Policies
- Check in: varies; shuttle runs from 7 a.m. to approximately noon, with check in available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Check out: 8 a.m.
- 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 (additional 50% of Groupon price) to have their own cabin with single occupancy.
What It's Worth
15-day, 6-country Enrichment Voyage for one through Central and South America aboard the MV Explorer
- $999 for a shared inside cabin (up to a $2,533 value)
- $1,249 for a shared outside ocean-view cabin (up to a $2,933 value)
- $1,545 for a shared junior ocean-view suite (up to a $3,333 value)
- $1,945 for a shared deluxe or superior ocean-view suite (up to a $4,133 value)
Amenities
- Talks by professors and other experts
- Two dining halls and a piano bar
- Outside pool with snack bar
- Approximately 9,000-volume library
- Computer and multimedia labs
- Two gym areas and a spa center
Traveler's Tips
- When making reservations, you'll be placed in the best-available room within your chosen cabin type.
- Internet access through the computer lab or onboard WiFi is free for the first 30 minutes, then available in half-hour increments for a fee after that.
- You'll receive more information on the shuttle from San Diego to Ensenada as the travel date approaches.
- For an extra fee, there is an optional trip extension via bus and flight to the Galapagos Islands.
- Cabins are based on double occupancy; redeem with a friend or family member who also purchased a Groupon to share a cabin with someone you know.
Getting There
- Beginning airport: San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- Beginning shuttle: free shuttle from San Diego (Hilton San Diego) to Ensenada, running approximately 7 a.m.–noon
- Beginning port: Ensenada, Mexico
- Final port: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
- Final shuttle: small fee from Puntaneras, Costa Rica to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
- Final airport: SJO
Need to know info
- Promotional value expires Apr 20, 2012. Amount paid never expires.
- Must book by 4/20/12 or promotional value expires
- Valid only for 5/4/12 departure
- Valid only for option purchased
- 30-day cancellation notice before departure date or fee up to Groupon price applies
- Credit card required at check-in
- Must be 18 or older to check in
- Must be 2 or older to travel
- Passport required
- Not valid with reward points
- $125 fuel surcharge per person and $280 port charge per person not included.
- Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
- Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings