Life at Sea

Ready to Set Sail: Embarkation Day in Photos

Embarkation is a day of many suitcases, a few teary goodbyes, and a palpable feeling of elation. The Summer 2014 voyage of Semester at Sea embarked from Southampton, England on Monday, June 16, 2014. The voyage will visit ports in Northern Europe and Scandinavia as the students, faculty, staff, lifelong learners, and dependents take classes, push their comfort zones, and build a shipboard community. As the newest residents of the MV Explorer board for the first time, excitement abounds, friendships begin to form, and one thing is for sure: It is going to be an amazing summer.

Embarkation-3 — Academic Dean David Gies greets one of the early groups of students and ushers them along toward their new home, the *MV Explorer*.

Hui-Shan Ng, from the National University of Singapore, sees the full view of the MV Explorer for the first time as she steps onto the pier in Southampton, England. — Hui-Shan Ng, from the National University of Singapore, sees the full view of the *MV Explorer* for the first time as she steps onto the pier in Southampton, England. Photo by Katie Rizzo.

Passports are collected and numbered as the entire shipboard community boards. They are kept safe and organized for immigration into the 10 different countries the ship will visit this summer. At right, Lifelong Learner Sybil L. Holloway grins after she comes through the bright doors that led her to the first glance of the MV Explorer. — Passports are collected and numbered as the entire shipboard community boards. They are kept safe and organized for immigration into the 10 different countries the ship will visit this summer. At right, Lifelong Learner Sybil L. Holloway grins after she comes through the bright doors that led her to the first glance of the *MV Explorer*.

The University of Utah student Madeline Rencher looks back at her father Jaryl one last time at the first security checkpoint. “I know she’ll be okay,” Jaryl commented. “I just don’t know if I will be.”

Kelly Garcia, an Art History major from Georgia College and State University, hugs her family goodbye in the ship terminal. — Kelly Garcia, an art history major from Georgia College & State University, hugs her family goodbye in the ship terminal.

Executive Dean Marti Fessenden brings her smile to the ship terminal to meet students and reassure parents that their children will be off — Executive Dean Marti Fessenden brings her smile to the ship terminal as she meet students and reassure parents that their children will be “having the experience of a lifetime.”

Students line up at the bottom of the gangway stairs to begin boarding the MV Explorer — Students line up at the bottom of the gangway stairs to begin boarding the *MV Explorer.*

Two students climb the last, steep stairs with their carry-on luggage in their ascent to Deck 5, where they begin their Summer 2014 voyage. At the top of the gangway sits a sign that everyone will come to know well: all aboard times and the next port of call! — Two students climb the last, steep stairs with their carry-on luggage in their ascent to Deck 5, where they begin their Summer 2014 voyage. At the top of the gangway sits a sign that everyone will come to know well: all-aboard times and the next port of call! Photo by Katie Rizzo.

As the sun begins to set amongst the clouds in Southampton, lights come on aboard the MV Explorer and students begin to gather on the outer decks for their first departure. — As the sun begins to set amongst the clouds in Southampton, lights come on aboard the *MV Explorer* and students begin to gather on the outer decks for their first departure.

Students look on as the MV Explorer throws her lines and the tugboat begins to pull the ship into the channel for a full 180-degree turn. — Students look on as the *MV Explorer* throws her lines and the tugboat begins to pull the ship into the channel for a full 180-degree turn.

Bon Voyage! Students and Lifelong Learners wave to a passing sailboat as the MV Explorer departs from the pier. — Bon Voyage! Students and Lifelong Learners wave to a passing sailboat as the *MV Explorer* departs from the pier.

The sun sets in a cloudy sky on the shipyards in Southampton while new friends watch the city and other ship lights come on as a small wake appears behind the ship, marking the real beginning of the Summer 2014 voyage — The sun sets on a cloudy sky while new friends watch the city of Southampton fade into the distance as a small wake appears behind the ship. The Summer 2014 voyage is officially underway.

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Ready to Set Sail: Embarkation Day in Photos

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