A Priceless Holiday: Institute for Shipboard Education Presents New Year's in the Amazon

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A world of cultural sharing and exploration awaits travelers aboard the Institute for Shipboard Education's upcoming Enrichment Voyage, which will sail for several days along the Amazon River during its three-week voyage through the Caribbean and South America from December 22, 2011 to January 12, 2012.

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This year's voyage will celebrate the Christmas holiday in San Juan, Puerto Rico and will make its special passage through the Amazon River to celebrate the New Year. Throughout the six-day exploration of the Amazon River, voyagers will experience the river's vastness, share cultural experiences, and witness the magical "meeting of the waters" when the Rio Negro and the cafe-au-lait-colored Solimoes meet to form the Amazon River.

Rita Dove, the Pulitzer-prize winning poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate (1993-95), and civil rights activist and University of Virginia professor Julian Bond, will head an esteemed group of lecturers and experts during the 22-day voyage. Speakers will lead interactive lectures, workshops and pre-port briefings related to each country on the itinerary, providing an in-depth look into the countries and cultures visited. Participants can further tailor their travel experience through a variety of excursions, service visits and activities.

"What a pleasure to sail on one of the world's most majestic rivers and experience the dynamic cultures that grace its banks as well as the vibrant Caribbean countries that we will visit," said Mr. Bond, a history professor at the University of Virginia (U.Va.), where he has been teaching since 1991.

Enrichment Voyages are a one-of-a-kind travel and learning adventure for participants of all ages. "Participants on Enrichment Voyages have some of their most intellectually active and enjoyable travel experiences aboard the ship and in these countries," says Kelli Palmer, director of the Enrichment Voyage program.

In addition to sailing along the Amazon River with stops in Manaus and Santarem, Brazil, the upcoming voyage will visit seven Caribbean countries, exploring the histories, cultures, art, beaches and foods. Voyagers can also "give back" through service learning opportunities in several ports of call, including volunteering in orphanages or local community building projects.

This is all part of the enriching shipboard environment aboard the MV Explorer, a state-of-the-art ship that serves as the floating campus for the Semester at Sea global study program. The ship provides the energy of a college campus and the adventure of foreign ports. It's an ideal setting for discussing world issues—a floating university, complete with an 9,000-volume library, computer center, Internet and Wi-Fi, a common hall and nine classrooms.

"I haven't found any other travel experiences quite like these Enrichment Voyages. You stay aboard a lovely ship. Meet fascinating and educated people. Visit nearly a dozen countries. And you only have to unpack once. It's just a great way to see and learn about our world," said Mary Harvey of Danville, California, who recently sailed on ISE's April Enrichment Voyage through Central America.

The size of the MV Explorer—at 590-feet—offers a comfortable, intimate environment compared to typical cruise vessels. Its smaller size allows the Enrichment Voyage staff, lecturers, experts, and crew to provide a higher-quality experience to participants.

The upcoming Enrichment Voyage runs from Dec. 22, 2011 to Jan. 12, 2012. It will depart Nassau, Bahamas and travel to Puerto Rico; St. Kitts; Grenada; Manaus and Santarem, Brazil; Trinidad; Barbados; and Dominica before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Voyagers can also "give back" through service learning opportunities in several ports of call.  Travelers booking before June 15 will receive a nearly 15% discount on normal rates. Make a reservation on the Institute for Shipboard Education Enrichment Voyages website.

Learn more about upcoming Enrichment Voyages at www.enrichmentvoyages.org or join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/enrichmentvoyages.

About the Institute for Shipboard Education

The Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) is a 501c3 non-profit organization based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Tracing its roots back to 1963, the Institute administers the multiple-country study abroad program Semester at Sea as well as Enrichment Voyages, a Lifelong Learning Program, and the Forum on Global Engagement. The mission of ISE is to educate individuals with the global understanding necessary to address the challenges of our interdependent world.

Contact: Lauren Heinz, [email protected], 434-243-4055

SOURCE Institute for Shipboard Education