March 17 - 26Register today!

Parent Trip 2017South Africa

Semester at Sea

Dear Semester at Sea Parent or Guardian,

Did you know that you have the opportunity to be a part of your child’s Semester at Sea experience?

The Institute for Shipboard Education coordinates a Parent Trip during each Semester at Sea voyage and we invite you— the parents and family members of voyagers— to explore a foreign country with your son or daughter and share in their development and understanding of our interdependent world.

The Spring 2017 Parent Trip to Cape Town and Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa will be March 17 – 26. The trip is planned around the voyage itinerary so that students travel with their parents during the time the ship is in South Africa. The trip will include six nights in Cape Town and three nights in Phinda Reserve. The students will be part of the Parent Trip from the day they arrive in Cape Town on March 19 until they return to the ship on March 24.

Please Note: If your student has a Field Class on March 20, they will not be able to participate in the Parent Trip. We depart for safari in the early morning of the 20th.

As a Semester at Sea parent, I cannot overstate the excitement you will experience by participating in this trip! The look on your son’s or daughter’s face, along with the big hug you will get when you meet up with them, will have you thrilled that you decided to join them for a part of their life-transforming voyage. If you have any questions regarding this trip, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Melissa Bingler

Associate Vice President of AdvancementParent - Fall 2014

Day 1March 17: Arrival in Cape TownTravel to Cape Town. A transfer is included from the Cape Town International Airport to the hotel on the day you arrive. The afternoon will be at leisure, followed by a Welcome Reception in the hotel.

Evening Reception | Lodging: The Table Bay Hotel

Day 2March 18: Introduction to Cape TownThis morning will allow for a leisurely breakfast and optional excursions on your own in and around Cape Town. In the afternoon, we will travel together up Kloof Nek, between the iconic Table Mountain and Lions Head mountains and ascend to the Mountain Station via cable car. We will then drive to the summit of Signal Hill, where we will take in the spectacular views and sunset while enjoying sundowners and canapes. We will end the day with dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Meals: B, D | Lodging: The Table Bay Hotel

Day 3March 19: Arrival of the MV World OdysseyThis morning we will jump on the coach for a short transfer to the World Odyssey at the port in Cape Town. The remainder of the day and evening will be free to spend with family, with the option of boarding the ship or exploring Cape Town. Please note that some voyagers may have required, faculty-led Field Classes. Students will check in to the hotel today and will be with the group until March 24, the day the ship leaves Cape Town.

If your student has a Field Class on March 20, they will not be able to participate in the parent trip.

Meals: B | Lodging: The Table Bay Hotel

P a r e n t T r i p I t i n e r a r y

Day 4March 20: Cape Town and Phinda Private Game ReserveFollowing an early breakfast and hotel checkout, we will depart for our flight to Durban and our spectacular safari experience at Phinda Private Game Reserve. Phinda is situated in the lush Maputaland region of northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Following lunch, we will depart for our first of six game drives. Dinner will be served at the lodge’s outdoor open air “boma.”

Meals: B, L (picnic lunch), D | Lodging: Phinda Private Game Reserve

Day 5 & 6March 21-22: Phinda Private Game ReserveWe will have early coffee, tea and biscuits and a morning game drive followed by a full breakfast upon our return to the lodge. The remainder of the morning and early afternoon will be free for various options, including a guided bush walk around the lodge, swimming, or watching wildlife from your private veranda. We’ll meet again for afternoon tea and a late afternoon game drive. On Day 5, we will have dinner at the lodge. On Day 6, we will have dinner in a surprise bush location (weather permitting).

Meals: B, L, D | Lodging: Phinda Private Game

Reserve

Day 7March 23: Phinda Private Game Reserve and Return to Cape TownWe will have another early morning game drive followed by a hearty breakfast before checking out of the lodge and traveling to the airport in Durban for a flight back to Cape Town. After checking into The Table Bay Hotel, the rest of the evening is free to enjoy Cape Town or to rest after 3 days of safari.

Meals: B | Lodging: The Table Bay Hotel

Day 8March 24: Cape Peninsula and Cape PointIn the morning, we will drive along one of South Africa’s most scenic routes to Cape Point, the most south-westerly tip of Africa. Among the highlights along this journey are the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and their differing ecosystems meet. Enjoy a stroll around Kalk Bay and enjoy a late lunch on the main street. In the afternoon, we will return to Table Bay Hotel to collect students’ luggage. A coach will transfer us to quayside and we will say our farewells to the students. We will return to the hotel and watch for the ship to pass by.

Meals: B | Lodging: The Table Bay Hotel

Day 9March 25: Cape Town and the WinelandsIn the morning, we will take the N1 National Road to the romantic town of Paarl, the “Pearl” of the Berg River Valley. After visiting the Taal Monument, we will go to the Nederburg Wine Estate, where we will enjoy a cellar tour and taste some of the local wines. We will visit the village of Franschhoek, which has a rich history and tradition of viticulture dating back to the 17th century arrival of French Huguenots. Following time for browsing and shopping, we will go to a local wine estate for a picnic lunch. We will drive back to Cape Town, freshen up and then enjoy a farewell dinner at Table Bay Hotel’s Pavilion Room.

Meals: B, L, D | Lodging: The Table Bay Hotel

Day 10March 26: Cape Town / Journey HomeThe group will depart Cape Town, transfers to the airport are included.

Meals: B

Register today with this form!

Questions? Email mbingler@isevoyages.org.