Around the world in 100 days...

It is all finally happening! I leave tomorrow for the Bahamas and the journey begins... After months of planning, filling out paperwork, getting lots of shots, making travel arrangements, getting visas, packing, repacking, and repacking again I am finally on my way! I am embarking on the adventure of a lifetime circumnavigating the globe with the Institute for Shipboard Education's Semester at Sea program. I am going to be living on a ship for 100 days! I am leaving behind my friends and my family and everything familiar to sail off into the unknown.

So why a semester at sea!?!

People keep asking me why I chose such an unconventional program and why I going abroad. The truth is that as cheesy as it sounds, I genuinely want to see the world and make a difference. Throughout our voyage we will be stopping in Puerto Rico, Brazil, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, China, and Japan and taking in as much of the country as possible for a few days. I have always been told how lucky I am to live in this country and that I have more education, more opportunity, more wealth and more freedom than the majority of people who have ever lived. I want to see how big and small the world really is, and see what is beyond my rose-colored glasses. This program will let me not only learn about these countries, but experience them along the way. I'm doing this because I want Vietnam to be a real place to me, and not just a war that I learned about in history class. I want to climb the great wall of China... the one that you can see from space. I want to see the best of what wealth can build in the majesty of the Taj Mahal, and the worst of what poverty can brings for the starving, in the townships, in the shanty villages, and in the beggars on the streets. I want to see all these sights that I’ve heard about, and this semester I have the opportunity to not only see them, but to learn about them as well. This is an experience and an opportunity of a lifetime and have been very blessed to have the support of so many in this journey. Check here often for updates as I bring you my adventures from the high seas...!

The floating campus...

So you are probably wondering about this floating school on a ship. The MV Explorer serves as a fully functional college campus. It has classrooms, a student union, a library, a computer lab... and an even better ocean view than Point Loma! I actually got to tour the boat when it was docked in San Diego in December and it is gorgeous. It is like a little mini cruise ship with 7 decks, a spa and salon, a fitness center, a pool, lounges, you name it.. It is actually the fastest passenger ship in the world! I will have some (although limited) internet access so shoot me an email sometime.

The Intinerary...

In case you are every wondering where in the world I am:

(Day/Date/Time)
Nassau, Bahamas
Depart 19 January 1700

San Juan, Puerto Rico
Arrive - Monday 23 January 0800
Depart - Wednesday 25 January 2300

Salvador, Brazil
Arrive - Wednesday 01 February 0800
Depart - Sunday 05 February 2300

Cape Town, South Africa
Arrive - Tuesday 14 February 0800
Depart - Monday 20 Febrary 2300

Port Louis, Mauritius
Arrive - Monday 27 February 0800
Depart - Wednesday 01 March 2300

Chennai (Madras), India
Arrive - Thursday 09 March 0800
Depart - Monday 13 March 2300

Yangon, Myanmar
Arrive - Thursday 16 March 0800
Depart - Tuesday 21 March 0600
(On-ship time is Monday, March 20 at 2300)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Arrive - Sunday 26 March 0800 (fly to Cambodia)
Depart - Friday 31 March 0600
(On-ship time is Thursday, March 30 at 2300)


Hong Kong
Arrive - Monday 03 April 0800 (fly to Beijing and meet ship in Qindao)
Depart - Tuesday 04 April 2000

Qindao, PRC
Arrive - Friday 07 April 0800
Depart - Saturday 08 April 2300

Kobe, Japan
Arrive - Tuesday 11 April 0800
Depart - Saturday 15 April 2300

San Diego, California
Arrive - Friday 28 April 0800

I will be docking in San Diego on April 28th at the end of this crazy adventure and I hope to see you all there! Thanks for all your support. This blog is for all of you... for my friends, my left behind Lomalanders (shout out to the girls of Q unit!- don't you go replacing me while I'm gone), for my family, and for any curious reader who stumbles upon my crazy adventures. I'll miss you guys! Keep me updated on life! You can leave me voicemails for FREE by calling 1-888-579-0208 and entering 2105497910. Pray for safe travels and no sea sickness!

So I guess that is about it for now... the adventure hasn't really begun just yet. Don't worry, I'll keep you all posted on the adventures of Amber at Sea.


P.S. For those of you who asked about sending me mail, yes it is possible and yes I would absolutely love getting mail from you!! You can actually send mail to each port city that I am heading to by addressing a letter as follows:

Amber Morrill
C/O: Explorer
Arrival Date
Port Agent Address

The post office recommends that any mail be sent at least two weeks early and by airmail only. The addresses and information for each port are as follows:

San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone: 787-982-8888 Fax: 787-982-8890

Cruise Plus Service & Sales
1760 Fernandez Juncos Avenue
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00909

Suggested Airmail Date: Jan. 09

Salvador, BRAZIL
Phone: 55 71 241 4990 Fax: 55 71 243 5633
Oceanus Agencia Maritima
Av. Estados Unidos, 555
7th Floor/Room 712
40015-010 Salvador, BAHIA-BRASIL

Suggested Airmail Date: Jan. 18

Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
Phone: 27 21 419 8660 Fax: 27 21 421 6984

John T. Rennie & Sons
P.O. Box 702
1 Thibault House
8000 Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

Suggested Airmail Date: Jan. 31

Port Louis, MAURITIUS
Phone: 230 202 7040 Fax: 230 208 5814
Ireland Blyth, Ltd.
1 Queen Street
P.O. 53
Port Louis, MAURITIUS

Suggested Airmail Date: Feb. 11

Chennai, INDIA
Phone: 91 44 252 12032 Fax: 91 44 252 43813

J.M. Baxi & CO.
3rd Floor, Clive Battery Complex
4 & 4A, Rajaji Salai
Chennai-600 001, INDIA

Suggested Airmail Date: Feb. 23

Yangon, MYANMAR
Phone: 95 1 256 913 Fax: 95 1 256 321

Myanmar Port Authority
Sea Horse Agency
347/1st Floor, Mahabandoola Road
Kyauktada, Yangon, MYANMAR

Suggested Airmail Date: Mar. 02

Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
Phone: 84 8 823 1052 Fax: 84 8 824 2996

General Forwarding & Agency Co., Inc.
5th Fl. OSIC Bldg.
8 Nguyen Hue Avenue
Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM

Suggested Airmail Date: Mar. 11

Hong Kong
Phone: 852 2746 7312 Fax: 852 2744 3240

Inchcape Shipping Services
(Hong Kong) Ltd.Units 1802-1805, 18/F
No. 3 Lockhart Road
Wanchai, HONG KONG-China

Suggested Airmail Date: Mar. 20

Qingdao, PRC
Phone: 86 532 2653 332 Fax: 86 532 2655 752

Penavico Qingdao
21 Wuxia Road
Quingdao, 266002, P. R. CHINA

Suggested Airmail Date: Mar. 24

Kobe, JAPAN
Phone: 34 94 424 2100Fax: 34 94 424 0123

Inchcape Shipping Services
Kenryu Bldg. Room 502
6, Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku
KOBE-shi, Hyogo-ken 650 0024, JAPAN

Suggested Airmail Date: Mar. 28