Science at Sea FAQ Have a question about Science at Sea? Maybe we have an answer in this FAQ
So, this isn't your ordinary learning experience... but who likes ordinary? Our goal in creating Science at Sea is to create an unforgettable learning experience for you and your friends, colleagues or family that is both educational and inspiring. Learning about glaciers from a book or DVD just isn't the same as turning the surface of the glacier into your classroom. As people call to ask more and more questions, we document them and add the questions to our FAQ section... and the list is growing.
Please feel free to contact us personally at any time by calling
(800) 223-9080 and we'll talk through your questions about
Science at Sea.
Frequently Asked Questions… so
far
Why Science at Sea?
What are the
dates of the cruise?
What is the
travel itinerary?
What does Science at Sea
cost?
Did the Spangler Science team negotiate special pricing with
Carnival Cruises?
Can I book directly with my own travel agent?
What does the
workshop fee include?
How does the cost of Science at Sea compare to the cost of a
traditional workshop?
Where are
you going in Alaska?
Are the Science at Sea shore excursions open to the general
public?
What
if I want to bring a friend or family members?
Will I save money on my room if I travel with a friend or a group
of friends?
Is
Steve just doing one of his workshops onboard a ship?
Is Steve
teaching any part of Science at Sea?
What is the
curriculum for Science at Sea?
Does each person have to select their own shore excursions like a
normal cruise?
How do I make my cabin
selection?
Why Science at Sea?
If you’ve ever taken one of Steve Spangler’s seminars or
attended a keynote presentation or even watched him on television,
you know that he’s a physical science guy – things that fizz, pop,
smoke, burp, fall down and go bang. But he’s not a life science
guy… and that’s precisely why he worked with his Program
Development team along with Carnival Cruises and AAA Travel to
create this experience.
When you register for the
Science at Sea experience, you will start by reserving your
space in the class on our website. After you're registered,
we'll put you in contact with our personal travel coordinator
at AAA Travel who will help you select the perfect cabin onboard
the Carnival Spirit.
Visit the Sea at Science page for complete details.
What are the dates and where are you going?
The cruise departs from Anchorage, Alaska on June 17, 2009 and travels south through the cities listed below. We wrap up everything in Vancouver on June 24, 2009.
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What does Science at Sea cost?
The price for the Science at Sea class is $895 per person, plus the cost of your room selection through Carnival. We have negotiated discount pricing on all of the cabins ranging from a lower-level interior cabin up to a first-class suite on the top level. Carnival pricing starts at $958 per person based on double occupancy. Please note that all of our pricing for rooms includes the additional fees that are normally not listed on travel websites. These additional fees include port charges, government fees, taxes and fuel surcharges.
Did the Spangler Science team negotiate special pricing with Carnival Cruises?
The Spangler Science team worked closely with Carnival Cruises
and AAA Travel Colorado to offer special group discount pricing to
everyone who is registered for Science at Sea. You will book your
cruise accommodations directly with Carnival through our own AAA
travel coordinator based in Colorado. Please note that our AAA
Colorado travel coordinator, Gina MacDonald, is the only agent
authorized to book your Science at Sea accommodations with Carnival
Cruises.
Our special group pricing starts at $958 based on double
occupancy. Carnival Cruises promises to offer our Science
at Sea participants pricing that beats their lowest advertised
pricing for this cruise. If the price goes down based on incentives
offered by Carnival, you're final payment will reflect this
discount.
Please note that this starting price of $958 includes all of
the additional port charges, government fees (taxes) and fuel
surcharges that normally get tacked onto the advertised price.
These additional fees total over $430. We want you to know all of
the costs upfront... that's why we included the additional fees
in our advertised price.
To inquiry about pricing and room availability,
please contact our AAA travel coordinator, Gina MacDonald toll free
at (877) 244-9790 x 8921 or e-mail Gina at
gmacdonald@colorado.aaa.com
Can I book directly with Carnival Cruises or my own AAA travel agent?
For this experience, you'll need to book through our Colorado-based AAA travel agent, Gina MacDonald. When we set-up the trip with the group coordinators at Carnival and AAA Travel, they agreed that one point of contact was the best way to avoid confusion or any miscommunication. Gina MacDonald is the only agent authorized to extend any price discounts or incentives to our Science at Sea group!
What does the workshop fee include?
The Science at Sea registration fee of $895 includes all of the following...
- Steve Spangler's pre-cruise kick-off workshop in Whittier, Alaska on June 16th
- Four custom-designed shore excursions in each of the ports of call. The fee covers the cost of all ground transportation to and from each shore excursion. For additional details, see the Shore Excursions section.
- Six on-board seminars offered by our naturalists and the Spangler Science team
- One-on-one time with the Science at Sea naturalists, Steve Spangler and his teaching team
- Curriculum support materials... and some special privileges on-board the ship for the Science at Sea participants
If you've taken a cruise in the past, you know that shore
excursions alone (especially in Alaska) can exceed the cost of our
week-long class. The workshop fee includes the price of all of your
shore excursions in Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. During
each of the days at sea, Steve and our naturalists will provide a
variety of presentations ranging from the Alaskan wildlife
experience to the science of glaciers and environmental science
concerns. Knowing Steve, he’s bound to send you home with some
goodies (or make sure the goodies are waiting for you when you get
home!).
Of course, you’ll need to set aside a few dollars for spending
money if you want to take home a gift or two for the teachers at
school who didn’t go on the trip!
How does the cost of Science at Sea compare to the cost of a traditional workshop?
I know what you're thinking... isn't it more expensive to take a class on a cruise? No! Take a look. The following chart is provided to be a reference point for people seeking funding or looking to compare the cost of a cruise to a traditional week long workshop.
Here's the basic cost breakdown for Science at Sea based on the least expensive cabin aboard the Carnival Spirit.
Are the Science at Sea shore excursions open to the general public?
No. We have partnered with the Alaskan shore excursion specialists at Carnival Cruises and the companies in each port to create something special for the Science at Sea participants. We’ve worked hard in crafting each experience to provide an educational component that the normal vacationer would not experience.
What if I want to bring a friend or family members?
You may register additional people under your primary registration for the discounted fee of $795 per person. Remember... this fee includes the price of all of the shore excursions and entitles family members and friends to participate in all of the onboard classes and experiences.
Will I save money on my room if I travel with a friend or a group of friends?
Yes. Single rooms are the most expensive way to cruise. Sharing a room with your spouse or a friend (not to say your spouse isn’t your friend, but we digress) will save you money. Our travel specialist at AAA will be able to answer all of your questions and provide suggestions for money saving options.
Is Steve just doing one of his workshops onboard a ship?
No. After the nice people at Carnival watched Steve do some of
his science experiments on the Ellen Show, they made him promise
not to do any of those experiments onboard the ship!
In all seriousness, this is a completely new experience – different
from anything Steve Spangler has ever done in the past. Planning
for this learning adventure started nearly two years ago when Steve
experienced this cruise from Anchorage to Vancouver aboard the
Spirit. Steve and his team worked with Carnival and their
naturalists to select the most amazing educational experiences in
each of the ports of call.
Is Steve teaching any part of Science at Sea?
Yes. Each night he’ll teach you how to play with your food in the fancy dinning room and amaze your waiters with science favorites like, Whip-off the Tablecloth Trick and Let’s Put Polymers in Our Drinks.
Okay, here’s the serious answer. Steve will kick things off during the first night party at the hotel in Whittier. The hotel thinks that he’s just doing a PowerPoint presentation… don’t let on. During the days at sea, Steve will offer several other programs (minus all of the messy, don’t you dare bring that onboard this ship stuff that might get us in trouble). The next question will give you more information.
What is the curriculum for Science at Sea?
There you go asking serious questions and putting a damper on an otherwise fun experience! If ever there was a truly inquiry-based experience with a serious hands-on learning component, this is it. Let’s face it, you might have read about the sound a glacier makes when an outer section of ice breaks off (called calving), but that sound will stay with you for a lifetime when you experience first-hand. Don’t be surprised if your mind wanders incessantly and you catch yourself saying WOW! a few hundred times each day.
From an educational perspective, the Science at Sea curriculum is composed of everything you’ll learn on-board the ship from the naturalist to all of the incredible learning experiences in each of the ports of call. The naturalists will offer a number of lectures during our days at sea with plenty of opportunities to ask specific questions about the sights and sounds and science that Alaska has to offer.
Does each person have to select their own shore excursions like a normal cruise?
No. The Spangler Science team worked closely with the naturalists who will accompany us throughout the trip and the shore excursion specialists at Carnival Cruises and in each port of call to select the best “field trips” imaginable. You can find specific information about each shore excursion on the website.
How do I make my cabin selection?
If you’ve ever cruised in the past, you know that there are a
number of cabin class options available when it comes to selecting
your room. Lower level, interior cabins are less expensive than
upper level rooms with a balcony. In help you make the perfect
cabin choice, we have partnered with the travel professionals at
AAA to handle all of your travel arrangements. After registering
for Science at Sea, our travel specialist at AAA will work with you
to select accommodations that fit your budget.
Please note that we have blocked out a certain number of cabins at
each price level for Science at Sea. These rooms are made available
on a first-come, first-serve basis. It pays to register early.f
you’ve ever taken one of Steve Spangler’s seminars or attended a
keynote presentation or even watched him on television, you know
that he’s a physical science guy – things that fizz, pop, smoke,
burp, fall down and go bang. But he’s not a life science guy… and
that’s precisely why he worked with his Program Development team
along with Carnival Cruises and AAA Travel to create this
experience.
When you register for the Science at Sea experience, you will start
by reserving your space in the class on our website. After
you're registered, we'll put you in contact with our
personal travel coordinator at AAA Travel who will help you select
the perfect cabin on-board the Carnival Spirit.
If we didn't answer your question, call us!
Please call our Program Coordinators for Science at Science at (800) 223-9080 or e-mail us at sas@stevespanglerscience.com
