EXPLORERS Alumni Travel Program

Food, glorious food! A gastronomic celebration at sea

Vanessa Faurie — Sun 14 Aug 2011 17:23 CST

As the EXPLORERS tour, Cruising Alaska's Glaciers and the Inside Passage, comes to a successful conclusion, our travelers are treated to a sumptuous feast for the eyes, as well as the palate.

The morning of our last day at sea begins with the oohs and aahs of early-risers gathered on the top deck being treated to a spectacular view of the six-mile-wide Hubbard Glacier, while below in the Galley, numerous chefs and kitchen staff are busy putting the finishing touches on an amazing array of artistically prepared foods for a lunch buffet to beat all lunch buffets.

The U of I group gets to be the first to gather and behold the untouched splendor of numerous tableaux of beautifully arranged delectables -- salads, breads and cheeses, fruits and vegetables, meats and side dishes, piles of seafood, etc., etc. Each station is its own work of art. When the travelers emerge from the Galley, the 30-foot-long tabling of intricate, elaborate desserts prompt another round of oohs and aahs at the Eiffel Tower of white chocolate with a flowing fountain of chocolate fondue beside it, the edible scenes of desert cacti and birds and musical instruments, colorful tarts, cakes, petit fours and more. It was complete sensory overload!

This was a great crescendo of a celebration to top off an amazing, luxurious EXPLORERS tour during which everyone came together one last time to revel in the experience, to share stories with each other of their shore excursion adventures and even to reminisce about fun times spent back at the University of Illinois.

Yes, life is a celebration. Bon appetit, indeed!

Once endangered, the bald eagle celebrates its comeback

Vanessa Faurie — Thu 11 Aug 2011 19:03 CST

Some of our travelers on the Cruising the Inside Passage EXPLORERS tour found themselves visiting the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka. (Same beautiful seaside town that was the setting for the Sandra Bullock comedy, "The Proposal.")

Here at the Raptor Center, 100-200 injured bald eagles and other birds are nursed back to good health and, when possible, released into the wild. The injuries can vary from those brought on by nature, to man-inflicted gunshot wounds, to accidental swallowings of fish hooks and even some random paper clips, as one X-ray reveals.

In addition to being an eagle ER, the facility is also an education center that teaches folks like us and some 30,000 more visitors each year. There are about 20 staff members, plus several volunteers who give of their time to assist in the care, feeding (you don't want to know what they have to cut up for their food), education and research. The volunteers also get to share in those happy days when a successfully rehabilitated bird gets released and soars free. Stunning.

Pictured here is Sitka, a Raptor-in-Residence. She is about 12 years old and is a permanent member of the team because her injuries were so severe that she remains at the center and works as an educator eagle.

Next: A final day of cruising, including near the six-mile wide Hubbard Glacier, and a celebration of food, food ... and more food.

Celebrating man's engineering feat in the Yukon

Vanessa Faurie — Tue 9 Aug 2011 16:47 CST

This day's excursion as part of the Cruising the Inside Passage EXPLORERS tour finds us riding the historic White Pass & Yukon Railroad up into the mountains from Skagway, Alaska. This narrow-gauge rail trip climbs amazingly high. It was built when to help hasten the Trail of '98 (as in 1898) gold rush when thousands of "stampeders" went looking for gold.

Journalism being what it was then, and the country in the midst of an economic downturn ... hmm ... gold was discovered in Dawson City up in the Yukon Territory. But like a bad game of Telephone, reports made it seem that gold was just sitting there waiting for people to arrive in Skagway, pick it up and put it in their satchel bags and head home. Turns out, when they got to Skagway, they had about 600 more miles to go -- through treacherous, moutainous terrain. Hard life. And very few ended up with any gold in the end.

During the building of this railroad, however -- which took two years, two months and two days -- there were surprisingly few deaths. One of the major feats was the construction of a bridge that was considered quite an accomplished engineering achievement along the same level as the Eiffel Tower. This bridge is what helped secure this railroad's place on the National Register of Historic Places.

Having a graduate from our top-notch civil engineering program at the University of Illinois on our trip is very handy!

Next, we've just arrived in Sitka, and I think there may be a celebration story to tell about the majestic Bald Eagles. ...

Some whales get in on the celebration, too

Vanessa Faurie — Tue 9 Aug 2011 09:50 CST

Continuing the journey of Cruising the Inside Passage, we now find ourselves in Juneau, Alaska. On this particular EXPLORERS tour, passengers have the option to chose among a number of additional excursions during our various ports of call. On this particular excursion, travelers have opted to go whale-watching in Auke Bay, just a few miles north and not far from the amazing Mendenhall Glacier.

As the high-speed catamaran takes to the open waters, we see one Humpback whale almost immediately. That's a good sign. Whale-watching requires a lot of patience and a good eye to see the blow of water coming from a surfacing when the whale exhales.

But then we wait, troll along, wait, troll along. Nothing. We decide to go over to where we can see some more wildlife -- this time a whole lot of Stellar sea lions resting along a little stretch of beach on a small island. A few move about, lumbering along a bit. And then some three Dall's porpoises decide to come along and have a bit of fun riding along in the wake of the boat. Their black-and-white markings make them look like cousins of the Orca whale. Very fun, but still longing to find a few more whales.

Then, we soon see not one or two blows off the surface, but several. And then the rounded shapes of a several more and even a fluke or two (that big whale of a tail) break the surface of the water. It's amazing -- since we learn from the on board naturalist that whales tend to be much more solitary. But we count at least 15 separate whales all in a pod swimming about us. By law, the boat is not permitted to go within 100 feet of a whale in the wild. Fortunately, the whales can do what they like.

It was quite a gift to have so many whales visit the group and spend a little time swimming along and around us. At one point, it seemed as though we were surrounded. It was certainly another cause for celebration. Truly magnificent mammals that make you feel quite humble in the world.. Maybe they were the ones on the sight-seeing tour. ...

Next: A visit to Skagway and a celebration of man's engineering ingenuity

Celebrating community in Saxman, Alaska - II

Vanessa Faurie — Sun 7 Aug 2011 21:39 CST

Celebrating community in Saxman, Alaska

Vanessa Faurie — Sat 6 Aug 2011 13:00 CST

So the celebration theme continues on our Cruising the Inside Passage tour. This time, it is a celebration of a whole community in the Tlingit village of Saxman, about three miles southeast of Ketchikan, Alaska.

One of the fun things about traveling is the serendipity that often happens. Upon exploring the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan and learning about the art and culture and storytelling of the totem, we learned about the potlatch. That's the special occasion when a clan would erect a new totem. It is typically a closed, kind of invitation-only affair. But on this day, there was to be a very public totem raising in celebration of the community receiving the funding to raise two new totems at the Saxman Tlingit Village and carved by accomplished artists. The public was welcome.

And it was quite an occasion. Special speakers included both U.S. senators from Alaska: Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich. There was also traditional native dancing and singing by a group dressed in colorful, beautiful regalia. And it took a village to raise these totems, as you can see from the photo. This depicts the Bear Clan from the Eagle family.

Next ... A visit to Juneau and a joyous celebration among some dozen(!) Humpback whales -- typically more solitary beings!

Let's Go Cruisin'

Vanessa Faurie — Sat 6 Aug 2011 12:32 CST

Life is a celebration.

It seems as though everyone on the UI Alumni Association EXPLORERS tour, "Cruising the Inside Passage and Alaska," signed on to celebrate a special occasion of some sort: 50th wedding anniversaries; 70th birthdays; a 50th birthday; a 16th birthday; and even a 28-year "re-birthday," as one cancer survivor (among several) describes it.

So here we are, about to explore the beautiful wilds of America's last frontier as a way to embrace the world, our lives and being with those we love.

We also happen to be on the beautiful, six (count 'em)-star Silver Shadow of the Silversea Cruise Line. Our Illinois travelers are being pampered and tended to by very polite, accommodating staff that includes a butler service. Yes, that's right. So if you want to find a new, fun way to celebrate your own occasion, you need to sign on for an EXPLORERS alumni tour like this one.

Here's a picture of most of the 20 in our Illinois group; they're from California to Virginia, and a few states in between. UI Alumni Association staff often hear how friendly and nice our Illinois travelers are -- and this group is no exception.

The first port of call is Ketchikan -- can't wait to hear about everyone's adventures for the day when we meet up on board later today to set sail again before dinner. Hope to fill you in when we reach our next port of call, and I can find another local cafe with free wi-fi. :-)

Reveling in the Beauty of France's Saon and Rhone Rivers

Mary Timmins — Thu 19 May 2011 12:16 CST

The pleasure of having one’s hotel close by at all times was manifest in the recent UIAA EXPLORERS adventure on France’s Saon and Rhone Rivers, a cruise of discovery aboard the M/S Amadeus Symphony. Departing from Lyon on May 7, the ship carried approximately 110 passengers – including seven Illini couples – first northward into Burgundy, with its wine and historical dukes, then south through the warmth and lavender essence of Provence (though some might argue that the essence is actually garlic). Seven days of fascinating exploration ashore and splendid hospitality aboard spanned revelations various as Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals, the wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape (up close and personal!), Roman ruins that included a mind-boggling aqueduct, coq au vin and a series of beautiful towns and cities such as Avignon (former hangout of popes). Lectures by French history professor Claude Blanc enhanced the experience tremendously, as did near-perfect weather, excellent organization by AHI and superb company. Vive la France!

Tour host Mary Timmins

The Divinie Coast of Amalfi

Mon 9 May 2011 09:20 CST

University of Illinois Alumni Association staff member Bernice Allegretti, associate director of employer relations at the Alumni Career Center, is currently serving as a host for an EXPLORERS tour on the beautiful coast of Amalfi. Here are some of her observations as she travels with University of Illinois alumni:

Day 3: Yesterday we visited the town of Paestum and toured a buffalo mozarella farm to see how it was made. We had a delicious taste of fresh mozzarela. Did you know that the type of mozzarela made here must be kept at room temperature? It will turn hard if you put it in the refrigerator. We wrapped up the day at the Temple of Hera and Athens -- just magnificent. Ciao!

Day 4: Today we visited beautiful gardens and various shops in the small town of Ravello. We continued the tour to the town of Amalfi, where we had a scrumptious pasta lunch on a private terrace. After lunch we boarded a boat to cruise the magnificent coast of Amalfi, up to the town of Positano -- what a site! In Positano we enjoyed walking through all the beautiful shops, many of which had local handmade ceramic pottery, scarves and paintings. Did you know that these three small towns have been around for 2500 years? We ended the day with dinner at a pizzeria in the very small town of Vietri Sul Mare, just down the road from our hotel.

Day 5: Today we visited the Naples Archeological Museum, one of the most important archeological museums in the world. The educational history behind the art and artifact collections discovered in the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii were very interesting. Did you know that the majority of artifacts discovered in Herculaneum survived because mud covered and supported the pieces instead of hot ash destroying them? At least that's the theory, anyway. Also, statues of women who look like they are dancing were later theorized to be carrying water jugs.

Day 6: Today we visited the ruins in the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii, both destroyed when the Mount Vesuvius volcano erupted in 79 A.D. I found Pompeii to be very interesting, due to the fact that I was there in the early 1980s. Back then I remember the area being primarily flat with few pieces of excavated walls, pillars and other artifacts discovered. These days you can walk through the actual town with stone streets and huge marble tubs or sinks, located on the street used to retrieve water. Imagine -- these towns were completely covered with mud and ash ... absolutely unbelievable to witness! Did you know that the volcano erution was not anticipated, because during the excavation they discovered 88 carbonized loaves of bread in various ovens around the town, which indicated that people had no warning. For lunch we had pizza and learned that the Pizza Margherita was named after the queen of Italy when she visited Naples and asked for pizza.

Day 7: We visited Sorrento and the Isle of Capri today. While in Sorrento, we observed all the quaint little shops. Of all the towns, Sorrento was the place to do all your shopping for leather, in-laid wood and the lovely Murano jewelry. We left Sorrento and boarded a boat to Capri. Upon arriving, we took a smaller boat for a cruise around the island. This was just magnificent! Along the way we stopped at some of the gottos and saw the beautiful rock formations and coral. Did you know that the Isle of Capri occupies only 10 square miles? We finished the day enjoying a delicious dinner at a local restaurant in Vietre Sul Mare, recommended by our campus director. What a treat to enjoy the local hospitality!

Day 8: Today was a free day to explore on our own. I chose to go to the town of Salerno. In Salerno I walked the streets and went to visit the cathedral or Duomo de San Mateo. On the way back I observed Italian residents up close. I took a bus back to the hotel at 1 p.m., when the locals were going home for lunch and a siesta. Needless to say, the bus was packed so tight that the doors could hardly close ... it was a funny experience!

This absolutely wonderful trip ends tomorrow morning when I board a plane back to Chicago.

If you have never been on a UIAA EXPLORERS tour before, I highly recommend you try one!

TSA moving toward smarter sceening

Mon 28 Mar 2011 10:39 CST

There are signs that the oft-criticized Transportation Security Administration is turning toward a user-friendlier approach for screening at airports that could include an updated “intelligence” system that focuses on real threats. Read more about this subject at a TravelMole.com article at
http://bit.ly/g6vYLv.

Fun in the sun on Mayan Mystique Cruise EXPLORERS tour

Wed 16 Mar 2011 11:00 CST

Greetings from the deep blue waters and sunny skies of the Mexican and Central American coastline! Temperatures have lingered in the low 80s since we embarked on March 9. UI Alumni Association staff members Joe Rank and Scott Williams are hosting 48 EXPLORERS participants from all three University of Illinois campuses, plus a few new alumni friends we have happened to meet on board the Oceania ship, Regatta. Our 650-passenger size and friendly crew s make us very grateful we are not aboard one of the mega ships we have seen that have more than 5,000 people aboard!

Our first day out of Miami was a day at sea, and everyone enjoyed the relaxing day in the sun --- what a contrast to the Midwestern winter weather we left behind. The captain hosted a typical welcome party that first night where passengers were introduced to the crew and staff . . . and each other.

In George Town, Grand Cayman, most passengers had a chance to mingle in the shallow clear water with friendly stingrays and feed them calamari (imported from California, believe it or not). Joe was photographed kissing one of the slippery creatures, perhaps overly encouraged by his local guide, Hardie Welcome (allegedly his real name). Folks have visited Mayan ruins, snorkeled from the sandy beaches and lounged on the ship deck listening to the six-member dance band comprised of Ukrainian musicians or the quiter indoor sounds of the Polish string quartet.

We enjoyed rappeliing and zip-lining through the rainforest treetops in Belize. Most mornings Joe works out on the treadmill while Scott circumnavigates the exercise deck (13 laps = one mile). This is followed by coffee on the verandah as we work up the energy to enjoy the bountiful breakfast buffet. Eggs Benedict never seem to grow boring!

We've tasted fresh coconut juice and scooped out the sweet, fleshy pulp, formed and cooked our own corn tortillas over a fire-heated clay bowl and sampled local produce and rice and beans from sidewalk vendors. Joe competes with the Scrabble master inside his Kindle and converses with the ship's crew. Scott reportedly snores a bit.

Signing off,

Scott Williams, Director of the EXPLORERS Travel Program

Illinois Japan Disaster Relief Fund

Sal Nudo — Tue 15 Mar 2011 14:11 CST

The Japan House and the College of Fine and Applied Arts have established a fund with the University of Illinois Foundation to aid the people of Japan directly affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami. We invite you to learn more at http://faa.illinois.edu/JapanRelief.

'Across the Water'

Sal Nudo — Wed 9 Mar 2011 14:59 CST

Traveling overseas is exciting, but when you're in your early 20s and about to live across the pond, it can also be daunting. Hear tales from former Fighting Illini basketball greats who have made their living playing pro ball outside of the United States. The full Illinois Alumni magazine article is at http://www.uiaa.org/illinois/news/blog/index.asp?id=249.

Unexpected crisis brings alumni closer

Danielle Wilberg — Mon 21 Feb 2011 15:12 CST

I send in my final reflections on the University of Illinois Alumni Association’s "Caribbean Pearls" tour with the realities of what travel is really all about – discovering the world.

Danielle Wilberg, associate director of Membership and Development at UIAA.

On our final day of the tour, our ship docked in Nassau, Bahamas. Many of the Illinois travelers were excited to tour an island that many had been to before and to spend time at the island’s main attraction, Atlantis Resort. At around 8:30 a.m., an extremely large fire consumed a warehouse that was just feet away from the port entrance. By 9:00 a.m., our ship’s captain asked us to stay on the ship and that we keep a watchful eye on the fire and make any adjustments as needed. Following that announcement, everybody headed onto the deck to observe billowing flames, black smoke engulfing the town, the occasional small explosion and no fire protection to be found. When the fire department did finally arrive, we feared the entire downtown would soon be gone. The modest fire department did a phenomenal job protecting what they could and keeping the fire as contained as possible, but according to The Nassau Guardian, the fire caused millions of dollars in damages.

The eerie part of the morning came at approximately 10:30 a.m., when the captain made an announcement that the port authority declared the fire was under control and that, provided we use extreme caution entering the city, we were cleared to leave the ship. My husband and I, along with another couple traveling with EXPLORERS, continued to watch the blaze while hundreds of travelers flooded the streets of downtown Nassau. We talked at length about the danger that the fire could still impose, and about the realities of the islands we visited compared to the United States.

The three cruise ships that dock in Nassau provide a large economic boost to the island, money that the island can’t afford to miss. Tourism is the number one economic driver within all of the islands we visited. Some of the islands were better than others with their efforts. Some of the islands we visited were governed by France or Britain, while others were independently governed depending on where we stopped. Each island had its own personality, but the one common denominator was how important tourism was to the islands’ well-being. Allowing travelers to enter the streets during this fire was proof of how badly the tourist dollar is relied upon.

We discussed how voyeuristic it all felt, watching the downtown burn as it did. However, it is this type of interaction that strengthens the experiences we encountered while traveling with fellow alumni. The four of us talked at length about fire protection in America versus the islands. We talked about the hardships of the island economies and their lifestyle differences. We discussed the various governmental controls on the islands and what the benefits and challenges might be if the fire arose on one of the other islands we visited. So, while we may have felt like we were gawking a bit, we also learned things together, as a unified group.

Thankfully, everyone returned safely to our ship and to the other two ships that were also docked in Nassau. The entire tour was delightful and full of excitement. From snowstorms and rainforests to beaches and burning towns, we all enjoyed a relaxing and eventful trip.

Alumni travelers share their experiences with tour host Danielle Wilberg

Danielle Wilberg — Mon 14 Feb 2011 11:40 CST

As the tour host, I feel that one of the best evening’s on a cruise is the group dinner. It’s a time when travelers from the University of Illinois have an opportunity to visit in a more formal setting than some of the prearranged cocktail receptions. It's a chance to get together and share stories about their time at the University and since they’ve left. Last night we dined with 32 members of the University of Illinois Alumni Association tour and had a wonderful time. Some of the things we learned included:

The majority of our travelers on this trip have all traveled with the UIAA EXPLORERS Travel Program before and have been to such places as Budapest, Vienna and the Yucatan. Two couples even traveled together on a prior EXPLORERS tour and were enjoying the bonds of their previous tour.
Several of our travelers were part of fraternities and sororities when they were on campus, and while none of the Greek organizations represented were the same, each told of how much their time on campus shaped who they are today.
All of our travelers are enjoying the calm and relaxing atmosphere that comes from cruising around the Caribbean!

The UI travelers on this trip are smart, well-traveled and successful in so many ways. They celebrate each other’s accomplishments and tell tales of all the fantastic experiences they’ve had throughout their lifetime. Thinking back to my own experience as the student advisor of the Student Alumni Ambassadors on the Urbana campus, it is what our students truly believe. While classes get competitive and the job market is fierce, fellow students and alumni always celebrate each other, and it's evident that it carries on throughout one’s entire life.

I'll sign off with some great quotes from my fellow travelers:

“I heard it was two degrees back home today. Tooo bad our friends can’t be here to enjoy the 80 degree weather.”

"This is the time of the cruise where I wish I could stay on forever. Warm sun and great food sure beats 20 inches of snow at home."

"I know I should probably check in back at home to make sure everything’s going okay, but I keep forgetting after spending great days in port."

"It is so nice to reconnect with someone we’ve traveled with before. The Yucatan tour was such a great tour. It’s nice to enjoy another one together."

“Chi Omega is still the best sorority." (Said with a wink.)

"For most folks on board today, it’ll be another day of beautiful beaches, rum punch with a dash of nutmeg and a warm sun to warm the bones while docked in Tortola."

Perseverance pays off at the start of a wonderful journey

Danielle Wilberg — Fri 11 Feb 2011 09:07 CST

The below thoughts are from UIAA staff member Danielle Wilberg, associate director of membership and development, as she heads out on an exciting EXPLORERS journey with fellow University of Illinois alumni:

From the outset of the University of Illinois Alumni Association’s “Caribbean Pearls” tour aboard Oceania’s Regatta ship, travelers were faced with an unexpected and looming hardship. Beginning on the Sunday prior to our Thursday leaving time, the national media was calling for a massive snow storm to hit the Midwest Tuesday and finish late into the night on Wednesday.

To Midwesterners, the reports of snow ending on Wednesday prior to a Thursday flight sounded like there would be a fair chance of arriving safely and on time. Our moods shifted when the Chicago news began calling the storm such nicknames as “Snowmageddon” and repeating the words “storm of the century.” Suddenly, our hopes of arriving in Miami on time sounded unlikely.

Several travelers made arrangements to leave early and were able to beat the storm by adding a few additional days in Miami to the beginning of their trip itinerary; several were able to drive to different airport locations that were further than originally scheduled; still others endured the storm and were able to join the ship just two short days after the initial embarkation at our first port of call in the Spanish Town of Virgin Gorda. While the travel aspect was grueling for some people, the lifted spirits upon venturing out, as well as the acceptance of the difficulties that only Mother Nature can impose, speaks to the Midwestern attitude that helps define our great University.

Each University tends to have its own characteristics that defines its alumni and continues to shape the future. In this case, the strong characteristics of determination and perseverance ran true. It is these characteristics that helped shape our land-grant University from a swampland to the sprawling Big Ten campus that now exists in Urbana-Champaign. It’s what helped thousands of returning GIs find a home at Navy Pier, later to become the University of Illinois at Chicago. And it’s what helps Springfield maintain its love of community and grow its long-standing liberal arts education in the Capitol of Illinois. Finally, it’s also what helped our travelers find their way to the ship and escape into the tropical paradise that defines this tour.

As I sit here and look out the window on “deck 10 forward” and see a sign that reads “Welcome to Antigua,” snow and sub-zero temperatures are now distant memories that are quickly being filled with the camaraderie of traveling with University of Illinois alumni and friends. I’m certain that the coming week will once again prove to be the experience of a lifetime.

Penguin goes shopping

Tue 11 Jan 2011 09:01 CST

You may like to travel the world, but this little guy is all about seeing the sites in his own town. Meet a 10-year-old king penguin who was rescued from a fisherman's line and refused to leave after he healed. The penguin was adopted by a family in a small town in Japan, and now he has his own air-conditioned room. See his story at http://www.flixxy.com/pet-penguin-goes-shopping.htm.

Q & A: Travelers' experience at airport security lines

Sal Nudo — Tue 23 Nov 2010 14:57 CST

As Thanksgiving approaches, many airline passengers will be experiencing new body scanners and pat-down procedures at airports for the first time this weekend. Get answers to some important questions at http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-11-23-qa-airport-security_N.htm?csp=34news.

Also, check in with aviation security expert Sheldon Jacobson, a U of I computer science professor, who discusses what the future of airport security screening might look like, and what can be done to eliminate the threats of today, Jacobson's interview is at http://illinois.edu/lb/article/72/45559/page=1/list=list.

New Official Portrait of Her Majesty Unveiled

Sal Nudo — Fri 12 Nov 2010 09:52 CST

In line with the tradition of commissioning appropriate sculpture and portraits for display on board each ship named by a member of the Royal Family, Cunard has commissioned an official portrait of The Queen for the new Queen Elizabeth liner, due to be named by Her Majesty next month. The portrait, which shows The Queen in the Yellow Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, was painted by 31-year-old Isobel Peachey. Although an accomplished award-winning portrait artist, Peachey had never before been commissioned to paint a royal portrait. Read more about this historic painting at http://bit.ly/9P9xnm.

If the new Queen Elizabeth ship interests you, we invite you to view information about the Jan. 13-30, 2011, "Panama Canal with the Queen" EXPLORERS tour at http://www.uiaa.org/explorers/trip.asp?id=122.

Introducing the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company

Sal Nudo — Thu 11 Nov 2010 10:15 CST

Upon Queen Elizabeth's October 2010 debut, Cunard will introduce an original concept in theatrical entertainment, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company – the first and only resident theatre company at sea. Guests will enjoy a brand-new repertoire of shows premiered by the Theatre Company's 29 singers, dancers, actors and musicians. Video blogs about
the new program are now available and feature Queen Elizabeth's on-board entertainment director Alastair Greener and a chat with Cunard President Peter Shanks and Martin Lilly, director of entertainment. Read more at http://bit.ly/ctu81d.

Are you Interested in planning an unforgettable cruise on the new Queen Elizabeth ship? Check out the "Panama Canal with the Queen" EXPLORERS tour at http://www.uiaa.org/explorers/trip.asp?id=122.

Decor on Queen Elizabeth

Sal Nudo — Wed 10 Nov 2010 11:33 CST

Are you interested in getting a preview of the inside decor of the Queen Elizabeth liner before the "Panama Canal with the Queen" EXPLORERS tour on Jan. 13-26? Then visit the page at http://bit.ly/ddYm9T. Among other beautiful relics, the new Queen has a Midship’s Bar, a throwback to the first Queen Elizabeth, and is home to three cases of memorabilia related to the original liner, including a 1938 invoice from the shipbuilder and an original ship telephone. Enjoy this look at the new Queen Elizabeth Cunard liner!

Experience the Panama Canal with the 'Queen'

Sal Nudo — Tue 9 Nov 2010 08:52 CST

Jan. 13-26
Starting from $3,695 per person, plus airfare

While many ships offer voyages through the Panama Canal, there is only one iconic “Queen” liner that provides a rare transit of this wonder of the world: the new Queen Elizabeth. Heir to a grand tradition, this beautiful new Cunard liner combines a fabled 170-year heritage of seagoing excellence with all the modern amenities one would enjoy in a modern five-star resort. Nicer still, by combining this extraordinary voyage through the Panama Canal with train travel to and from the ship from your hometown, this tour offers a chance to view a good deal of the United States in the comfort of an Amtrak train.

Other trip highlights include:

• The one and only chance to experience the maiden voyage of the new Queen Elizabeth visiting several exciting ports
• An overnight hotel stay after the voyage in Los Angeles at the legendary Biltmore Hotel, with transfers and a farewell dinner
• A professional tour manager aboard the ship and in Los Angeles to assure a smoothly run holiday from start to finish
• Special cocktail parties and events aboard the ship and on shore

Learn more about this fabulous journey at http://bit.ly/aOnf8M.

Operated by: Uncommon Journeys

A time to share thanks

Sal Nudo — Fri 5 Nov 2010 15:30 CST

Prior to the rush and hubbub of the Christmas season, we invite you to listen to the tranquil song "Thanksgiving with You," written by EXPLORERS director Scott Williams. You can hear it and watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSfaPc1qxjk.

"It's a song I wrote a few years ago to celebrate Thanksgiving, our uniquely American celebration of the blessings we enjoy," said Scott.

Recorded with friend Dave Wagner under the group name Those Two Guys, "Thanksgiving with You" could best be described as "soothing," which is how many people describe it to Scott. The YouTube video was created by Scott's friend Anne Nordhaus-Bike.

We hope you enjoy it ... happy Thanksgiving!

Your tickets, your luggage and your health

Tue 28 Sep 2010 14:22 CST

Injury, illness, trip delays and lost baggage are a few things that could cost you more than just your vacation. Many of these things cost extra money you hadn't planned on spending.

The Alumni Travel Protection Plan is custom-designed exclusively for University of Illinois alumni. This plan not only insures your vacation, but more importantly, it provides the peace of mind you deserve while traveling. You're covered from the moment you leave home until the moment you return. If your vacation is cancelled for a covered reason, you'll get your money back -- money that can help you reschedule your vacation.

If you have any questions about this plan, call Alumni Travel Services customer service toll-free at: 800/461-6920, Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm- eastern time.

MORE INFO: http://www.sevencorners.com/alumni/universityofillinois/

Practical Traveler

Scott Williams — Wed 25 Aug 2010 15:01 CST

By Susan Stellin

Published Aug. 29, 2010

I was driving to the Los Angeles airport in April when apparently I did something suspicious: I stopped at a gas station and filled up the tank.

By the time I returned the rental car and got to my gate, I had a fraud alert message from my credit card company, U.S. Bank. Since I don't own a car and rarely buy gas, it seems that $13 fill-up raised a red flag.

Such is the state of credit card security, a continuing battle between card issuers and criminals who steal account numbers, with consumers caught in the fray. Whether travelers are more likely to become victims of credit card fraud is debatable, but we're certainly more likely to get tripped up by efforts to combat fraud, especially overseas.

Here are some things to watch out for if you plan on paying with plastic, which isn't quite as widely accepted as the ad campaigns for credit cards would have you believe.

Avoiding a Freeze on Your Account

Most travelers know it's a good idea to call your credit card company before a trip to a foreign country, so your purchases in Bangkok or Barcelona don't trigger a freeze on your account. Banks rely on antifraud software that monitors customers' spending patterns, which means that any time you stray from your usual habits - like buying groceries in another state instead of at a store in your home ZIP code - your bank might become concerned.

I was surprised that a cheap gas purchase in California could also freeze my account, so I called U.S. Bank to find out if travelers need to start alerting their banks about their domestic travels, which seemed like overkill to me.

It probably is, said Dave Leiker, a senior vice president with U.S. Bank. He told me that besides watching for unusual spending patterns, banks also monitor where criminals use stolen cards, places like automated payment kiosks in metropolitan areas.

"We may have been seeing a trend where the bad guys were out there using stolen credit cards at gas pumps," he said.

That would explain why I didn't get a fraud call when I bought gas more recently in rural Pennsylvania. But it also reinforces an important point about traveling with plastic: carry more than one card, in case one is declined.

Overseas, it can be much more of a hassle to unfreeze a card, especially if you don't have a cellphone with international service.

Rejection of Cards Abroad

For globe-trotting travelers, another issue is that many countries in Europe, as well as Japan, Canada, Mexico and other nations, have adopted a type of credit card that has a chip and requires customers to enter a PIN number instead of the ones with a magnetic stripe on the back that we still use in the United States.

Merchants that accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express are supposed to let customers pay with either type of card. But employees at some retailers outside the United States don't always know what to do with the magnetic version.

There are also automated kiosks that accept only the "chip and PIN" cards, particularly in European train stations, parking garages, gas stations and some tollbooths. In those cases, Americans with magnetic stripe cards usually have to wait in line to pay with cash or have a clerk swipe their cards. Travelers say those lines can be long, which is especially frustrating if you're trying to catch a train. And at unattended tollbooths, you may get stuck if you don't have coins you can pay with instead.

So how common is this problem? In a study last September, the research company Aite Group found that nearly half of American cardholders who have traveled abroad in the past few years have had some problem using a debit or credit card, and 16 percent said their card was rejected because of this issue with magnetic stripe acceptance overseas.

"I think many cardholders assume when they travel abroad that it is much like being in the United States," said Ron Shevlin, a senior analyst with Aite Group, pointing out that in addition to the chip versus magnetic stripe problem, merchants in other parts of the world often have higher minimum-purchase requirements to use a credit card or simply don't accept the cards because they don't want to pay the fees that card companies charge retailers.

He also suggested checking your credit limit before a trip, since banks have reduced credit limits for some cardholders; travel expenses can push up against those maximums.

Chip Cards in the United States?

As for whether banks plan to offer chip and PIN credit cards to their American customers, Mr. Shevlin said the cost of issuing new cards is a hurdle, especially given the banking industry's other financial challenges.

"It should be more of a concern among card issuers than it is," he said. "But I would not expect to see a lot of movement before the end of 2011."

There is one financial institution that is moving more quickly: the United Nations Federal Credit Union, which plans to offer its members credit cards with both a magnetic stripe and a chip beginning in October.

Merrill Halpern, card services manager for the credit union, said that with Canada and Mexico now embracing chip and PIN cards, along with Europe and many other parts of the world, it was time to make the switch. Another motivation is that the chip and PIN cards are more secure because there is a unique key encrypted in every card, whereas magnetic stripe cards are relatively easy to clone - that is, to steal the data and copy it onto another card.

"It's going to save us money on fraud losses," Mr. Halpern said. "The trend seems to be that more fraud is coming to the U.S. because we're the one last holdout in magnetic stripe cards."

Despite that concern, the major credit card companies do not have imminent plans to offer chip and PIN cards to their American customers, even though they provide them to cardholders abroad. When I asked about this topic, representatives from Visa and MasterCard e-mailed me statements saying they're working with issuers to evaluate the feasibility of offering cards with the chip technology to customers who travel internationally.

Desiree Fish, a spokeswoman for American Express, said the company doesn't plan to add the chip technology to cards issued in the United States at this time. But she emphasized that customers should be able to use their magnetic stripe cards abroad, even if a clerk tells them they cannot.

"A card member can insist that, yes, in fact, they can swipe the card," Ms. Fish said.

Of course, communicating with store employees who may not speak English isn't always easy, which is why carrying plenty of cash is a good backup, especially in rural areas and developing countries.

American Express, Visa and MasterCard also suggested that customers report any trouble they have using a magnetic stripe card abroad. Taking the time to make that call may help pressure the industry to come up with a solution for this problem.

Lost in translation

Scott Williams — Mon 19 Jul 2010 16:18 CST

Translated phrases or idioms have long been a source of amusement or embarrassment for travelers. Read a few in David Wilkening's piece at http://bit.ly/9LMq85.

Off to Rome and Florence with Mary Caroline

Mary Caroline Mitchell — Fri 9 Jul 2010 14:55 CST

Rome

Everyone was up early when we arrived at Civitavecchia, Italy, the port closest to Rome. Most of the tours left by 7 a.m. The weather has been sunny, but the temperatures and humidity have taken their toll on all of us, especially in the afternoon. After the 2 hour ride to Rome, we were let off near Vatican Square. It seems like everyone in the world must be in Rome in July, and we felt lucky that we got in early and did not have to wait long to be admitted. We had chosen the tour that provided access to the Basilica and the Coliseum. The thing that impressed me the most (besides the immense size, which must be experienced to comprehend) is the natural light that enters through the many domes far up in the air. We drove around Rome observing many of the Roman sites and before finally stopping at the Coliseum. This huge structure once seated 50,000 spectators who were admitted for free to watch the violence between gladiators and wild animals. It was very sobering to understand how much thought and planning was put into the sports stadium where the blood byproducts needed to be disposed of through special drains. We then visited the Trevi Fountain area, where we enjoined a nice long lunch.

The walk back to the bus was long and hot. We returned to our beautiful cool ship more than 11 hours after we had left. It turns out this was the least favorite port on the trip. But the crew on the ship was prepared for us hot, tired passengers. They stood near the gangway to welcome us, and the band played as we received glasses of lemonade and cups of water. Needless to say, everyone really loved the pampering we received that evening!

Florence

Our next port was Livorna, one of the busiest in Italy. We were up early to prepare for another long day, and we chose the tour of Florence. Many were apprehensive about another long, hot day. But our tour director for the day allayed our fears immediately. She must have been told about our day in Rome, because she did everything to help us relax and enjoy a wonderful day in the most beautiful city. It took our breath away to see Michelangelo’s David. We were not rushed through, and our guide shared many interesting facts, which gave us an even greater appreciation.

We had a wonderful walking tour of some of the other famous sites. The crowds were not as great as those in Rome; Florence captivated everyone. Our tour group was thrilled that our tour guide had arranged a prix fixe lunch at a local spot where we all sat and enjoyed a two-course meal and wine. It was just what the doctor ordered. We had some free time, so before leaving we enjoyed a tour of Santa Croce, the largest Franciscan church in Florence where Michelangelo and many of Italy’s most illustrious citizens are buried. Our EXPLORERS enjoy different activities each day, a benefit of a cruise like this where there are so many choices for each traveler. It is always fun to catch up with each other in the evening to learn about each person’s adventures. We turned in early, enjoying the cool and quiet of our lovely staterooms. We have seen so much, and now it is time to catch up on our rest.

Day three in Santorini with Mary Caroline Mitchell

Mary Caroline Mitchell — Tue 6 Jul 2010 15:54 CST

Day 3 -- Santorini

Today we chose our own adventure in Santorini – an option that is provided on this trip. The tour groups were let off at one port, and those of us going on our own were taken to Fira, another port in Santorini where the tours groups would return. We were transported to shore in tenders, very nice tour boats with seating both above and below deck. We rode the cable car up to the top instead of taking the donkeys up the cliff! Thrills and odors we decided to pass up this time. Very helpful guides on the ship gave us the directions to the island buses. We enjoyed a very nice coach ride to Ia. The white houses, cliff walks, colors of the sea and flowers were as beautiful as we remembered. It was a very hot day so we stopped at a café overlooking the blue ocean and enjoyed a cold drink before our trip back on the bus. We were glad we had allowed extra time! The bus we planned on taking at 1:20 was packed beyond capacity, so we had to wait another half hour. We were able to get back to Fira and ride back down the cliff to the harbor on the cable car in plenty of time before the last tender at 3:30, but we were very glad to get back on board. We were very hot and tired when we boarded the ship and now felt that Nautica was home sweet home. We couldn’t wait to learn about the adventures of our EXPLORERS friends at our gathering in Horizons that evening. We enjoyed a late lunch on board and another shower before the evening receptions.

It was wonderful to meet and greet all the EXPLORERS members on the trip that evening. Several of them had met each other prior to the tour, but most of us had not yet become acquainted. This is always my favorite part of an alumni tour – meeting our travelers and learning all the interconnections we share. Whether they are from California, Texas or Illinois, everyone finds something in common besides our common Alma Mater and always enjoys meeting one another. The Go Next manager had to remind us about the captain’s reception since everyone was having such a great time visiting. After the reception, we enjoyed dinner with some of our new friends in the Grand Dining room. It was also a very elegant place to eat and the food was delicious. So many choices!

Following dinner we decided to stay up and attend the show that evening, a stand up comedian who was very funny. A perfect ending for day number three.

Kusadasi with UIAA staff member Mary Caroline Mitchell

Mary Caroline Mitchell — Tue 6 Jul 2010 15:36 CST

Day two -- Kusadasi

We enjoy a wonderful walk on the track located on the upper deck as the sun is rising over the Mediterranean. Priceless! We are pulling into port as we finish our breakfast, which was delivered to our room. Each day there are choices of shore excursions. A few travelers who are staying behind because they do not feel up to the walking required at Ephesus. We disembark for Ephesus and are met by tour buses. On our bus trip to this ancient city that is now one of the grandest reconstructed ancient sites in the world, our guide shares many fascinating facts about the port where we landed (Kusadasi, Turkey) and Ancient Ephesus (where we are headed). This huge historic site is so much larger than I had imagined. We walked on the streets where the apostle Paul walked; we could touch ancient carvings that used to adorn tall columns; we could explore ancient hillside dwellings and sit on the stone steps of the Greek theatre carved into a mountain that faced the sea and seated more than 25,000. Returning to Kusadasi, we were invited to visit a store selling rugs and were served apple tea and a roll while the merchant described the many types of Turkish rugs. We could observe a woman weaving a Turkish rug and following the presentation. There were many salesmen available for those who were interested in making a purchase. Several of the EXPLORERS group came on the trip fully prepared to purchase a Turkish rug. This was a moment they'd been waiting for! We enjoy seeing the photos of the rugs they purchased, a requirement of the rug merchant since all rugs are shipped free of charge and purchasers may not remember which of the many rugs they actually bought. Some on the tour stop wearing name tags after the encounters with the storekeepers in Kusadasi, who call your name as a way to attract you to their store. We head back to the boat to enjoy the wonderful food on board.

It's a pleasure to meet another member of our EXPLORERS group at lunch. Her traveling companion had to cancel at the last minute. She is a curator at the Phoenix Museum of Art and is enjoying a much-needed vacation. I have learned that sorbet and gelato will be my diet downfall on the trip. Each day there is a new selection available anytime one feels the need to enjoy a cool dessert!

We donned our swimsuits and grabbed our books as we headed poolside, where we sit in the shaded area and enjoy the wonderful breeze. Snoozing, reading and people watching – it is so relaxing. I stopped in the beautiful library to see what magazines were available and ran into two people from our EXPLORERS group who were also reading and napping. They are cousins, one from California and one from Illinois. It was great to meet them and make the connection since one of them is the mother of a University of Illinois Alumni Association colleague in the Business Information Unit. They are both proud to celebrate their 80th birthdays this year.

We enjoyed the second specialty restaurant that evening, Toscana. We loved tasting different olive oils that were presented before the appetizers we chose -- shrimp that were almost as big as my fist! We enjoyed the beautiful setting and window table that enables us to view the sunset as the ship sets sail for Santorini. We are now able to share information about these restaurants with our fellow EXPLORERS travelers. These specialty restaurants require a reservation (no extra charge), and passengers may visit each of the restaurants once during the cruise.

Go Next has set up a time for our EXPLORERS group to meet tomorrow evening on the 10th deck prior to the captain’s reception. They have delivered notes for us, but David and I decide to pen a personal note to let each of our travelers know how much we want to meet them, so we deliver them to each room before we head to bed.

A perfect beginning

Mary Caroline Mitchell — Tue 6 Jul 2010 15:26 CST

Day one

It is so exhilarating to step off of the plane and onto the bus in Athens, Greece. We are anticipating a first-rate cruise with exciting ports and the opportunity to develop new friendships with alumni and friends on the tour. I am traveling with my husband, David, and during the plane ride we enjoyed meeting three members of our EXPLORERS group. They are a family taking this trip together: the mother an Illinois graduate from 1953 and her two grown daughters, one an Illinois alumna who is a cardiac nurse at Carle Clinic in Champaign. The other daughter lives with her family in Atlanta. What a wonderful family expedition! We marvel at the Athens traffic and the crowded city streets as we wind our way through the port city of Pireus to the dock where we will board Nautica, our new home away from home. After passing through the port customs, we have boarded the boat and are sitting on a covered deck enjoying a delicious lunch, soaking in the views of Athens. Jet lag? Not me at this point – everything is just perfect on this beautiful ship!

After unpacking we explore: the Canyon Ranch spa ( I feel a massage in my future); the library; the two specialty restaurants; the Grand Dining Room; the card room; the casino; the beautiful lounges and bars; the pool; and the exercise track. Then we stop by to meet the wonderful Go Next travel directors. What a bonus to not only have the ship staff, but also these well-traveled expert directors to help answer any questions and assist with logistics.

We pinch ourselves because everything has been so perfect! All the stress of leaving home is slowly evaporating as we set sail at 4 p.m. and head to Turkey. We celebrate by making a reservation in the small specialty restaurant, the Polo Grill, and are seated by the window as we sail into the sunset. The complimentary bottle of red wine provided by Go Next is poured at our table for no charge. What a perfect first day it was: an easy, safe flight, a beautiful stateroom and a scrumptious filet mignon dinner.

Conservation, Culture and Wildlife in Tanzania

Wed 23 Jun 2010 13:05 CST

Join the University of Illinois Alumni Association EXPLORERS on the only Tanzania tour that goes beyond sightseeing to change the way you see the world. We’ve teamed up with a fellow Big Ten alumni association to offer a uniquely customized itinerary with Tanzania’s premier tour operator. At the price offered, you won’t find a trip like this anywhere else.

While in amazing Tanzania, you’ll see plenty of spectacular sights, including exotic wildlife on three safaris. Tour leader Adrian Trevesis will direct you on an eye-opening discovery of community-based conservation, from habitats being restored to newly empowered communities.

Tour highlights include:

• Tanzania and all its wonders, with all the logistics handled by EXPLORERS
• Traditionally inspired spa treatments
• Sumptuous gourmet meals prepared from fresh organic gardens

LEARN MORE OR MAKE RESERVATIONS at http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/3f56b02d#/3f56b02d/1.

About the Tanzania trip leader
Professor Adrian Trevesis directs the Carnivore Coexistence Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. He and his students work on the challenges in Kenya and Uganda of conserving large carnivores in ecosystems that also host people and thousands of livestock.

Lion photo by Andy Biggs

Saying goodbye to new friends

Jenna Martin — Mon 24 May 2010 08:59 CST

The below blog entries come from University of Illinois Alumni Association staff member Jenna Blick, who served as a host on the "Historic Reflections" EXPLORERS tour.

It's hard to belive that today is our last day on the Historic Reflections tour. We find ourselves in Provence, France. Being a part of this tour reminds me a lot of an overnight weeklong summer camp in the sense that you build really strong relationships in a short amount of time. A few nights ago the crew put together a video montage of the past 10 days, and as I watched it, I became a little sad that our time together was ending. I am not only going to miss my fellow EXPLORERS travelers, but I'll also miss the amazing crew at Oceania. It's been wonderful hearing about everyone's stories, from memorable times at the University of Illinois to getting the inside scoop about what to order at the ship's specialty restaurants.

As with most shared experiences, you become close with the people around you as you experience the same adventures. This is especially true when it comes to traveling with the U of I Alumni Association's travel program. I have had the privilege to get to know some great people through EXPLORERS. Although we started this adventure as strangers, we leave only 10 days later as friends.

Time winding down on wonderful tour

Jenna Martin — Mon 24 May 2010 08:44 CST

It's hard to believe we have only one day left on this extraordinary tour. Today we sailed into beautiful Monte Carlo. All anyone could talk about was the famous casino of Monaco. Most of the EXPLORERS travelers ventured off on their own today. Since this is such a small city it was easy to visit all the sites without a guide. I have never felt more like a sloppy American tourist than I did today in Monte Carlo. First of all, the place is so clean. After our visit to Rome, many people commented on how dirty the city was, so today was a treat. The streets are lined with all the top designers, and many of us spotted some Rolls Royces and Bentleys. The weather could not have been better, and everyone took full advantage of being able to stay in port late tonight.

Some of us met for happy hour tonight with other Big Ten schools on the ship. This was fun since we all did different things today and had so much to talk about; it was the perfect time to share and compare our days. I learned I had missed an entire wing at the Aquariaum Museum, unfortunately. It's a good thing one of the EXPLORERS travelers took great mental notes and was able to fill me in on what I had missed. There was a lot of interschool mingling, and of course the inevitable heckling over college sports and rivalries. I love the fact that these folks graduated many years ago, yet the passion for their alma maters is still so strong. Later, we arranged for 11 of the EXPLORERS travelers to dine together in the grand dining room -- at the captain’s table! It was so wonderful to relax and chat with my fellow travelers. And let me tell you, this is one very well-traveled group!

Tonight the University of Illinois Alumni Association EXPLORERS flag is hanging with the 12 other college flags across the top deck of the pool as we disembark for Provence tomorrow.

UI alumni now at sea

Jenna Martin — Sat 22 May 2010 19:40 CST

Everyone made it onboard yesterday, and off we go! About half of the EXPLORERS group arrived a few days early to enjoy Athens, and the rest arrived yesterday. Little by little I've met the University of Illinois group. It really helped that one of the EXPLORERS was wearing his orange "I Block" Polo shirt!

This morning we woke up in Kusadasi, Turkey. The majority of the people onboard headed out to visit Ephesis. Lots of photos were taken, and it's only been one day! After the tour we got to enjoy a Turkish rug demonstartion. Though some folks were tempted to make a purchase, I didn't see anyone do so. One of the highlights for me was visiting the ancient "public toliets," which are very worn down. It was basically just a large room with marble benches with holes in it. So much for privacy!

There are about 13 other alumni tour groups on the boat right now, so a lot of school pride is walking around via pins, T-shirts and room signs. One of the big questions floating around on the boat is, "What school are you from?"

Go Next, our tour operator, is hosting a reception tonight for all of the alumni groups onboard. I'm looking forward to meeting all the EXPLORERS travelers on this rushed first day, though most everyone ended up on a different bus.

Tomorrow we will wake up in Santori, Greece!

Fun times amid a slight delay

Jenna Martin — Sat 22 May 2010 19:31 CST

We had a great reception last night with all the other alumni groups in one of the many lounges. One of the great highlights was when a man rushed over to the U of I group to let us all know he had two degress from the U of I and another from Ohio State University. He was traveling with the OSU group, but he remarked how he wanted to hang out with our group, as well. I gave him some of the U of I goodies, which he appreciated!

I was invited to join one couple for dinner last night. They told me great stroies about how they met at the U of I on a blind date 42 years ago. After dinner, I saw a group of U of I EXPLORERS dining together, which usually means instant new friends!

This morning the boat was ready to venture to the island of Santorini, Greece. We even arranged for the U of I group to travel on the same bus. However, as we were in line, the cruise director annoucned that, due to high winds, the port was closed and so were all the planned excursions. They informed us we were going to pull into another island, just to get off the boat for a bit. Soon after, though, we were told that the computers were down at the backup port and we weren't able to dock there, either. That meant a whole day at sea on a rocky boat. Luckily, we've all kept busy eatting lots of food, attending events, relaxing by the pool, hitting the gym and of course getting to know each other.

Bonding in Amalfi

Jenna Martin — Sat 22 May 2010 19:13 CST

After a rather uneventful day yesterday in Sicily (we drove about an hour uphill, only to find lots of fog once we got to the top), today we rolled into Amalfi ... and all I can saw is WOW! Most of the EXPLORERS travelers went on a ferry that took us to Postiano. There was not a guided tour, so everyone took to the main street to do some shopping. We then headed back to the town of Amalfi. Interestingly, both of these towns are built into the mountian cliffs. Everyone kept joking how we wouldn't find a Target or Burger King around these parts. After a tour of the cathedral, I had lunch with four EXPLORERS travelers in what is claimed to be the oldest square in Amalfi. It was positively bustling.

The best part was running into U of I folks as we ate our authentic food. People kept asking what was good, where to shop, things like that. It's so funny how you can become an instant expert just by fitting in with the locals at a little cafe. I then walked around the streets only to hear my name being called; one of my fellow EXPLORERS travelers was making himself at home with an expresso, and he looked just like a local.

Later on several of us went to the top deck of the ship for high tea. People were busy sharing stories about their time at the U of I, subjects such as what dorms they lived in, their majors. There was a heated debate about what bar two of our EXPLORERS travelers had their first date on. One gentleman recalled an evening of streaking across the quad, while another woman remembered a freshman year panty raid. It was a lively conversation.

Well, we all must get to bed early -- a tour of Rome awaits tomorrow!

Seeing it all in Rome

Jenna Martin — Sat 22 May 2010 19:05 CST

What a wonderful time we had today! We woke up at 6 a.m. to hit the sights, sounds and food of Rome. I would have been in awe if we had only seen just one of the places we visited today, so as you can imagine, everyone is exausted -- in a good way.

Rome reminded me of a mix between San Franciso and New York. I have never seen so many tourists in one place. From tossing coins in the Trevi Fountain to enjoying gelatto on the streets, everyone had a fantastic time today. When we arrived at St. Peter’s Bascilla, one of the EXPLORERS travelers looked down at the marble floor and noticed the pattern looked familiar. It turns out it was the "Block I," the same design seen with regularity on the UIC and Illinois campuses.

Everyone has been keeping busy on board the ship when not in port. Last night I participated in the nightly trivia game. I was talking to a man who was on vacation with his wife. He went to Northwestern and has become friends with some of the U of I alumni in our group. When I introduced myself to him, he said, "You just have the greatest group of people. I always see you all hanging out together." I have to say, getting to know the U of I group and others on the ship has really made this trip much more special than your average cruise.

Tomorrow we travel to Florence -- we’re seeing it all!

Fun in Florence

Jenna Martin — Sat 22 May 2010 18:57 CST

WOW! The EXPLORERS had yet another amazing day. It really just keeps getting better! Since many EXPLORERS travelers had visited Florence previously, several of them headed off on their own excursions, while some stayed on the ship and others (including myself) spent 11 hours getting to know this amazing destination. The suspence grew as we headed through the countryside of Italy. Before we could say "more gellato," we made it to Michaelangelo's "David." It's been a long time since I studied art history, but I was really surprised at how massive this sculpture is. For some reason I had always imagined it being more life-sized, but it was much larger than that. Many people commented on how you can just get lost and mesmerized by "David," and indeed that was the case.

We hit up four additional not-to-be-missed sites in Florence prior to two hours of free time. The EXPLORERS made themselves right at home in some of the famous cafes in the sqaure and indulged in what I consider to be "real" Italian food. Most people took full advantage of the fantasic shopping, and there were lots of packages making their way back on to the bus at the end of the day. It was fun showing off all of our purchases with everyone.

Once we arrived back on the ship, many of the Nautica crew members welcomed us "home" with a live band and true red-carpet treatment. I know many of us are already looking forward to our next visit!

Marvelous mosaics and views

Caryn Korman — Wed 12 May 2010 15:53 CST

Ahhh, the Mediterranean: The clear and beautiful water, the wonderful sunshine – you can't beat it. Our tour seems to get better and better every day! Today we journeyed to Pafos in Cyprus and visited the House of Dionysos, which is famous for the mosaics uncovered during the excavation of a Roman house during the third century A.D. Our guide shared with us that these mosaics are considered to be some of the best in the Mediterranean. They were just extraordinary to see and seemed to be more elaborate from one room to the next. After our guided tour, our group was given the opportunity to explore the beautiful resort town of Pafos (so of course shopping was on the agenda!).

After our visit, we traveled to a wonderful restaurant on the beach and enjoyed a family-style meal of traditional Greek dishes – it was delicious! I ended up sitting next to some travelers who were on their own, not with an alumni group, though three of them are graduates from one of the schools on board with us. They asked me all about alumni-group travel and what I thought the benefits were of going with a university. I think I talked their ears off, but they asked! :) At the end of our conversation, one of the women commented on how the group felt like it was missing out by not being part of a their alumni group. It was interesting to talk with them and hear their perspectives on what a wonderful time everyone seemed to be having (as indeed we are!).

On Mother’s Day, staff members on the ship gave every mom onboard a beautiful red rose – it was so touching. I also was able to Skype with my parents and daughter, and it was amazing to see them in their house in Illinois when I am thousands of miles away in the Mediterranean. It really made my Mother’s Day very special, and I was grateful to be able to talk with them for a few minutes!

The Holy Land

Caryn Korman — Mon 10 May 2010 12:03 CST

It’s wonderful to travel with alumni because it gives me the opportunity to not only experience these special places with intelligent people, but also to talk through the feelings and emotions. Additionally, with the special event on Friday with alumnus Abe Dorevitch, it made more sense to write about our time in Jerusalem and Bethlehem (Thursday) and Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee (Saturday) together.

So many people plan a pilgrimage to Israel to visit some of the holiest sites on Earth for Christians, Jews and Muslims. Since I am Catholic and have been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time in Rome (including living there for a short time), I was really looking forward to this experience and seeing some of these other famous sites.

My immediate impression of Israel was very positive—everything thing seemed like a well-organized system. Their roads are smooth and well-maintained, and the countryside is unbelievably rich and full. Our guide talked to us about the different kinds of agriculture and irrigation systems they have in place to sustain the agriculture.

We began our day on Thursday at the Western Wall (considered the most holy site in the Jewish world). What a powerful experience for many of us. It was so interesting to observe the people who came to the Wall to pray. It is difficult to put into words the celebration and peace that I felt there. From the Wall, we continued our journey to Via Dolorosa—the walk that Jesus took as he carried the cross. Like all areas that attract many tourists, it was crowded and lined with many shops (which surprised several of the people in our group); however, there was a general respect for the different Stations of the Cross, and people allowed for ample time to learn about their significance. We then went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This is the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again. We received excellent information from our guides at each place, and it was a very impressive visit. Amazingly, this was only the first half of our day!

After lunch, we headed to Bethlehem. Our Israeli guide had to leave the bus and a new guide joined us in Bethlehem. (The Palestinian Authority controls Bethlehem and Jewish Israelis are not allowed to enter.) I imagined I would feel quite differently going into Bethlehem, but after our major security check and guide change, my senses were alert in a different way. Many of us talked about politics and the things that were happening in the region—it sparked a very thoughtful conversation among alumni. I should note that at no point did we feel unsafe—we were very well taken care of and felt that the highest security measures were observed during our visit.

We had a beautiful visit to Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity (the site of Jesus’ birth). Our visit was shortened because we hit some traffic, but overall it was a very powerful day.

On Saturday we visited the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth. One of the most moving parts of the day was when we visited the Yardenit baptismal site where the River Jordan separates from the Sea of Galilee. A group of us were able to witness the many people who made a pilgrimage to be baptized there. There are two people who guide a person backward into the water to perform this short ceremony. We were able to observe a woman (who I would guess to be around 60 years old) be baptized and, as soon as she emerged from the water, she began to cry. It was clear without any of us having spoken to her that this was a lifelong dream and journey for her. They gave her time to fully experience the emotions of what she was doing and exchanged several hugs. Many people (including some in our group) clapped when she got out of the water. As with many excursions, you try and fit in as much as you can see in such a limited amount of time (and of course, there is never enough time!). This was such a touching moment and reminded many of us of the extreme significance of where we were.

These incredible few days in Israel have been a mix of emotions regarding people, politics and profound faith—simply an amazing experience we could not possibly have prepared ourselves for.

EXPLORERS in Egypt

Caryn Korman — Fri 7 May 2010 14:27 CST

Magnificent, moving and amazing!

Caryn Korman — Fri 7 May 2010 12:47 CST

I can’t tell you how incredibility amazing today was! Dr. Abe Dorevitch '62 PHARM created a day for us that was simply unbelievable! Our tour operator, Go Next, helped me arrange a private bus to transfer our EXPLORERS group from the ship. I think we all felt very special to have our own private excursion all set up!

We met him outside the parliament building and journeyed to the Mormon University on the Mountain of Olives – what an amazing building! We watched a short film about the history of the campus (they currently have 80 students there) and were guided into the most magnificent concert hall with floor-to-floor windows facing out to all of Jerusalem. We had a brief introduction to learn about the room and the massive organ and were treated to three short pieces (one was by Bach, but I didn’t catch the composers of the other two pieces). It was splendid! Then we visited their gallery, which contained beautiful mosaic art, followed by a walk in their biblical garden. The panoramic views of Jerusalem were unbelievable. After all of our tours during the last few days with hundreds of people, only our small alumni group visited this breathtaking site on our own, and it was not only glorious but also very serene.

We later visited a small café at Hebrew University, where Abe arranged lunch for us. We sat outside and had a wonderful conversation. Abe told us about his life growing up in Chicago, attending pharmacy school (following his father, class of 1943, and older brother, class of 1953, to the University of Illinois) and practicing in Chicago for a few years. He decided he needed to help and make a difference after the six-day war happened, so he came to Israel. He discussed his life with us, big events like being drafted to the Israeli Army, getting married, having two children (a boy and girl), working at a psychiatric hospital in Jerusalem as a clinical pharmacist, to discussing his most current position as a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Hebrew University. In between these accounts, he shared personal stories about different points of history and what it has been like to be an Israeli citizen. (On a side note, he and his children hold dual citizenship in the United States and file taxes every year and vote in every presidential election.) One very touching moment was when he described Memorial Day in Israel and how the citizens observe the day – it is touching and very different from our observances in the U.S.

Abe has lived, loved and fought for this country for 42 years. This day of personal interaction with him was beyond any travel experience that we might ever have anticipated. To see the country is one thing, but to hear about it and envision it through his eyes has made our stay so much more memorable. All of the alumni that joined us today talked about what an unforgettable time they had, and I'm personally grateful that he met with us and shared such beautiful sites and stories. I was so moved by this special experience, and I truly believe it has changed my thoughts and perspectives for the better.

Cairo - truly a "wonder" of the world

Caryn Korman — Thu 6 May 2010 14:36 CST

Cairo!

One of the world's wonders ...

Considering there are only seven of them, waking up in the morning and realizing you'll be seeing one of the Wonders of the World is an unbelievable feeling.

We began our journey early in the morning in the main lounge at 6 a.m., but no one seemed to mind due to the excitement coming our way. Also, it helped that we had a three-and-a-half-hour bus ride ahead of us in which we could nap!

All the UI EXPLORERS passengers were organized on the same bus together, and there was a lot of anticipation about our adventure. Our tour guide, Mohamed Ali (his real name) was extremely knowledgeable. He began the tour talking about Cairo and the city life within. We learned that the majority of Egyptians live in just four percent of the entire country, an area near the Nile River.

As we drove through the countryside, it was fascinating to view the large pigeon nests next to the houses. The locals use them to assist with fertilization of their land, and they also serve as a dinner entree! Most of the houses do not have roofs, though some houses did have roof coverage made up of large leaves. The residents receive less than a half-inch of rain each year, so strong roofs aren't really necessary.

As we entered the vibrant city life of Cairo, the hustle and bustle was evident right away. We hit a traffic jam and watched the daily life move along at a fast pace. After a quick turn the pyramids suddenly came into view, and the site was breathtaking. Admittedly, I expected them to be far away from the city, way out in the desert. In reality, many of the people living and working in Cairo see the magnificent structures every day.

During lunch our group had a nice conversation about how every child learns about the Egyptians and pyramids, and how we were all thrilled and lucky enough to witness such a huge part of history. In the afternoon, we saw the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx, and I can't conjure the appropriate words to describe the awe I felt -- truly amazing. After a shopping stop, where many of us purchased beautiful cartouches, we headed back to the ship. When we arrived onboard, it was a wonderful feeling to be greeted by the crew with refreshing drinks, hand towels and music -- the perfect end to a perfect day!

Alexandria the Great

Caryn Korman — Tue 4 May 2010 11:37 CST

Although we arrived at Alexandria a little bit later than expected, it turned out to be a pleasant morning aboard the ship, with time to enjoy extra rest and a nice lunch before we headed out for our tour.

Every day there are several different tours to choose from. I explored the Scenic Sights of Alexandria, an extensive bus tour of the city with various stops along the way. I felt this was a perfect way to see the highlights of the second-largest city in Egypt. After getting over the shock that I was actually in Egypt, I began to really observe the bustling city. We had a wonderful tour guide, and throughout the tour I found these tidbits to be among the most interesting:

There are no traffic lights in Alexandria; people drive everywhere and honk a lot. Amazingly, we were told that people rarely get into accidents because car insurance is not required and people don't want to fix their own cars!
Tourism is the No. 1 industry here -- last year, more than 12 million people visited. Alexandria is also a destination for Egyptians, and most of them travel here in the summer to enjoy the beaches, which I imagine get very crowded judging by the amount of chairs on the beach I saw.
Women who are completely covered and only show their eyes do go swimming at the beach (I had to ask). They swim in their clothes, and I was told they are good swimmers because of all those layers on them.
Insurance is not required for anyone; education and health care is free for everyone; and private education and health care are far superior to the free public services (no surprise).
There is religious freedom for women, although I would say 90 percent of them that I observed had their heads covered, many from head to toe.
According to our guide, 90 percent of people here are Muslim, 10 percent are Christian and less than 2,000 people are Jewish.
Nearly all of the buildings here are under construction, due to a housing tax that's enforced when houses are finished.
Car seats are not required. I witnessed at least three mothers holding their newborn babies on their laps in the front seat of their cars.
Not surprisingly, the main source of water is the Nile River, though the residents do not drink their tap water.

We stopped at the Monataza Gardens and took a group picture with some of the UI alumni outside the King Farouk Palace. Everyone on our bus really enjoyed the day. Tomorrow we leave at 6 a.m. to begin our journey to the Pyramids -- this is a highlight that we're all looking forward to!

Oceania @ Sea

Caryn Korman — Tue 4 May 2010 08:56 CST

Oceania @ Sea is the name of the e-mail accounts we have onboard, and since our first day was at sea, I thought it would be a nice opportunity to talk about our day of discovery. After we left Athens, we were required to attend a mandatory lifeboat evecuation drill. Everyone had to put on his and her life jacket and learn how to prepare for a real emergency. Interestingly, it was a fun way to observe your fellow travelers first thing in the morning!

I spent the rest of the day walking around, talking with alumni, learning about the ship and some of our upcoming ports. All in all, I was enjoying the wonderful sunshine! Everyone commented on how relaxing it was to spend the first day at sea simply adjusting to our new schedule before our excursions and adventures.

I'm very excited to see Egypt tomorrow. We'll be arriving there later than planned due to a late departure, but since we're still adjusting to our new time zone, no one seems to mind getting a few extra hours of sleep!

All aboard, alumni!

Caryn Korman — Tue 4 May 2010 08:41 CST

After uneventful flights (the best kind in which they're on time and the connections are easy!), we arrived in sunny Athens. We were greeted immediately by the Oceania staff and transferred to the ship via a one-hour bus ride. What a beautiful day to drive through Athens! We saw part of the Olympic stadiums, and I was impressed with how improved the roads and infrastructures were compared to last time I was here, just prior to when Athens hosted the Olympic games.

We boarded the ship and had just enough time to shower and refresh before our welcome reception, which was hosted by Go Next. While I knew there would be other University of Illinois alumni on board the ship, I was not aware we were going to take over the joint! There are 12 other alumni groups here, and the U of I group is the largest one, with Wisconsin and Georgia Tech alumni not far behind. What a nice event and way to meet everyone right from the start. From what I could gather, none of our travelers had problems with their flights and everything went smoothly -- a great start to the trip! After the lovely cocktail reception we enjoyed a light dinner with fellow alumni, and everyone headed to bed afterward. As a side note, it felt good to be vertical again after traveling for so many hours! We were scheduled to leave Athens at 8 p.m.

To our surprise, the following morning we woke up to an announcement via a loud speaker from David, our cruise director, who told us we were experiencing some technical difficulties in the Athens port. We left about an hour after his message -- it was good we were awake to say goodbye to the port -- and headed off to glorious Alexandria!

Anticipation building for 'Cradle of History' tour

Caryn Korman — Thu 29 Apr 2010 13:35 CST

Here's the first post from UIC senior associate director Caryn Korman as she prepares to head out on the "Cradle of HIstory -- Athens to Istanbul" EXPLORERS tour:

Two days before trip

The excitement of starting a new adventure is building! How will the flights go? What will the ship be like? What new people will I meet (besides our wonderful University of Illinois travelers)? How will I keep from indulging in all the wonderful food on board the ship? :)

I've been working off a checklist the last few weeks of things to get done, and while I have been making nice progress, it always seems like there is so much more to do before a trip. Packing for two weeks is challenging, and I'm attempting to be an "astute packer" if I can be. Several reference guides at http://www.travelsmith.com/images/us/local/kickers/travelcenter/PackingGuide.pdf have helped, but I know in the end I'll always choose some of my favorite things, even if they don't make the recommended list!

Of course, I've also checked the weather, and it's expected to be sunny and beautiful in Athens when we arrive on Sunday, with a high of 77 -- woo-hoo! We're almost set to go ... in just two short days we'll be on our way and my checklist(s) won't matter anymore as the journey begins ...

Welcome

Scott Williams — Tue 7 Apr 2009 16:00 CST

Greetings, and welcome to the blog for the Alumni Association’s EXPLORERS travel program. We want to make this blog a place for YOU, an online location where you can read about far-flung EXPLORERS destinations written by UIAA staff members-turned-tour hosts. Of course, we also want to hear what you have to say, so feel free to submit your thoughts via the “Comments” link at the end of each posting.

Additionally, the EXPLORERS Experience photo gallery is a section of the blog where you can view exotic locations from trips all over the world, where people are having a blast! We encourage you to view or submit your EXPLORERS photos at any time. Also, be sure to utilize the EXPLORERS blog to receive updates on future tours, things like date changes, price changes and even travel advice that can enhance your vacation.

We welcome your visits, comments and participation on the new EXPLORERS blog!