We thought that we had “covered all our bases” after deciding to take high school students on a summer trip to Italy and Greece that ended with a cruise to places like Santorini and Kusadasi in Turkey. A fellow teacher, her university professor husband, and I had read all of the literature about the cruise and practically memorized the website for the Louis Cruise lines. With our DK Eyewitness Travel guides securely packed, we felt very confident driving from Athens to the Piraeus port to board our ship.
Group Rush to the ATM in the Terminal
Almost every student carried an ATM card, something we encouraged. A plastic card is often easier to secure than bundles of cash, and since the US dollar was dwarfed by the euro, every penny counted. ATMs give the best exchange rates and the cards are accepted everywhere since they are generally linked to VISA. But not on board a Greek cruise ship.
Waiting on line to broad our ship, we were informed that debit cards would not be accepted on board, even if they had “VISA” embossed on the card. The very word “debit” was a disqualifier. This produced a mad dash to the nearest ATMs in order to withdraw enough cash for the cruise. Another unexpected bit of news was that each passenger was required to pay a set tip fee. The cost of the cruise extension was only beginning to grow.
Unlimited Drinks on the Cruise Ship With No Drinking Age
The ship itself was old, catering primarily to American and Canadian student groups. My university professor colleague, Tom, had served in the U.S. Navy as a captain and he pointed out all of the flaws that come with age. I realized that the Louis Cruise line was still in the business of making money, but I also knew where my life preserver was in my lower-deck cabin.
For a one-time fee of $50 US, passengers, including students, could purchase drink privileges that included unlimited alcohol. This included beer and most cocktails. Soft drink privileges were only $31. I could see the proverbial handwriting on the wall. Student alcohol consumption on overseas trips is always a concern, but this was like spending several nights in a brewery.
Although our students were prudent, knowing we did not approve, other student groups were not. The first afternoon at sea, a group of California high school students who had just graduated or were rising seniors gathered on the deck we were sitting at, carrying large mugs of frothy brew. It was apparent they had already used their drink cards. Santorini, I surmised, would be one big blur for these kids. Several were bragging about how much they had already consumed. I wondered if their parents knew.
Cruise Ship Food Catered to American Students
Although the formal dining room featured excellent meals, the top-deck buffet was obviously geared toward North American tastes. This was where most of the students, making up the majority of passengers, took their meals. Hamburgers, pizza, and salads were the mainstay. There was no grilled squid or other “authentic” Greek food. Best of all, nobody had to bring their own ketchup.
The ship also advertised an “afternoon tea,” but what student has ever sat down for hot tea and scones at 4:00? In America, tea means iced tea, a distinctly Southern invention. Few places in Europe realize this, which is why American tourists love to stop at the first Hard Rock Café they can find to refresh themselves with this unique thirst-quenching elixir.
The Educational Value of Greek Cruises
Each port excursion was optional but also expensive, ranging up to $75 depending on the excursion. I lobbied for Heraklion and the ruins of Knossos. Teaching Western Civilization, the fabled palace of Minos seemed to be a necessity, perhaps even a pilgrimage, if only to me. Whether it was my retelling of the Minotaur legend or the cheap prices in Crete, the group opted to trek through the ruins, never finding the legendary labyrinth or, for that matter, any trace of the Minotaur.
My colleagues lobbied for Santorini and the iconic blue-roofed dwellings that look out across the harbor. Kusadasi was a toss up. Touring Ephesus in the intense heat seemed torturous so we opted to visit the many shops in the bazaar-like commercial district, which sells everything from replica Rolex watches to Hard Rock tee-shirts, even though there is no café within hundreds of miles.
I recommend including a Mediterranean cruise on any student trip to Greece, but caution that all chaperons and group leaders do extensive pre-tour research to avoid those last-minute surprises. What we thought was a $400–500 extension of our Italy-Greece trip, turned into well over a thousand dollars. And the cruise ship collected our passports at departure, in part to ensure final settlement of all bills.
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