A cruise can be much more than salt air and scenery for adventurous older adults: It can be a learning adventure, too. Elderhostel, the worldwide leader among organizations providing study-travel opportunities for older adults, is hosting dozens of shipboard learning adventures around the US and in neighboring Mexico and Canada in 2002. From birding along a major migratory bird flyway in the Gulf of Mexico, to retracing the Lewis and Clark expedition on the Columbia and Snake rivers, or studying the history of the south while aboard a Mississippi riverboat, the not-for-profit Elderhostel organization offers myriad ways to explore the world by water while gaining new perspectives.
Ranging in length from one- to two weeks, each program revolves around a theme that relates to the region and its unique natural, historical and cultural features. "It's really a unique way to enjoy a cruise," says Martha Greenlea, a retired research librarian from Texas who recently returned from an Elderhostel program that took her group of 80 by cruise ship to study the maritime history of the New England islands. "By the time the program was finished, we all had learned things we hadn't known about life at sea, lighthouses, whaling on Nantucket and the meanings of the different markings on buoys. We even learned a sea shanty or two."
The vessels used are as varied as the programs. River barges, steamships, ocean liners and even schooners provide a moving venue for Elderhostel's study cruises. All are comfortably appointed with residential cabins, private baths, lounges, viewing decks and dining areas that make the ship both a floating classroom and a home away from home for the duration of the program. Some programs share a ship with non-Elderhostel travelers, but a growing number of Elderhostel's offerings take place aboard vessels that have been chartered exclusively for the Elderhostel groups. "Either way would be fine with me," says Greenlea, who has attended six other Elderhostel programs, all on dry land. "It was nice having an entire ship to ourselves -we knew we were all Elderhostelers and shared the same interests - but I would have enjoyed meeting other people outside our group. That's part of the learning experience too."
Elderhostel's shipboard educational programs are featured separately from the 26-year-old organization's thousands of educational opportunities. The "Adventures Afloat" catalog, published three times per year, provides information and listings for both domestic and overseas study cruises. Tuition, which can range from around $2,000 to $4,000 - depending on the length and location of the program, and the vessel used (some offer deluxe accommodations) - covers all aspects of the voyage: meals and accommodations, daily lectures and demonstrations, field trips and excursions, transportation ashore during the program, and often a variety of special activities. In the case of overseas programs, roundtrip airfare is also included in the cost. "It's really a great value, when you consider that you're not just getting a cruise - you're getting much more, including lots of great lectures from knowledgeable instructors," Greenlea says.
A sampling of the current "Adventures Afloat" catalog offerings include winter and early spring study cruises close to home:
The Texas Gulf Coast: Ornithology, Ecology & History 7-night program with departure dates in January. Average tuition: $2,500
Journey along the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway with its magnificent array of bird life, exploring natural and human history from Galveston's fragile estuaries to historic Port Isabel. Special emphasis is placed on the magnificent, severely endangered whooping crane, North America's tallest bird. The program also highlights local history.
Steamboating Along the Mississippi 10-night program with departure dates in February, March and April. Average tuition: $2,300
Depart from New Orleans and visit some of the South's most evocative cities as you cruise aboard legendary paddle wheel riverboats on the Mississippi River, learning about the varied and diverse life along the shores.
A River Passage Through the Oregon Territory: Columbia and Snake Rivers 9-night program in March. Average tuition: $2,600.
Tracing the route of Lewis and Clark and of later settlers, you will explore the cultures they met, learn how they adapted to life along the rivers, examine the natural forces that formed this region, and understand how harnessing some of that power has consequently altered life along the rivers.
Cruising the Sea of Cortes: A Shipboard Adventure 9-night program in early January. Average tuition: $3,900 (includes roundtrip airfare from US).
The Sea of Cortes, lying between mainland Mexico and the Baja Peninsula, is a natural wonderland with secluded coves and pristine beaches. This program offers a unique opportunity to study the marine ecology of the gulf and the desert environment of the bordering shores.
These are just a few of dozens of Elderhostel's upcoming programs. And, there are hundreds of other learning opportunities in the US, Canada and abroad featured in Elderhostel's catalogs. For more information, visit Elderhostel's website at elderhostel.org or call toll-free: .
Founded in 1975, Elderhostel is the world's leading not-for-profit organization providing lifelong learning opportunities to adults aged 55 and over. More than 2,300 educational and cultural institutions in the US, Canada and 110 other countries host Elderhostel programs year-round. •
