FSCC credit offered for European cruise

A new opportunity is available for local residents who want to travel and earn college credit from the experience.

Don Miller, a former instructor at Fort Scott Community College, and Karen Keen, a local travel agent, are offering a cruise on the Norwegian Jade from July 16-25. Travelers will fly from Kansas City to Barcelona, Spain, where they will have one day to explore before heading out on a cruise ship that will take them on a European cruise of various locations in Spain, Italy and Monaco.

"There's something on this cruise for everybody," Miller said.

People who are interested in making the trip and earning college credit can sign up for a Humanities Travel Experience course at FSCC, a one-credit-hour course taught by Miller, who organized the trip. As part of the class, student travelers will keep a travel journal that they will turn in at the end of the class for a grade.

Miller said he wants to encourage student travelers to focus on the cultural, historical and artistic aspects of the sites they will see during the trip, writing extensively about them in their journals. Because of the lengthy cruise time, Miller said there will be ample time for discussion as well.

The trip is offered to people who want to register for the college course or people who just want to make the trip and are not interested in earning college credit.

"I've done a number of trips with the college and we decided to offer this trip to the public," Miller said.

Prices for the trip vary from $2,873 to $3,283 depending on the category of room chosen. The total cost of the cruise package includes airfare, insurance, and all local transportation, as well as all food on the ship. The cost for the one-credit-hour course is not included in the price of the cruise package.

There are additional side trips that will be available to travelers.

"There are about four to 25 side trips at each site," Miller said. "It's pretty overwhelming how many things you can do here."

Children under 18 may go on the trip, but they must be accompanied by an adult. There is a day camp on board the cruise ship and kids may also take part in the shore excursions, Miller said.

Stops on the cruise will include Monte Carlo, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Naples, and Palma, Majorca, before the ship heads back to Barcelona. Excursions in Rome include visits to such historical sites as the Colosseum, St. Peter's Square and Basilica in the Vatican City, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon. Travelers will also visit Sorrento and Pompei in Naples, view the Amalfi Coast, and see other monuments, churches and scenery that Miller called "breathtaking."

In Monte Carlo, travelers will see the wedding place of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and actress Grace Kelly, and may also visit Cannes, a city on the French Riviera that is a popular tourist destination which hosts the annual Cannes Film Festival.

Miller said 18 people have already signed up to make the trip and 30 seats have been reserved with the airline. He said he expects the remaining seats to fill quickly so anyone interested in registering for the trip should do so soon.

For more information or to participate in the trip, contact Miller at (620) 223-6423, or Donna Estill at FSCC, 223-2700. A first payment of $1,610, which includes a deposit and all airfare costs, is due April 15, with a final payment due by May 1.