So, first day on the way back home. Seas are getting a bit rougher, but heck we are in the middle of the Atlantic. Today was extremely muggy and our AC on deck 2 (lowest deck for students, also cheapest rooms, hence where my room is) broke. So, it was out of the room for several hours today, unless you wanted a sauna spa treatment. Today was also the shipboard auction, trying to make some mula for Semester at Sea. I know tuition was crazy expensive, but they are a nonprofit organization, so it all goes to a good place. Semester at Sea is an expensive operation anyways. It was $7,000/ hour to be docked in Morocco and we were there for four days, and when we refueled at Gibraltor, it cost $500,000, just to give you an idea.
So the Shipboard Auction is part of the Shipboard Drive, which I am on the committee of. We had a silent auction and a live auction. The silent auction had signed Pittsburgh Steelers Terrible Towel and Super Bowl Champions Hat by Hines Ward, paintings, and lots of other little goodies. It raised, get this, $7,000+
Then, we got to the live auction. It lasted way too long. 3 hours of auctioning off about 25 to 30 items. Kids on this boat have way to much money. This is the list, I wrote down the item and the dollars it went for, I figured Id share it with you. Its crazy.
3 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies – $135
Dr. Campbells headband (Literally, a teachers that he always wears) – $110
Tickets to the Big Apple Circus – $850
One day of unlimited internet on the ship – $305
Two free bags of laundry done -$30
4 pool lounge chairs reserved for the last couple days of the voyage – $100
T-Shirt with all of the Questions of the Day – $600
Opportunity to Steer the Ship (30 minutes) – $475
Select the dinner menu for an evening – $400
First off the ship – $450 (Two kids at 450, holding hands down the gangway first)
Map of the Captains with route and signatures – $525
Raise the U.S. Flag as we enter Norfolk – $400
Breakfast in Bed served by your dorm leader (LLC) – $300
Sailboat race – $100
A Weekend with a Dorm Leader (Peter) in Santa Barbara – $650 (2 trips 1300 total)
30 minute phone call home – $90
Do Noon and 5:30pm announcements – $300
5 nights in a ski lodge in Big White Ski Resort in Canada 3 groups of people at $2,600 so $7,800 total
Photo session with ship photographer – $350
Visit the Steelers training camp and be on the field with lunch 2 groups at $650
Write a question on Global Studies final – $150
IT Guys Vest with lots of pockets – $140
Last Student off the ship – $500
Private tour of NYC with local for a day 2 groups at $300
Three days at Resort in Italy with spa treatment – $800
Bubble Bath in Deans Office Two groups at $150
Dinner with a faculty member in the nicer lounge two groups at $325
Reserved spot on deck as enter Norfolk – $350
Private dinner for two in Exec Deans Office Two groups at $250
Table with Captain at Alumnis Ball – $1,000
The Announcements giver does a voicemail on your phone two kids at $120
Pie Dr. Bowler in the face – $400
Grand total with silent and live auction, $30,981!
I wish I was kidding. Haha. Now, the Shipboard Drive, which is straight donations.
I guess I have incredibly cheap and/or incredibly boring taste – the laundry and 30min phone call would be the two things I’d want most. And how is it that being last off the ship is worth so much more than being first off the ship??
By: Sara on August 14, 2010
at 4:14 pm