Important details about our voyages

FAQ and Brass Tacks

FAQ

Absolutely not. In fact, that is kind of the point. Most of the students on our semester-at-sea programs have never set foot on a sailboat and these voyages are designed to mimic that experience.

We will teach you the skills you need to stand watch and, from there, you will have the opportunity to go as deep as you like on a number of topics. Standing watch is where much of the learning happens. We also teach hands-on classes throughout the voyage. As we go through the routines of setting/striking sails, navigating, and steering, you will get ample opportunities to practice new skills alongside a knowledgeable crew member.

And don’t worry, there is ample time to relax and take it all in.

1. Do I need sailing experience?

2. Are your voyages for adults?

Yes, our voyages are for adults and participants must be at least 18 years old. We usually get a good mix of ages on our voyages. Average age range is 30-60 years old.

Our ships are available for minors as part of Youth Groups, Scout Voyages, and Private Charter when the entire ship is booked. You can learn about that here. Wonder does serve as a campus for The Planet School for part of the year and those voyages are exclusively for youth who are part of The Planet School. The Voyaging Institute is a separate business that creates programs for adults and our activities help fund The Planet School.

3. How much do your voyages cost?

The price for Guest Crew varies depending on the itinerary, voyage length, and any special programming that might be included. You can see our pricing for each voyage on our Scheduling page. These rates do not include gratuity for the crew, which is standard practice on sailing voyages at 20%.

All profit we earn from these voyages supports The Planet School’s endowment. The Planet School Education Fund is registered as a non-profit in Delaware and is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 non-profit.

4. What is included in the voyage cost?

We cover that in detail in our Brass Tacks section below. Keep scrolling!

5. What if I need to cancel?

This is also covered in our Brass Tacks section below.

6. Will I get sea sick?

Probably not, but this is a very personal question. Our ships are large and heavy and cut through small waves effortlessly. Our ships are also not racing yachts, so the intense leaning that sailboats do (called “heeling”) is minimized. Most of our itineraries stay in areas that are protected from major ocean swells, which are what usually cause motion sickness. We also pause to anchor at intervals that give the body a chance to acclimate, particularly on the first night.

If you are prone to motion sickness, we recommend bringing Meclizine (we also stock this aboard). We have ginger, crackers, tea, and other remedies that we stock for our longer multi-week voyages. We have heard mixed reviews of pressure point bracelets: some people swear by them, others throw them away.

7. What will we eat on this voyage?

There is no hard tack or gruel aboard our vessels—quite the opposite. Food quality on our voyages is very high. You can see more about what you will eat and where you will sleep on our Accommodations page.

8. What should I pack? What do you provide?

Please review our Packing List for an overview of Required vs. Recommended items to bring, depending on which type of voyage you are joining. We provide safety gear (personal locator beacon, workvest, etc.) for you to perform your duties as a member of the crew. Everything else is your responsibility.

For our Key West voyages, do not underestimate how cold it can get at night while out on the water.

Brass Tacks

What’s Included

  • Meals from the evening of your arrival through the morning or afternoon of your departure.

  • Private bunk accommodation aboard Wonder that includes a thin mattress, bunk curtain for privacy, pillow, bunk fan, and bunk light.

  • As much coffee, tea, water, and snacks as you like. Please stay hydrated and stay nourished.

  • Sunscreen and bug spray whenever required. We have plenty.

  • Snorkel gear. We fully wash and sterilize the gear between voyages. You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

  • An automatically inflating PFD fitted with a satellite-enabled Personal Locating Beacon to be worn while you stand watch.

  • A blank journal for recording notes and reflections, and a copy of the relevant nautical chart for our voyage so you can plot your journey.

  • A fully licensed, trained, and experienced captain and crew. We actually staff these voyages with two captains to ensure redundancy.

  • Instruction in sailing, navigation, seamanship, sail handling, celestial navigation, meteorology, oceanography, and other related topics while we are underway.

  • All fuel and dockage costs associated with the trip.

  • A crewed 6.5 foot dinghy with outboard engine for going ashore when our itinerary permits.

  • High speed Internet access via Starlink that we really hope you choose not to use. But it’s there if you need it.

  • The commitment to share as much knowledge and passion as we can during the time you are aboard Wonder. We named the boat for a reason: we want to recreate the sense of wonder one feels when discovering something awesomely beautiful in nature. You will see the ocean and the Earth like you never have before and we promise to be there with you, answering every question you have.

What’s NOT Included

  • Airfare to/from the ship.

  • Ground transportation to/from the ship.

  • Access to the ship before/after your stated arrival/departure time. We need to clean the boat and let the crew rest.

  • Going aloft into the rigging/climbing the masts. This requires additional training that is not practical to include in short voyages. There is the opportunity to go aloft in our Long Distance voyages.

  • A shower or air conditioning. Wonder does not have these amenities, but you can hose yourself off with fresh water on deck if you go swimming.

  • Cellular service. There is usually no cell coverage where we are going. You should plan to put your phone on Airplane Mode for the entire voyage (and love it).

  • Weather-appropriate attire. You should review our Packing List thoroughly.

What’s NOT Allowed

  • Anyone under 18. This is a voyage for adults.

  • Pets, including service animals. Wonder is not set up to accommodate animals of any kind.

  • Marijuana (in any form) and illegal drugs as defined by the Coast Guard and US Federal Government. While state regulations vary, Wonder is regulated by the Coast Guard as an inspected vessel and maintains a strict drug-free environment. Violating this rule will result in a call to the Coast Guard and immediate removal from the ship.

  • Consuming alcohol during the voyage or aboard the ship. Guest Crew are actively involved in the ship’s navigation and therefore we cannot allow you to drink. If you are thinking about coming on this voyage and consuming alcohol is important to you, this is probably the wrong ship for you. Fortunately, nearly every other sailing vessel out there features alcohol prominently and we are happy to recommend some of our favorite ships.

  • Disrespectful or abusive language towards your shipmates. We also endeavor to keep swearing to a minimum as we cultivate an environment of learning and exploration.

  • Disobeying or circumventing the captain. Orders from the captain are given for everyone’s safety and should be followed expediently. Debriefing on why something happened is encouraged after the fact so we can all learn.

  • Jumping off of Wonder at any time except when explicitly authorized by the captain.

Ship Culture and Standing Orders

There are ways of doing things on boats that are different than how we live on land. We encourage you to embrace these peculiarities fully as you become part of the ship’s company. During the voyage, the captain will give verbal commands in the moment as things happen. In addition to these, the “Standing Orders” are commands that exist all the time in the background. Many of the standing orders will be mostly relevant to watch officers, but every crew member (including guest crew) is responsible for following them. If you believe something should be reported to the captain, you can ask your watch officer for clarity.

We will review all of this when you arrive, but it is helpful to give a taste in advance.

Ship Culture

  • We will collect everyone’s cell phone at the start of the voyage. This is optional (it is not optional for our teenage students on Planet School voyages), but guest crew have found that physically not having their phones is extremely freeing. Be sure to bring a digital camera so you can still take photos.

  • When you are given a command, repeat it. For example, if the captain yells “Hands to set the jib,” you should respond by yelling “Hands to set the jib!”

  • The kitchen is the “galley,” bathrooms are “heads,” and downstairs is “below deck.” Try to learn as much of the vocabulary as you can.

  • “On deck, on duty.” Even if you aren’t on watch, always be ready to lend a hand to the ship’s work.

  • If you get sea sick, never throw up below deck—always over the side of the ship.

  • Sea shanties are a historic part of ship life and we sing them. Join in!

  • Always walk on the “high side” of the ship, which is the leeward side.

  • When you come on deck at night, announce yourself in the third-person by saying “[Your name] on deck!” and then announce yourself when you go below “[Your name] below.” This helps the watch officer know who is on deck and make sure nobody falls overboard.

  • Never “fake it till you make it” on a ship. When you don’t know something or aren’t sure, ask. Always. On land, asking for help can feel burdensome and we don’t like to reveal when we are uncertain. On a ship, everything must be done correctly or it is a safety issue.


Standing Orders

  • Maintain constant vigilance and report everything out of the ordinary. Even if something just “feels off,” you are duty-bound to report this feeling.

  • Do not allow anybody who is not part of the ship’s company aboard Wonder without consulting the captain.

  • If a boat check reveals something you do not understand, always report it to your watch officer.

  • Immediately alert the captain if any of the following are true:

    • You are uncertain, worried, or overwhelmed. You do not need a reason. When interpreting all of the other Standing Orders or trying to decide if one of them has been triggered, recall that being uncertain is itself a condition to alert the captain. Therefore, there should be no grey area on this list—you are either certain or you’re alerting.

    • The wind shifts by one intercardinal compass point (e.g. N to NE, SW to W) and sustains in this new direction for 15 minutes. Report sudden drastic shifts immediately.

    • The wind increases or decreases by one factor on the Beaufort Scale and remains at this new level for 15 minutes. Report sudden drastic shifts immediately.

    • You observe worrying cloud formations, evidence of a front, or suspect a squall is approaching. Report early: do not wait until it is overhead.

    • You observe precipitation in any form and/or lightning.

    • You believe we need the engine or need to alter our sail plan, including reefing.

    • You cannot hold your course.

    • Some other element of the ship or the environment has changed from the last time the captain was alerted, awoken, or on the quarterdeck. The captain should never come back on deck and be surprised.

Refund Policy and Our Minimum Booking Requirement

To reserve your spot, we require a $500 deposit. Your deposit is fully refundable until we reach our guest crew minimum (usually 6 guest crew).

Every trip needs to have a minimum of 6 guest crew in order to sail and we cap our guest crew at 12. Sometimes we cap our guest crew at lower numbers, usually on longer voyages. Until we reach our 6 guest crew minimum, your deposit is 100% fully refundable. If a voyage already has 6 guest crew signed up and you book as the 7th guest crew member, then your deposit is not refundable from the moment you book.

The moment we reach 6+ guests, your deposit becomes non-refundable. Due to the uniqueness of this program and few, if any, comparable offerings on the market, we cannot predict demand. We will cancel a trip that has not reached 6 guest crew at 2-3 weeks out. During this period, we will be in touch with you and other guest crew to discuss schedules and do our best to fill a boat. Here is a breakdown to help explain:

Scenario 1: You’re The First Person To Reserve a Berth

Due At Booking: $500 deposit, fully refundable until the 6th person books.
Due When the 6th Person Books: The remainder of your ticket cost, non-refundable.

Scenario 2: You’re The Sixth Person To Reserve a Berth

Due At Booking: $500 deposit, non-refundable.
Due Immediately After Booking: full ticket cost, non-refundable.

Scenario 3: You’re The Seventh Person (or later) To Reserve a Berth

Due At Booking: $500 deposit, non-refundable.
Due Immediately After Booking: full ticket cost, non-refundable.

You should not pay your $500 deposit with the idea of “Oh, it’s fully refundable so I can cancel it if I change my mind.” The reason we make it refundable is because we require 6 confirmed guest crew in order to confirm a voyage. Each voyage is a bit like its own crowdfunding campaign in this regard: we either hit our goal and deposits get locked in or we don’t and everybody gets their deposit back. You should only pay your $500 deposit once you know you want to go voyaging. We may get the 6th booking in the middle of the night and, suddenly, your $500 deposit is non-refundable. This should be a moment of celebration because now your voyage is confirmed! Yay!

Trips that reach the guest crew minimum have a very high likelihood of happening. We are running these programs outside of the peak Atlantic Hurricane season and have crafted itineraries that factor in the seasonal winds of Key West and Cape Cod. Rain in the forecast will not cancel a trip. In fact, rain on a trip adds to the adventure. If a tropical storm is developing during your scheduled program and we deem it unsafe to sail, we will cancel the voyage and issue a full refund to you. We will never risk embarking on a voyage if a named storm is developing. Accommodating weather is part of the voyaging process, so we will share updates as we get closer to the date of your program.

Once we have booked at least 6 guest crew, your fee is non-refundable if you cancel. We know that sickness, work, life, family, and tragedy all happen, but we cannot issue refunds regardless of the reason. There are no exceptions to this policy. If we can max out the trip at 12 guest crew and then have a waitlist, we can offer a refund if your spot is filled. We hope you understand this policy and take extra care of yourself so that you can come on an adventure with us! The unique nature of this program requires us to be very strict and black and white in creating our cancellation policy. You will also be required to sign a liability waiver prior to boarding the boat and adhere to our Ship Community policy, Drug and Alcohol Policy, and Safety Policy. Breaking these rules or refusing to sign our liability waiver will result in immediate removal from the vessel at the first safe port, which could be expensive for you. You will not be issued any refund if you are removed from the vessel. All of these policies will be shared with you to review before you are asked to pay the full cost of your ticket, so you will have the opportunity to decline and receive a full refund of the deposit you pay on our website if you choose to book.