Cruise & Compass: Life Design, Career Planning and Adventure in Alaska
SEATTLE, WA | KETCHIKAN, JUNEAU, ICY STRAIT POINT, ALASKA
MSC CRUISES | MSC POESIA
$1,295 | IN-PERSON | 72 hours (equivalent to 6 credits)
+ registration fees
Adventure isn’t just about discovering new places—it’s about discovering yourself.
Embark on an unforgettable learning experience in one of the world’s most spectacular destinations Cruise & Compass combines career planning, personal growth, and adventure to help you explore your possibilities, discover your strengths, and confidently navigate your next chapter.
Whether you’re deciding what comes after your au pair year, exploring career opportunities, considering college, or setting personal and professional goals, this course will help you turn your dreams into an actionable plan.
Your adventure begins in Seattle, Washington, where you’ll board the MSC Poesia for an incredible 7-night journey through Alaska’s stunning Inside Passage. Along the way, you’ll explore charming Alaskan towns, experience breathtaking coastal scenery, discover the region’s unique culture, and enjoy opportunities to encounter Alaska’s remarkable wildlife.
From the colorful streets of Ketchikan and the natural beauty of Icy Strait Point to the spectacular glaciers of Tracy Arm and the majestic landscapes surrounding Juneau, every destination offers new perspectives, unforgettable experiences, and inspiration for your own journey.
Through engaging workshops, interactive activities, and guided discussions, you’ll explore your interests, identify your strengths, develop practical career-planning skills, and create a personalized roadmap for your future. You’ll also discover how stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing new experiences, and connecting with people from different backgrounds can build confidence, resilience, and adaptability.
Students will also examine the role of travel and unfamiliar environments in developing independence, cultural awareness, confidence, and problem-solving skills. The course culminates in the creation of a personalized Life & Career Development Plan, outlining individual goals, future opportunities, and actionable strategies for continued growth.
Beyond the learning experience, students will enjoy Alaska’s extraordinary landscapes, exciting shore excursions, onboard entertainment, and opportunities to build meaningful connections with fellow au pairs from around the world.
Key Experiences
- 7-night Alaska cruise aboard the MSC Poesia, departing round-trip from Seattle
- Explore Alaska’s stunning Inside Passage and spectacular coastal landscapes
- Visit Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Juneau
- Experience scenic cruising through Tracy Arm, surrounded by dramatic fjords and glaciers
- Discover Alaska’s wildlife, natural wonders, and local culture
- Participate in interactive career-planning and personal development workshops
- Connect with fellow au pairs while enjoying onboard activities, entertainment, and dining
- Visit Victoria, British Columbia, before returning to Seattle
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED, SO REGISTER EARLY!!
May 13 – May 22, 2027
Registration closes May 10th, or sooner if it sells out!
What's Included in the Price?
Tuition and Academic:
- Tuition fees
- All course materials
Cruise Experience:
- 7-night round trip cruise to Alaska (May 3-10)
- Shared inside cabin accommodation (3-4 au pairs per cabin)
- All cruise taxes and pre-paid mandatory gratuities
Meals:
- All meals onboard the ship: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Included onboard beverages (as provided by the cruise line)
Accommodation:
- 7 nights in a shared inside cabin (own bed) on board Grand Princess
Transportation:
- Local transportation to and from all included activities and excursions during cruise
- Bus shuttle from Whittier to Anchorage after cruise
Activities & Excursions:
- Excursion to Totem Bight State Park and Creek Street in Ketchikan
- Mount Roberts Tram and Hiking in Juneau
- Famous White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad train ride in Skagway
- Visit to local Reindeer Farm outside of Anchorage
What's NOT Included in the Price?
- Airfare to/from Seattle, WA
- Canadian Visa fees, should you need a visa. (Depends on your nationality)
- Wi-Fi/Internet access onboard the ship (available for purchase at an additional cost)
- Alcoholic beverages (available for those who are 21+ after class hours)
- Required eTA fees to enter Canada (CAD$7.00)
- Airport transfer from airport to cruise port in Vancouver
Course Overview
This course will begin and end in Seattle, WA.
Please do NOT purchase flights until the course has been officially confirmed to run. We require a minimum amount of students to run the class.
**We reserve the right to modify the schedule, activities, or itinerary if any planned experience becomes unavailable due to inclement weather, port restrictions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Please note that cruise itineraries may also be rerouted or adjusted by the cruise line for safety and operational reasons
2027 @ 8:00PM – 10:00PM Eastern Time – Pre-Departure Course Info and Q&A Zoom Meeting
Mandatory Zoom meeting where important course information will be shared and students will have the opportunity to ask questions about what the course will look like and what to expect throughout the experience.
May 3, 2027, DAY 1: Seattle, Orientation & Cruise Embarkation (4:00 PM Departure)
Students will meet in Seattle for course orientation before embarking on their Alaska adventure. Through introductions and interactive activities, students will explore the concept of life design, reflect on their personal journeys, and begin identifying their goals, values, and aspirations.
May 4, 2027, DAY 2: At Sea — Discovering Your Strengths
While cruising toward Alaska, students will participate in interactive workshops focused on self-awareness, personal strengths, interests, and transferable skills. Through self-assessments and group discussions, students will explore how their experiences as au pairs can contribute to future educational, career, and personal opportunities.
May 5, 2027, DAY 3: Ketchikan — Culture, Adaptability & Personal Growth (7:00 AM–5:00 PM)
Students will explore Ketchikan’s cultural heritage through visits to Totem Bight State Historical Park and historic Creek Street. Through guided discussions and reflection, students will examine how cultural experiences, unfamiliar environments, and stepping outside their comfort zones can strengthen adaptability, confidence, and personal growth.
May 6, 2027, DAY 4: Icy Strait Point — Confidence, Resilience & Adventure (10:00 AM–7:00 PM)
Surrounded by Alaska’s spectacular coastal wilderness, students will explore the relationship between adventure, calculated risk-taking, and personal development. Through experiential activities and guided reflection, students will examine how overcoming challenges and embracing new experiences can build confidence, resilience, and independence.
May 7, 2027, DAY 5: Tracy Arm Fjord & Juneau — Navigating Change & Exploring Opportunities
Tracy Arm Fjord: 7:00–7:30 AM | Juneau: 2:00–10:00 PM
The day begins with scenic cruising through Tracy Arm Fjord, offering breathtaking views of Alaska’s dramatic wilderness. Later, students will explore Juneau, with opportunities to visit Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. Through guided reflection and experiential learning, students will examine how embracing change, overcoming challenges, and exploring new opportunities can influence their personal and professional development.
May 8, 2027, DAY 6: At Sea — Designing Your Future
During a full day at sea, students will focus on career exploration, educational pathways, decision-making, and goal setting. Through interactive workshops and practical exercises, students will research future opportunities, establish short- and long-term goals, and begin developing their personalized Life & Career Development Plans.
May 9, 2027, DAY 7: At Sea & Victoria, Canada — Charting Your Course (8:00 PM–11:58 PM in Victoria)
During the final full day onboard, students will refine and present their Life & Career Development Plans, identifying actionable steps toward their educational, professional, and personal goals. The evening includes a brief visit to Victoria, British Columbia, providing another opportunity for cultural exploration and reflection.
May 10, 2027, DAY 8: Return to Seattle — Reflection & Departure
The cruise concludes in Seattle. Students will reflect on their learning experiences, personal discoveries, and future aspirations, returning home with unforgettable memories of Alaska and a clearer vision for their next chapter.
Important Things to Know about this Class
Tuition & Academic
– Tuition fees
– All course materials
Cruise Experience
– 7-night cruise to Alaska (August 8-15)
– Shared Inside cabin accommodation (2-4 au pairs per cabin)
– All cruise taxes and pre-paid mandatory gratuities
Meals
– All meals onboard the ship: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
– Included onboard beverages (as provided by the cruise line)
Accommodation
– 7 nights in a shared inside cabin (own bed) onboard Grand Princess
Transportation
– Local transportation to and from all scheduled activities
– Bus transportation from Whittier to Anchorage after the cruise
Activities & Excursions
– Excursion to Totem Bight State Park and Creek Street in Ketchikan
– Mount Roberts Tram and Hiking in Juneau
– Famous White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad train ride (3 hours) in Skagway
– Visit to a local Reindeer Farm outside of Anchorage
– Airfare to Vancouver, Canada or airfare from Anchorage, Alaska
– Airport transfer from airport to cruise port in Vancouver
– Canadian Visa fees, if required. (Depends on your nationality. You can check HERE if you require a visa to enter Canada)
– Required eTA fees to enter Canada (CAD$7.00)
– Wi-Fi/Internet access onboard the ship (available for purchase at an additional cost)
– Alcoholic beverages
Each student is solely responsible for obtaining and carrying all required travel documents for the duration of the cruise and course. All documentation must be valid and available at the time of boarding and throughout travel. Passengers who do not present the required documents will be denied boarding. No refunds will be issued to individuals who are unable to travel due to missing, invalid, or incomplete documentation.
Alaska is a US State and no special travel documents are needed. However, since this cruise class starts in Vancouver, Canada, the following Travel Documents are required:
– Your valid passport with J-1 Visa
– A valid extension DS-2019 that has been signed for travel
– Your I-94 card
– Visa-exempt au pairs traveling to Canada by air need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). This applies to citizens from countries like the U.K., Japan, and many E.U. nations. You can check HERE if you require and eTA.
– The eTA is for AIR TRAVEL only (if you are flying to Vancouver); it is NOT required when entering by car, bus, or train.
– Application: Processed online via the official Canada.ca website for a cost of CAD$7.
– Depending on your nationality, you may need a Visa to enter Canada. Please check HERE if you require a visa.
In most cases, au pairs in their extension year are not permitted to travel internationally. However, U.S. regulations include an exception called Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR). AVR may allow travel for 30 days or less to Canada, Mexico, or certain adjacent Caribbean islands, as long as the au pair:
– has a valid passport
– has a valid DS-2019 with a current travel signature
– has a valid I-94 record
– does not apply for a new U.S. visa while outside the U.S.
Please Note** Even if AVR applies, re-entry is never guaranteed. Cruise lines may deny boarding, and final admission to the U.S. is always decided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry.
Au pairs must contact their sponsoring agency in advance to confirm whether they are eligible before booking any international travel and signing up for this class.
Attendance is mandatory for all days of this class. You may not arrive late on the first day or depart early on the final day. Please book flights that allows you to attend all scheduled class hours.
This is a long-weekend, intensive course, and days will be full. Please bring comfortable shoes, appropriate clothing, water, and snacks. We expect you to arrive well-rested and prepared to participate fully, learn, and enjoy the experience.
SCHEDULE
DAY 1: 12:00PM – 7:00PM
DAY 2: 9:00AM – 8:00PM
DAY 3: 9:00 AM – 3:00PM
DAY 4: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
DAY 5: 7:00AM class dismissed
DAY 6:
DAY 7:
DAY 8:
This 72-hour course consists of in-person instruction as well as required pre- and post-assignments completed through Google Classroom. You will receive a Google Classroom invitation approximately one month prior to the course start date. Please register using a Google-compatible email address (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Hotmail, or Yahoo), as all course communications and your course completion certificate will be sent to this email. Invitations may be filtered to spam/junk folders. If you do not receive the invitation, you are responsible for contacting us to request access.
Pre-assignments will be posted three weeks before the course begins and require approximately 18 hours to complete. These assignments must be completed before attending the in-person sessions.
Post-assignments will be posted during the course weekend and also require approximately 18 hours to complete. Successful completion of these assignments is required to receive the course completion certificate.
Course completion certificates are emailed within a few days of the official course end date, provided all required assignments have been successfully completed. Students have four weeks to complete post-assignments. If you require your certificate earlier, please indicate this during registration; and provide necessary documents.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1.) Assess personal strengths, interests, values, and transferable skills and evaluate their relevance to educational, professional, and personal development.
2.) Research and compare educational and career pathways, considering individual interests, qualifications, opportunities, and long-term aspirations.
3.) Apply goal-setting and decision-making frameworks to develop realistic short-term and long-term personal and professional objectives.
4.) Analyze the relationship between experiential learning and personal growth, including how travel, cultural exchange, and unfamiliar environments contribute to adaptability, resilience, and independence.
5.) Demonstrate effective communication, collaboration, and critical-thinking skills through group discussions, reflective exercises, and applied learning activities.
6.) Create a comprehensive Life & Career Development Plan that incorporates personal goals, educational or professional pathways, potential challenges, and actionable strategies for future success.