Cruise & Capture: Miami, Key West and The Bahamas
MIAMI & KEY WEST, FLORIDA
NASSAU, BAHAMAS & OCEAN CAY MARINE RESERVE
MSC CRUISE LINE | MSC SEASIDE
$1,195 | IN-PERSON | 72 hours (equivalent to 6 credits)
+ registration fees
Experience Miami, Key West, and the Bahamas through a whole new lens! This hands-on photography course turns some of the most colorful and exciting destinations in the U.S. and Caribbean into your classroom, combining photography, creativity, culture, and adventure.
The journey begins in Miami Beach, where students will learn photography and visual storytelling through guided instruction, hands-on practice, and creative photo challenges. We’ll capture the energy and iconic scenery of South Beach, explore the vibrant streets and Cuban culture of Little Havana, and even take a salsa and bachata dance class, creating opportunities to photograph movement, people, color, culture, and emotion.
Next, we’re hitting the road for a full-day adventure to Key West! We’ll travel along the famous Overseas Highway and Seven Mile Bridge, explore Key West’s colorful streets and tropical scenery, and head out for a snorkeling adventure in the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys. Along the way, students will practice capturing landscapes, action, candid moments, and the unique atmosphere of a destination.
Through instructor-led lessons and photo challenges, students will develop skills in composition, lighting, framing, perspective, movement, travel photography, and visual storytelling. Students may use either a smartphone or camera, and no previous photography experience is required.
After completing the academic portion of the course, participants can extend their experience through a guided cruise to the Bahamas, with stops in Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.
To support a well-rounded learning experience, students will complete pre-course assignments introducing photography and core concepts, along with post-course reflections focused on applying these concepts in everyday life.
This travel experience is designed to complement the course by allowing continued practice in new environments, while exploring different cultures and landscapes. Informal photo challenges and reflection prompts may be offered during the trip to encourage ongoing creative engagement.
By the end of the course, each participant will have created a curated mini photo collection that reflects their journey and demonstrates growth in both photography skills and visual storytelling.
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED, SO REGISTER EARLY!!
January 27 – February 1, 2027
Want to join the Cruise but don’t need the credits? Register for our Travel-Only option here. Spots are limited!
What's Included in the Price?
This is and all-inclusive program combining a U.S. -based course with a guided travel experience.
Tuition and Academic:
- Tuition fees
- All course materials
Cruise Experience:
- 3-night cruise to the Bahamas
- Shared inside cabin accommodation (3 nights)
- 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)
- Dinner on Day 1 during salsa class
- Breakfast on Day 2 during day trip to Key West
- One Cuban lunch in Miami (Day 3, pre-cruise)
Accommodation:
- 2 nights at Beds N' Drinks Hostel in Miami Beach
- 3 nights in an inside cabin on MSC Seaside
Transportation:
- Local transportation to and from all included activities and excursions
Activities & Excursions:
- All organized activities in Miami and Miami Beach
- Daytrip to Key West with snorkeling
- Famous "Swimming with pigs" excursion on Rose Island in Nassau, Bahamas
What's NOT Included in the Price?
- Airfare to and from Miami, Florida
- Airport transfers (airport to class location, cruise port to airport)
- Breakfast in Miami Beach on Day 3
- Wi-Fi/Internet access onboard the ship (available for purchase at an additional cost)
Course Overview
For travel planning, we recommend flying into and out of Miami International Airport (MIA) for the most convenient logistics.
Please do not purchase flights until the program has been officially confirmed to run.
**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
MANDATORY Pre-Departure Zoom Meetings
Sunday, January 10, 2027 @ 8:00PM – 9:00PM Eastern Time (For January class)
Sunday, February 7, 2027 @ 8:00PM – 9:00PM Eastern Time (For February class)
Have questions about what this course will look like exactly and what the expectations are? Make sure you attend this Q&A Zoom Meeting!
DAY 1: 12:00PM – 7:00PM Miami Beach
We will begin the course with a welcome orientation, followed by an introductory photography lesson. After class, we’ll explore South Beach through guided photo prompts and creative challenges. The evening will wrap up with a fun salsa & bachata dance class, followed by a group dinner.
DAY 2: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM Day trip to Key West
We’ll set out early for a full-day adventure to Key West, traveling along the scenic Overseas Highway and across the famous Seven Mile Bridge. In Key West, we’ll explore the colorful streets, tropical architecture, waterfront, and iconic landmarks as well as head out for a snorkeling adventure in the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys. Throughout the day, students will have plenty of opportunities to practice travel, landscape, and action photography while capturing the unique colors, scenery, and island atmosphere of Key West.
DAY 3: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Miami
We will start the day by exploring Downtown Miami, then continue into Miami’s rich Cuban culture with a visit to Little Havana, where we’ll enjoy a Cuban lunch. After lunch, our bus will transfer the group to the cruise port. The ship departs at 4:00 PM.
In the evening, we will have dinner together as a group and enjoy onboard activities, with a few photography prompts to capture the ship’s atmosphere.
DAY 4: Nassau, Bahamas – docked 8:00am – 6:00pm
Participants may take part in an excursion to Rose Island, including the popular swimming-with-pigs experience. Throughout the day, there will be opportunities to capture action photography, travel moments, and storytelling through images. Optional prompts and self-guided exercises may be shared to support continued engagement with photography during the excursion.
DAY 5: Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve – ship docked 8:00am – 6:00pm
We’ll explore MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, surrounded by turquoise water, white-sand beaches, and colorful island scenery. Participants will have time to enjoy the beach while practicing landscape, lifestyle, and creative travel photography. Optional photo challenges will focus on natural light, color, reflections, movement, and capturing the feeling of a tropical destination through images.
DAY 6: 7:00 AM – Ship arrives back in Miami
The ship arrives back in Miami at 7:00 AM. After breakfast, participants will begin the disembarkation process, which may take several hours. For this reason, please do not book a return flight earlier than 1:30 PM.
Important Things to Know about this Class
Tuition & Academic
– Tuition fees
– All course materials
Cruise Experience
– 3-night cruise to the Bahamas
– Shared Inside cabin accommodation (3 nights)
– 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)
– Dinner on Day 1 during salsa class
– Breakfast on Day 2 on our way to Key West
– One Cuban lunch in Miami (Day 3)
Accommodation
– 2 nights at Beds N’ Drinks Hostel in Miami Beach
– 3 nights in an inside cabin on MSC Seaside
Transportation
– Local transportation to and from all scheduled activities
Activities & Excursions
– All organized activities in Miami and Miami Beach
– Day trip to Key West and snorkeling
– Famous “Swimming with pigs” excursion on Rose Island in Nassau, Bahamas
– Airfare to and from Miami, Florida
– Airport transfers (airport to class location, cruise port to airport, or cruise port to Miami)
– Lunch on Day 1, Lunch or Dinner on Day 2, Breakfast in Miami Beach on Day 3
– 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.
The following Travel Documents are needed:
– Your valid passport with J-1 Visa
– A valid extension DS-2019 that has been signed for travel
– Your I-94 card
– Depending on your nationality, you may need a Visa to enter the Bahamas. Please check HERE if you require a visa to the Bahamas
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: 6:00AM – 10:00PM
DAY 3: 8:00 AM – 6:00PM
DAY 4: ship is docked 8:00 AM – 6:00PM
DAY 5: ship is docked 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
DAY 6: 7:00AM ship arrives back in Miami
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 two months 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.
1.) Apply fundamental photography techniques — including composition, lighting, framing, and motion — to create visually strong and intentional images.
2.) Demonstrate an understanding of visual storytelling by producing photo sequences that communicate mood, place, culture, and personal perspective.
3.) Use photography as a tool for cultural observation, thoughtfully documenting environments such as Miami Beach, Little Havana, and Nassau.
4.) Identify and describe key elements of Bahamian culture, including local traditions, history, architecture, community life, and island environment, and reflect on how culture influences daily life.
5.) Adapt photography techniques to diverse settings and lighting conditions, including urban spaces, natural landscapes, onboard environments, and island destinations.
6.) Capture movement and candid moments using basic techniques to freeze action or creatively convey motion.
7.) Select and curate a cohesive collection of images that reflects growth in technical skills, cultural awareness, and storytelling ability.
8.) Engage in reflective discussion and peer feedback, articulating how visual choices influence meaning, cultural representation, and interpretation.
9.) Demonstrate increased confidence using either a smartphone or camera to document travel experiences with intention, creativity, and cultural sensitivity.