Seminar at Sea 2027
January 2 – January 9, 2027
Sail from New Orleans, Louisiana to the Western Caribbean with Eric Cline and Chris Rollston, George Washington University
Trade the winter blues for blue Caribbean waters on BAS’s next Seminar at Sea (January 2 – January 9, 2027)! Pair the adventure of a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas with the world-class scholarship of Dr. Eric Cline and Dr. Chris Rollston. They will each deliver four lectures exploring the Bible and the ancient world through the lens of the sea: from biblical seafarers and ancient ports to the civilizations that rose and fell along the Mediterranean. The voyage concludes with a joint “Ask Us Anything” session with both scholars. All lectures take place on days at sea, not interfering with your excursions and beach time.
Lectures
Chris Rollston’s lectures:
Lecture 1: Seaside Scrolls: Qumran, the Essenes, and John the Baptist.
Lecture 2: Tablets from the Sea: Ugarit and the Hebrew Bible.
Lecture 3: The Sea of Galilee and the New Testament: Archaeological Finds from the Waterside.
Lecture 4: Beside Still Waters: Psalm 23 and Shepherds in the Bible.
Eric Cline’s lectures:
Lecture 1: Biblical Archaeology Through the Ages: From Its Origins to the Present, pt. 1
Lecture 2: Biblical Archaeology Through the Ages: From Its Origins to the Present, pt. 2
Lecture 3: Digging Up Armageddon: The Search for Solomon at Biblical Megiddo
Lecture 4: Love, War, and Diplomacy in Canaan During the Amarna Age
Final Lecture: "Ask Us Anything" Q and A session with both.
Christopher Rollston is Professor of Biblical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and Chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the George Washington University. He holds the MA and Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University. [More Bio]
Eric H. Cline is Professor of Classics, History, and Anthropology, the former Chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and the current Director of the Capitol Archaeological Institute at George Washington University, in Washington DC. [More Bio]
Itinerary
· Saturday, January 2: New Orleans, Louisiana (Departs at 4:00 pm)
· Sunday, January 3: Day at Sea (Mariner of the Seas)
· Monday, January 4: Cozumel, Mexico (Docked from 7:00 am - 4:00 pm)
· Tuesday, January 5: George Town, Grand Cayman (Tendered from 9:30 am - 6:00 pm)
· Wednesday, January 6: Falmouth, Jamaica (Docked from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm)
· Thursday, January 7 - Friday, January 8: 2 Days at Sea (Mariner of the Seas)
· Saturday, January 9: New Orleans, Louisiana (Arrives at 6:00 am)
Details
Included in the cruise price:
All gratuity fees
Your chosen cabin class (interior, ocean view, balcony or suite) Note: You may not choose your exact cabin number. Royal Caribbean assigns it
Royal Caribbean included free restaurants (and associated food and drink) on the ship: the buffet and the sit-down restaurant
9 lectures by Dr. Eric Cline and Dr. Christopher Rollston on the three at-sea days (3 lectures per day at sea). No lectures are given on port days
Royal Caribbean cruise insurance covering the cost of the cabin if the customer cancels the cruise. Note: If passengers desire insurance for delayed or cancelled airline tickets, lost luggage from the airline, or medical coverage, they should obtain expanded travel insurance
Drinks: coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks and water. All other beverages (beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks from non-included venues) will be charged to your account
A $50.00 cruise ship certificate to be used at any cruise ship restaurant or on any excursion
Royal Caribbean on-board entertainment
Not Included in the cruise price:
Flights to and from New Orleans
Taxis to and from the airports and to and from the cruise ship
A hotel room for the night in New Orleans before the ship departs
Food or drink purchased on the flights or in the airports, at any port, or any food purchased in non-included restaurants and bars on the ship
All alcoholic drinks: beer, wine, liquor, and mixed drinks
Shore excursions
Purchases made on or off the ship
Non-included specialty restaurants on the ship
Gambling costs
Medical expenses on or off the ship (not included: doctor visits, medications, hospital stays, operations, medical equipment, emergency medical transport, or medical insurance of any kind)
Wi-Fi
Price
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Deposit (per person): $500.00
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Double Interior Cabin (no window): $2,550.00 (per person)
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Single Supplement Interior Cabin: $3,475.00
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Double Ocean View Cabin (with portal window): $2,595.00 (per person)
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Single Supplement Ocean View: $3,495.00
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Double Balcony Cabin (estimated): $2,695.00 (per person)
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Single Supplement Balcony Cabin (estimated): $3,725.00
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The final payment (for the remainder of your cruise fees) is due on or before: September 1, 2026.
Register
To pay off your balance, click here.
Contact
Have questions about the program?
Send an email to Peter Megginson (Travel Study Director) at [email protected] or call 800-221-4644, ext. 424 (Toll-free).
