FAQs
This page will help you find answers to the questions you may have about the boat, our program and other items. Please click on the link below to find answers to you questions.
How Long is the Ferry Ride?
a. The boat takes approximately 2 hours to arrive on the island. Total travel time can vary with weather conditions, number of passengers, and the ferry’s final destinations.
Am I Going to Get Sea Sick?
a. The crossing to the island is typically calm. However, some students do experience seasickness. Whether or not someone gets sick on board the ship is dependent on the individual and the state of the sea. There are a variety of cures and preventative steps that might help a person out. Unfortunately everyone reacts different to the cures. Here are a few tips and tricks we have learned to combat seasickness.
1) Eat anything ginger – candy, ale or straight up (it deadens the sensitivity of the stomach).
2) Not eating or drinking anything acidic before the trip (OJ, yogurt, tomatoes, grapefruit, coffee, eggs, cheese, etc).
3) Keeping your eye on the horizon (helps to train your brain)
4) Standing or sitting at the stern of the ship (on the Tole Mour it moves the least).
5) Don’t guzzle water if you are seasick, it will make your symptoms worse. If you need to drink water just sip it. Nibbling on saltines can help dry up the stomach and therefore get rid of the sloshy feeling too. Usually no one is seasick after we arrive at our first anchorage (about 4pm on the first day). Then after sleeping on the ship for the night the body and the brain are able to figure out their new environment. The process can be sped up by maintaining your activity level during the sickness so that body, brain and environment are forced into synchronicity. The Pressure Bands or the “Watch” work with varying success to fight seasickness? It works for some (and the change is sometimes amazing) and not for others. If you plan to use over the counter medication you should know that a down side of all of these is that they can make you drowsy (even the ones that say non drowsy) it is just that some are less drowsy than others. The best is Meclizine (Non Drowsy Dramimine, Bonine). After that is Dimenhydrinate (Dramimine). Other popular antihistamines (Benedryl) have also been seen to be effective. If you are going to purchase some it is far cheaper to go to the pharmicist and ask for the generic version. All of these don’t help when you are already seasick, they should be taken 1 hour before stepping aboard if you think you might get seasick.
What is the Typical Island Weather Like?
a. Daytime temperatures average 60-70 degrees and nighttime averages 45-60 degrees.
b. Our “rainy” season begins in December and runs through March. Our average rainfall is 13 inches.
What is The Water Temperature?
a. Winter water temperature ranges from 56-62 degrees. The water warms throughout the year to a maximum of 72 degrees in September.
How Will I Keep Warm in the Ocean?
a. CTSE is able to equip every student in wetsuits that help keep students warm during their snorkel and provide flotation.
Do I Need to Know How To Swim To Go Snorkeling?
a. We frequently have non-swimmers participate in every aspect of the program. Our wetsuits help students to float. Every instructor and chaperone carries boogie boards to assist students having difficulty swimming.
Do I Need to Bring My Own Snorkeling Gear?
a. You can bring your own gear if you choose to. CTSE will provide students with all of the necessary gear to snorkel: mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, booties, and hood.
Can I Snorkel With Glasses?
a. Some students choose to snorkel with their disposable contact lenses. You cannot snorkel with glasses. We are able to equip students with prescription masks in lieu of their glasses.
Do You Serve Vegetarian Alternatives?
a. We can provide a vegetarian option at every meal.
What Do You Do If It Rains?
a. It infrequently rains on the islands. During those rainy days we try to continue with program as planned. (We are able to snorkel in the rain – you’re getting wet anyway.) If the rain does not permit the scheduled program, we always have fun and exciting alternatives planned.
Can My Child Call Home? Can I Call My Child at Sea?
a. Students are only allowed to call home in the case of an emergency. If an emergency at home requires that a student must be reached, arrangments can be made. Phone the home office and we will make it happen. 1-800-645-1423 or 909-625-6194
Can I Get Cell Phone Reception?
a. Everyone’s cell phone plan is different. Cell phone reception is very hit and miss. The majority of people will not be able to get reception. It is also very distracting to program and not entirely fair to the students who are not allowed their cell phones during the trip. Arrangements can be made If, while on board, a phone call needs to be made.
Can I Participate if I Have Asthma?
a. Students with asthma participate in our program all of the time. It is critical for students with asthma to bring their inhaler. Without the inhaler participation in the program may be limited.
How Many Chaperones Am I Allowed to Bring?
a. You are allowed to bring as many chaperones as you feel you need, however we have found one chaperone per watch group plus one extra to be the best amount. This allows some down time for a chaperone at a time.
Can Parents Visit Their Kids?
a. As we are a moving ship and our location depends on the wind, currents and program this is not possible.
Do You Have Medical Forms in Other Languages?
a. We have med forms in PDF format in both English and Spanish.
Where Can Parents Send Mail?
a. Receiving mail during a trip is impossible. Some chaperones have had their parents right letters and hand them in before the school trip begins. Then a "MAIL CALL" is announced mid trip and everyone gets mail. If you want to send any of the staff mail you can send it to:
Person's name
c/o CTSE
65 Pine Ave.
Suite 321
Long Beach, CA 90802
Do You Run a Summer Trip? a. We do have summer programs. You can contact our business office at 1-800-645-1423 to obtain information or continue surfing our site.
Do You Have Wireless Internet?
a. No
Do You Provide Pillows?
a. We do not provide pillows.
What Can You Tell Me About The Ship?
a. We have a thoroughly modern ship and if you want specifics you can look at the table below. Here are some of the more common questions we get asked about the ship. Do You Have Showers?
Yes we do have hot water deck showers that students may use after the snorkels. It is mostly a rinse off. We have found that the salt water/ fresh water 1,2 punch does a remarkable job of killing body odor even without soap! We have never had a problem. What Are Those Fluffy Things That Are On The Lines Up There?
Those are called Baggywrinkles and they help to minimize the chaffeing that occurs to the sails when they rub against the lines. What is the ship made of?
Steel. Does The Ship Have a Motor?
Yes. The engine on the ship is a massive diesel engine. See the ship specs below. How Many People Does it Take To Run the TOLE MOUR?
As many as we can get. It can be done with 14 people but it is easier with our maximum compliment of 49.
Ship Specifications | Type: Motosailer- Plths-Aft Ckpt | Builders: Nichols Brothers | | LOA: 156 ft. / 47.5 m. | Hull: Mtl: Steel | | LWL: 102 ft. / 31.1 m. | Deck: Teak | | Min. Draft: 13 ft. 5 in. / 4.1 m. | Naval Arch: Ewbank/brook | | Disp: 340 tons / 308 metric tons | Engine: 1984 Deutz SBA8M16R | | Water: 4,500 gallons / 17,042 litres | Cruise Speed: 8 knots | | Headroom: 6 ft. 5 in. / 2.0 m. | Total Crew: 49 | | Sail Area: 6,675 sq.ft. / 620.1 sq.m. | Student Crew: 36 | | Year: Mdl – 1988, Mtf –1988 | Model: Tri-Masted Topsail | | LOD: 123 ft. / 37.5 m. | Keel Color: Black | | Beam: 31 ft. / 9.4 m. | Rig: Schooner | | Max. Draft: 13 ft. 5 min. / 4.1 m. | Engines: 1 x 564 HP diesel | | Fuel: 11,000 gallons / 41,657 litres | Max Speed: 12.5 Knots | | Range: Really Really Far | Prof. Crew: 14 |
Do You Have a Nurse or Doctor On Site?
a. We do not have a nurse or doctor in the facility. Our staff holds certifications in First Aid, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, and Lifeguarding. We can also transport students to our local clinic in Avalon or Two Harbors.
What Are My Options For Paying the Final Bill?
a. Payment should be made 60 days prior to the trip.
How Do You Deal With a Severe Food Allergy?
a. We deal with food allergies every day. The best course of action is to communicate with the facility director. They will communicate with the food service director. If there are any further concerns or questions, we will contact you for clarification.
The Program
Here are the most common questions regarding our program. Can I Learn How to SCUBA Dive onboard?
No. We do not certify divers on the boat. Nor do we SCUBA Dive during school trips. What Is The Food Like?
The food on the TOLE MOUR is amazing. Our Chef works extra hard to make sure the food served at meal times are hot and delicious. There is always a good variety and special needs are given special attention. How Many Shipmates Are Onboard During The Session?
Each voyage on the TOLE MOUR usually has 30-35 shipmates on board. What Are The Accommodations Like?
It is dorm room style accomodations. There are 3 dorm areas, each with at least 2 sinks and a bathroom. Each student is assigned a bunk and a “pooka” (a small storage area). For this reason it is recommended to limit belongings to whatever can fit into one medium sized bag. (duffle bags are nice because they can double as a pillow).
If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Tall Ship Registrar or the Director at the business office at 1.800.645.1423 or 909.625.6194. Please address any logistical questions or inquiries to the Tall Ship Registrar Sharon Hart.
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