semester at sea sailboat

• Life Aboard

If the heart and soul of the Sea|mester experience are the students and crew, then the body would have to be Argo, Ocean Star and Vela, our three world-class schooners.

Over the course of a voyage, the vessel becomes much more than just a mode of transportation, just the classroom or even just a home. Our students often tell us that the vessel in many ways becomes part of the team, part of themselves. Taking pride in how she looks, how she feels the vessel becomes as equally important as any one of the living crew.

While our vessels vary in design and voyage, it’s important to remember that when they are en route, it’s due to students taking charge and trimming the sails, monitoring all systems and charting courses. By harnessing the power of sailing, Sea|mester hopes that these vessels become an agent of growth for each and every student.

Sailing throughout all of the World's oceans

Completed in 2006, argo is an expertly designed 112-ft two-masted staysail schooner with room for 26 students and 7 staff..

Argo was designed and built to circumnavigate the world. This means that every 90-day trip she embarks upon, a fresh batch of students faces the challenge of spending many days or weeks at sea while crossing one of the world’s oceans. For those looking for a genuine blue water experience, then Argo is the perfect vessel for you.

When we built Argo we did so with safety, dependability and ‘trainability’ in mind. We often refer to her as a “Big, Little Boat” meaning that we designed her systems in such a way that they are easy for students to understand and operate. Since our goal is to have students quickly reach the point where they are running the vessel, trainability is an important factor

• Designer: Langan Design and Associates
• Builder: Marsun Shipyards
• Length Overall (Sparred): 112 ft
• Length Overall (Unsparred): 101 ft
• Length On Deck: 94 ft
• Beam: 25 ft
• Draft: 10.1 ft
• Displacement: 148 Tons
• Height of Main Mast: 103 ft
• Sail Area: 4700 Sq. ft
• Hull Material: Steel
• Main Engine: Caterpillar C7 (445hp)
• Generators: 2 x Northern Lights 20kw
• Hydraulic System: TRAC American Bow Thruster
• Dive Compressor: Bauer Mariner 8.4 CFM
• Air Conditioning: Marine Airr
• Water Maker: Sea R.O. 1200 gallons per day
• Refrigeration: Seafrost BG 1000
• Anchor handling: 2 x Maxwell VWC 8000
• Tenders: 1 x Avon SR4.0m with 50hp and 1 x FC470 Zodiac with 30hp
• Communication: InMarSat Satellite/Data Service, Cellular Phone, SSB, VHF

S/Y Ocean Star

Sailing exclusively throughout the caribbean lesser antilles, also a two-masted schooner, ocean star sits at 88ft overall and has sail plan that differs from argo in that she carries a gaff on her foresail. designed and built in the usa, she was first launched in 1991 then was added to the sea|mester fleet in 2000. ocean star accommodates 16 students and 4 staff..

Rather than crossing oceans as a focus, the voyages run aboard Ocean Star are better suited for those looking for more of a near coastal sailing experience and, as a result, these programs tend to spend more time exploring ashore and in almost all cases, offer more opportunities for scuba diving and scuba certifications.

• Designer: Murray G. Peterson Associates
• Builder: Howdy Bailey Marine Metals
• Length Overall: 88 ft
• Beam: 18.6 ft
• Draft: 9 ft
• Displacement: 74 Tons
• Height of Main Mast: 95 ft
• Sail Area: 3100 Sq. ft
• Main Engine: Caterpillar 3208 (210 hp)
• Generator: Westerbeke 15kw
• Water Maker: Sea R.O. 800 gallons per day
• Refrigeration: 2 x Seafrost BG 1000
• Anchor handling: Galley Maid HW-40
• Tenders: 2 x Avon SR4.0m (50hp and 30hp)
• Communication: Iridium Phone/Data Service, Cellular Phone, SSB,VHF

Launched June 2020 - Sailing throughout all of the World's oceans

Launched in june 2020, s/y vela is built to the same basic plans as argo. at 112-ft overall, vela is a two-masted staysail schooner with room for 26 students and seven staff..

When we first designed Argo, we did so with safety, dependability and ‘trainability’ in mind. Vela is no different, so think of her as Argo 2.0! Thanks to her designer, Bill Langan, the original plans were so good we only had to apply subtle changes to Vela. Most involve replacing mild steel with stainless in some of the hard to reach places. These modifications, we hope, will further increase our ability to maintain the vessel in tip-top condition during her rigorous ocean-going schedule.

Visit Vela’s Build Blog

Due to launch in January 2020, S/Y Vela is built to the same basic plans as Argo. At 112-ft overall, Vela is a two-masted staysail schooner with room for 26 students and seven staff.

When we first designed Argo, we did so with safety, dependability and ‘trainability’ in mind. Vela is no different, so think of her as Argo 2.0! Thanks to her designer, Bill Langan, the original plans were so good we only had to apply subtle changes to Vela. Most involve replacing mild steel with stainless in some of the hard to reach places. These modifications, we hope, will further increase our ability to maintain the vessel in tip-top condition during her rigorous ocean going schedule.

• Air Conditioning: Thermodynamica
• Water Maker: Sea R.O. 5000 gallons per day
• Refrigeration: Seafrost 24v BD-XP
• Tenders: 1 x Avon SR4.0m with 50hp and 1 x SR4.7 Zodiac with 30hp
• Communication: Inmarsat Satellite/Data Service, Cellular Phone, VHF

Robertson & Caine 4800

(optional chartered vessel), this is a true blue-water cruiser featuring a self-stacking mainsail with integral sail cover, roller-furling genoa, and twin 55 hp diesel engines. an electric windlass with handheld remote makes anchoring easy. the raised helm station is at the forward end of the spacious cockpit and above the cockpit’s hardtop roof, providing 360 degrees of visibility. a hardtop bimini shades the helm. the cockpit has walk-through access to the swim platforms, a full electronics package that includes a color chartplotter and autopilot, stereo/cd player speakers, a large table, and lots of seating. a wide door opens to the saloon..

The saloon features a U-shaped settee and a large dining table that converts to a large berth at night. There’s also a flat screen TV/DVD player. The galley has all amenities and plenty of counter space. The galley includes a 2 door front-opening fridge/freezer. The yacht has four double staterooms with dressing areas and en-suite electric heads and separate shower stalls, and forward in each hull are single berths. There is ample storage space throughout. Three separate air-conditioning units keep the cabins cool and comfortable, and numerous opening ports and hatches provide superior ventilation. The yacht is equipped with a powerful generator. This is truly a vessel worthy of our Caribbean sailing adventures.

• Designer: Morrelli and Melvin
• Builder: Robertson and Caine
• Length Overall: 48’5″ ft
• Draught: 4’10” ft Displacement: 18.74 tons
• Sail Area: 1,555 Sq. ft
• Hull Material: Fiberglass

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40 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Semester at Sea

Preparing for Semester at Sea is a challenging task that can take weeks if not months to organize. Between all of the visas, packing, planning and academic organization, preparing for your voyage of a lifetime might have you feeling stressed. I certainly did!

Prior to starting my Semester at Sea voyage , I was searching all over the Internet for any and every piece of information I could find about how to prepare for the voyage. I found a few YouTube videos mostly about why people loved their experience, and there were lots of materials that Semester at Sea sent to me about logistics. But I wasn't finding a lot of useful tips about how to really prepare for the experience...

That's what inspired me to write this blog post!

I completed my first Semester at Sea voyage as a student in Fall 2010 and recently sailed again as a staff member on the Spring 2019 voyage. As a two-time SAS alumni, I have learned a lot about this incredible program. I want to share what I've learned about Semester at Sea to empower future voyagers to come onto the ship as prepared as possible.

What You'll Find In This Post

These are the 40 things I wish I knew before starting my Semester at Sea voyage.

Time zone changes

As the ship crosses the ocean, you will cross through time zones just like you would if you were flying. The difference is that the time zone changes happen every few days instead of all at once, which means you won’t experience jet lag since it happens slowly. As the ship goes eastbound, you will lose time and when the ship goes westbound, you will gain time. I have done both east and west, and I can easily say that going west is MUCH easier. Gaining an extra hour of sleep every few days is a blessing when you are so exhausted from all of your in-country experiences.

There aren’t really “days of the week” on the ship so you can forget about remembering if it is Monday or Wednesday. By the time you get off the voyage, you’ll have no idea what month it is, let alone what day of the week it is! The ship functions on A/B days, which determines the classes you have on which day. You only have classes when you’re on the ship (with the exception of field classes) so your daily schedule will alternate between A and B days. Most people take 2 classes on each day, but you could set up your schedule to have all of your classes on A day and have B day off.

There are not really any days off

You have class basically every day on the ship. There aren’t weekends. There aren’t breaks. You get study days, but they aren't really days off. There are only 1-3 study days per voyage, but they are usually filled up with community events like the Sea Olympics or Neptune Day so you will still be very busy. Treasure the moments of your ship-time when you have a minute of quiet to yourself!

Talk to Lots of People

With a community of nearly 700 people on board, there are countless opportunities to meet new people while on Semester at Sea. Take advantage of it! The shipboard community has a diverse array of people ranging from non-US-passport holding students to lifelong learners to dependent children, and there is so much to learn from everyone. The more people you meet and talk to, the more friends you will make but also the more you will learn. I feel like I learned as much from my community as I did from my classes.

Be Nice to the Crew

Without the crew, the MV World Odyssey could.not.function. Appreciate the crew. Be kind to the crew. They are doing their jobs to make the ship a beautiful, clean and safe environment. They are awesome people and I recommend befriending a few key crew members like your cabin steward or your favorite server in the dining hall. I miss my cabin steward Rosa and my favorite waiter Pons!! I always sat on his side of the Berlin because he is the sweetest.

Seasickness Treatments

When your campus is on a ship, there are parts of life that are going to be new -- like seasickness. The impact of seasickness varies per person, but it is normal for everyone to feel it (at least a little bit) at the beginning of the voyage as you get used to life at sea. There are a variety of ways that you can mitigate symptoms of seasickness. The most popular forms are Seabands, which is a pulse bracelet you wear daily, or the behind-the-ear patches, which give you small doses of a seasickness medication. Dramamine and ginger bills are also great options, but Dramamine especially as side effects. I personally used ReliefBand 2.0, a higher tech version of Seabands, which was an electric bracelet that sends small electric pulses into your skin every couple of seconds to stop seasickness.

PORT & TRAVEL LIFE

Field classes vs field programs.

Field classes are the required in-port classwork that you have to do for your class. Field classes count as 20% of your class grade, and are mandatory. You will have 1 field class per class (so typically 4 per voyage) and they are assigned before the voyage begins so that you can plan around them. Field programs are optional excursions that you can sign up at your own cost in order to travel within port through the Semester at Sea field office. Field programs range from a few hours to multi-day overnight experiences, and the prices range just as much. Field programs are organized by the field office and don’t require you to plan anything during port. Everything (logistics, transportation, etc) is pre-planned which really takes the stress out of travel planning.

Do a mix of field programs and independent travel

Obviously peoples’ budgets vary, and field programs may be cost prohibitive for some voyagers. But if you can, I would recommend trying to do a mix of independent travel and field programs. There is such an assortment of field programs and many of them offer experiences that you couldn’t otherwise experience on your own, such as a homestay or a conversation with esteemed local community members. A good rule of thumb is that if you couldn’t organize it on your own, it is worth doing as a field program.

Buy/Sell/Trade binder for field programs

I didn’t know about this prior to my voyage, but there is a buy/sell/trade binder on the ship for field programs. You don’t need to reserve all of your field programs ahead of time if you don’t want to. You have the option to buy programs from other voyagers. Or if you decide that you don’t want to do it anymore, you can sell it to another voyager. Or if you and a buddy have programs that the other wants to do, you can trade them! I loved using this resource for day programs especially if I didn’t have a plan for a few days in port. I would peruse the binder and see if people were selling any that I was interested in. You can typically get them for a discount too!

If you really want to do it, book it in advance. Don’t wait.

I saw this happen over and over again on my voyage -- people waited too long to book something they really wanted to do and it sold out. Often people wait because they want to find friends to go with them or they are nervous about signing up before they know who else is going. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT. You will meet people during field programs and field classes who will become your new friends. And if it's an independent travel experience and no one else comes, it's a great opportunity to get some solo travel experience. Waiting to see is not worth the risk of missing out on something you really want to do.

Find your travel buddies but don’t be afraid to change.

One of my favorite things that I’ve learned on SAS is all the different travel styles there are. There are hundreds of people that you can travel with, and as the voyage progresses and your travel style evolves, you will learn what you like -- and what you don’t like -- about traveling and who you are traveling with. Find the group of people that you travel best with and who match your values. But if that starts to shift over the course of the voyage, don’t be afraid to mix it up and change your group. It’s never too late to have a new experience or new impression of port!

You can’t do everything. Choose your experiences.

You will want to do everything while you’re in port. But you simply CANNOT DO IT ALL. Don’t try. Choose your experiences, choose your plan and then stick with it. Don’t have FOMO about the path you didn’t take, and don’t get sad in port when you see other people’s experiences on social media. Choose what you want to do and do it, because there is no possible way that you can do it all.

Order foreign currency ahead of time

On my first voyage, Semester at Sea offered a currency package as a service but not for my second voyage, so I was happy that I remembered it from my first time around. A lot of the ports are cash-only places where credit cards are not widely accepted so, finding cash on your first day in port becomes a priority. This can be really stressful if something is wrong with your card or the closest ATM is mobbed with 600 SASers waiting to pull out cash, so having even a small amount of cash in the local currency ahead of time can be a huge relief.

Most major banks allow you to order foreign currency from home, and it usually takes a few days for it to arrive. I went to my bank a few weeks before the voyage and took out approximately $100 for each port country, except for one day ports like Mauritius. They were able to get all currencies except Myanmar and Ghana, which was such a relief when we arrived in port. I could just get off the ship the first day and not worry about how I was going to pay for a cab or shuttle to the city, instead choosing to pull out cash when it was more convenient.

Using ATMs vs currency exchange

There are typically two streams of thought when it comes to dealing with cash. Some people exchange USD or Euro for the local currency, while others use ATMs to pull out local currency. Personally, I almost always use an ATM to get local cash instead exchanging currency. These are a few reasons why I prefer to use ATMs:

• ATMs are typically available 24/7, while currency exchanges have set hours.
• Currency exchanges can take a while or have specific requirements about which bills they accept. ATMs are pretty much the same everywhere.
• Currency exchanges typically require that you have a passport with you, and I don't like carrying my passport around if I don't need to.

Your shipboard account settles each month

Everything you purchase on the ship (from laundry to postage to snacks) gets charged to your shipboard account, which is tied to a credit card that you register on embarkation day. If you have more than one credit card, I would recommend charging your shipboard account to one and then locking it in your safe. It is a HUGE pain to update your shipboard account if you lose or have that credit card stolen. The payments for this account gets settled at the end of each month, and you'll get a receipt delivered to your cabin.

There are visas that you HAVEN’T paid for yet

For US-passport holding voyagers, there are several visas that you are required to get before embarkation. You can use a visa service, like Travisa, to get these visas or you can apply for them on your own. But there are several visas that you will get once you arrive in the port on the ship. These visas may have a cost associated with them which then gets charged to your shipboard account. I did not anticipate these, so I was surprised to see over $100/person applied to my shipboard account as we made our way through the Asia portion of our itinerary.

Bring USD to pay your friends back.

There are lots of random costs that you will share with your friends throughout the voyage. Whether its a late night meal, buying extra sunscreen from them or settling your Uber bill, these costs happen. And unfortunately, VenMo doesn't always work. It definitely doesn’t work on the ship wifi and it is blocked in several of the port countries. Having a stock of about $100 of USD in small bills is an easy way to pay your friends for the little costs that occur.

Pack Snacks -- like twice as many as you think

You've probably heard this before, but snacking is big part of living on the MV World Odyssey. Snacks are life!!! You will want to eat a lot more snacks than you think because you will probably get sick of the ship food. I know people who packed what they thought was a semester's worth of snacks, but they finished them before our first port n Japan. Pack lots of snacks because you can always share or give them away if you have too many! Also the snacks on the ship are expensive and get repetitive after a while.

Get creative with the dining hall

The crew is super clever about repurposing ingredients from lunch to dinner. For example, there will always be a pasta salad for lunch the day after pasta for dinner. I was always really impressed with that creativity, and then voyagers get even more creative! I saw some really clever salad combinations, incorporating ingredients from the hot and cold bar, as well as clever sandwiches using the daily bread rolls. Mix up your dining hall routine so that don’t get sick of the meals!

Peanut butter is going to be your best friend

My voyage ate 2,200 pounds of peanut butter.... in four months. That is A LOT of peanut butter. It is going to be your best friend in the dining hall, especially if you are a vegetarian or vegan. I know plenty of folks who ate a PB&J every single meal. I personally liked pairing them with fruit like apples or pears for a dessert or on an English muffin with banana for breakfast.

Chicken Nuggets and Taco Day are HYPE

Semester at sea students turn into first graders on chicken nugget or taco day. People go NUTS for these meals. They are almost always for lunch and it happens about once a month. There will be a line, you will be irrationally excited for it, and it will taste better than you remember from elementary school. Get excited!

Aeropress for Coffee

I have no patience for bad coffee (which the ship coffee is) and I need coffee every day, so I knew finding a coffee solution was a priority prior to the voyage. After trying a few different brewing methods, including pour over and French press, I have determined that an Aeropress coffee maker is the best method for ship life. It is compact, lightweight, easy to clean and you can make only a cup at a time. You have to sort coffee grounds separately on the ship, so the little puck of grounds that the Aeropress makes is super easy to clean up.

Avoid buying food from the pool deck until the second half of the voyage

The food at the dining is genuinely good considering you're in the middle of the ocean and resources are limited. It gets repetitive after 8 weeks of eating some version of salad/starch/meat, so you might get sick of it. Starting the habit of ordering grill food is kind of like breaking the seal -- once you have a taste for something other than the dining hall, it's hard to go back. For your bank account and your waistline, try to avoid buying food from the pool deck or grill until the second half of the voyage. It makes it feel more like a treat and helps keep your budget in order.

How the lessons I learned from my first Semester at Sea voyage helped make my second voyage even better!

Let’s Talk About Water

Although water is all around you on the ship, fresh water is a precious commodity on the ship. All of the water you drink and use is brought on or made from one of the ship's desalinators. As such, there is a lot of chlorine in it. Many people don't like the way it tastes and blonde people be aware -- your hair might start turning green from the showers. There is filtered water available 24/7 on the pool deck as well as coffee and hot water 24/7 from the red machine in the Berlin restaurant, but other than those, the only other time you can get ice water is during meal times. There will be a line of people waiting to fill up their water bottles and people get a little competitive about it.

Ship Internet

You've probably heard about the availability of ship internet from Semester at Sea, alumni, blogs, etc. But it's worth repeating  -- you will not have reliable internet for 4 months. Get comfortable with that. It will be really slow, it will be non-existent sometimes, and yes, doing projects without internet is about as hard as you could imagine it would be. Find other ways to use your free time, because scrolling through Instagram or reading Reddit won't be part of your daily routine while on Semester at Sea. And it is glorious.

Phone Plans & 4G Data Abroad

There are a lot of opinions on which phone plan to get for SAS and whether getting local SIM cards is a better option. Personally, I think it's a decision that each person needs to make for themselves, so I will simply share what worked for me and why I liked it. I used a GoogleFi Data plan on a Google Pixel 2 phone and it worked AWESOME. I had service in every country except one and I was able to get data pretty much everywhere within the countries. The plan maxes out at like $80/month and it is based on a tiered data use policy. I think that getting a SIM card in each country is a HUGE waste of time, especially given how limited your time in port already is. You wind up running all around a city to find a SIM vendor and many times it doesn't even work the way you want it to, which for me, is not worth it from a cost/time/benefit perspective.

Bring a Portable Battery Pack

I can't recommend packing a portable battery pack enough. They can be a life saver, especially on days with long bus rides and little to do! Make sure your battery pack is charged up before you leave the ship so that it is ready to use when you arrive in port. Be aware that a lot of foreign countries do not allow these on airplanes, so don't bring them along if you plan on flying. I've got lots more packing suggestions like this one in my ultimate packing list and packing guide for Semester at Sea.

Media Swapping (Hard drive & USBs)

Because there is no Netflix or Hulu on the ship, people get creative about their media consumption. People will come onto the ship with gigabytes of movies and TV shows to watch but more importantly, to share!! I brought a separate external hard drive just for media and I was so happy that I did because by the end of the voyage, I had almost 500GBs of media from my fellow voyagers, including 7 seasons of GoT, all of the Harry Potter movies and 7 seasons of Modern Family. Hard drives and USBs are fairly cheap these days, so I would recommend bringing at least 2 hard drives (one for media, one for your photos & videos) and 3 USBs for swapping.

Back up photos & videos regularly

As a content creator, I am pretty systematic about backing up my files but it is a best practice that everyone should do. I backed up my SD card on each on-ship day (last day of port) after EVERY port. I would gradually organize my files in the days after leaving a port, but I always made sure there was a back up as quickly as possible. There were 60+ people on my voyage who lost their phone or got it stolen. They lost hundreds if not thousands of photos from their voyage which are not always easily replaced. Don't let this happen to you! This is a once in a lifetime experience and your photos are part of your memories from the voyage. Make sure to protect them.

COMMUNICATION

Whatsapp and imessage will be your best friend.

Both of these messenger apps work pretty well on the ship Internet and are one of the best ways to communicate at sea, but also in port. Prior to leaving, make sure you are connected with family and friends back home via one of these two messaging apps.  

A majority of SAS students have an iPhone, so AirDrop is one of the most popular ways that people share their photos and videos with one another during the voyage. On nearly every field class or field program that I went on, people would turn on their airdrop on the bus ride back to share media. It works really well. Name your AirDrop something easy or clever prior to starting the voyage so that it is easy people for people to find your AirDrop (there are like 10 MyiPhones that will show up). Unfortunately, I had an Android device so this didn't work well for me.

This is the internal email service that Semester at Sea uses and it will be your primary means of communication within the shipboard community. Everyone gets a SeaMail and you will set up your SeaMail account prior to embarkation. The instructions typically come from ISE a few weeks before you board. Share this email with family and friends prior to leaving for the voyage because it is almost impossible to load any other email servers on the ship's Internet. I saw a lot of people put it in their Instagram bio. You can also set up forwarding services from Gmail and other email accounts so that your home email gets sent directly to SeaMail so you can check it.

Deans Memo & Rumor Ranger

Each day on the ship, there is a Dean's Memo that gets published. This is essentially your daily newsletter of everything that happens on the ship. Get in the habit of reading this early in the voyage so that you know all the awesome stuff that is happening each day. There will be notes about events, evening seminars, student club meet ups, etc so that you can plan your days accordingly. My favorite part of the Dean's Memo was the Rumor Ranger, which is essentially the ship's version of Gossip Girl. Voyagers will write to the Rumor Ranger asking a variety of questions regarding rumors, ranging from ghost stories to peanut butter shortages, and more.

Postage & Post Cards

In most of the ports, the ship provides postage service so that you can send post cards directly from the ship. This is such a handy service and postcards are a nice momento for folks back home! You will pay for the stamps on your shipboard account so that you don’t have to run around and find stamps for yourself. I did this on both of my voyages, and it's great to see my postcards still on the fridge or scrapbooks of my friends!

Keep in contact with people at home...but not too often.

It is important to keep in contact with your family and friends back home. They are your support system and they want to hear about the incredible adventures you're having around the world. However, I would recommend setting boundaries early in the voyage so that you aren't talking to people back home too frequently. There are plenty of students who used people back home as an emotional crutch which can make it harder to build new relationships or stay totally present in your experience to the point where it negatively impacts their time on the ship. I think a good rule of thumb is to check in with loved ones once per port, once per crossing. I would usually talk to people on either the first or last day in port, and once midway through an ocean crossing if internet allowed for it.

It might take some time to adjust

Living on a ship is a totally different experience than life at home, and the process of adjusting can take days or weeks. Meal times, exercise times, social times, all of it will be different. You will be meeting an entirely new network of people and forging new friends happens quickly for some people and slowly for others. Be patient with yourself as you get into your new routine and develop your new friends. At the beginning of the voyage, it’s easy to want everything to happen right away because you’re so excited about the journey ahead. But getting into the swing of things does take some time and adjustment, so give yourself some grace as you figure out what works best for you.

You’re going to see things you’ve never seen before

So much of the Semester at Sea experience is about observation. It’s about looking. But realllllly looking. Experiential learning is being out there in the thick of things and experiencing them firsthand through sight, touch, sound and taste. There will be things that you’ve never seen or imagined before, like the life on the streets of Ghana or the destructive power of conflict in Vietnam. Your eyes will truly be opened and it is one of the best parts about SAS.

It will change your life…

Having done two voyages now, I can guarantee that this program will change your life. There will be big changes for some people and small changes for others, but there will be changes for everyone. You will feel the shift happening within the shipboard community as people learn and unlearn important lessons, but most of the reflecting and processing of your experience will happen after you get home. I always describe the end of the voyage as a 6 month emotional hangover, because there is so much to process that you just don’t have the energy to do during the voyage. You will also notice a lot of your changes through the eyes of other people when you return home and they notice differences in you.

....but there will also be hard parts

Change can be really hard. Growth comes from discomfort and challenge. There will be hard moments during the voyage. It isn’t all puppies and rainbows, and unfortunately, that is a thing that people at home won’t understand. They think you are having the best semester of your life, and you probably are, but those hard moments sound like privileged complaining to people back home. You will go through those together as a shipboard community and they are your best support system as you process those experiences. You will have active conservations about what you struggling with and there is so much to learn from those around you.  

You’re going to be SO tired

You basically aren’t going to rest for 4 months. Get comfortable with that because sleep takes a back seat on the voyage. Semester at Sea is an incredibly unique study abroad experience that a lot of people at home think is a semester off or “not a real study abroad program”; but SAS is challenging in totally different ways than a “normal” study abroad experience. It is challenging because so much happens in a short period. The scale of time on the ship happens in hyperspeed and you can barely keep up with it all. You are going to be truly exhausted and tired in a way that maybe you have never experienced before, and no one told me that before I started my voyage. I took more naps than I ever have before because I just couldn’t keep up.

Semester at Sea is the best experience that I have had in my academic, professional and personal life. It is a transformative program that changed me into an empathetic, passionate, and adaptable citizen of the world and has empowered me to live a life full of travel. I hope these 40 tips for preparing for Semester at Sea help you get ready for this incredible program!

All featured photos were produced during my contract as Semester at Sea’s social media coordinator and are owned by Semester at Sea.

Do you have questions about Semester at Sea? Ask me in the comments below or check out their upcoming voyages!

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What’s up, after reading this amazing post i am as well cheerful to share my familiarity here with colleagues.

I love Pons ♡

The sweetest man <3

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I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later. Cheers

Thanks Rich! I am glad to hear that you like my blog 🙂

Informative article, totally what I was looking for.

How much did the semester at sea cost you in total?

I did Semester at Sea as a student in fall 2010, and I didn’t use financial aid, work study or any in-state tuition. So just keep that in mind, as the prices have likely changed and there is a lot more options to make it affordable now. I don’t remember exactly how much everything cost in total, but I think the tuition/room & board that I paid was around $18K, and then I budgeted another $6k for travel expenses, field programs, and other related expenses.

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Semester At Sea: How To Go To College On A Cruise

What is a semester at sea.

For many students heading to college, studying abroad sounds amazing. But for some, spending time in a foreign country has become a must-do, and for good reason. 

According to a survey published by the Institute for the International Education of Students, studying abroad provides multiple benefits, including increased self-confidence and maturity, greater interest in studying, and greater commitment to learning a foreign language. A semester abroad represents a remarkable opportunity to learn about different cultures and to interact with people of all backgrounds and cultures while learning new skills and making lifelong friends.

While spending months in places like Florence, Italy or Dublin, Ireland may offer in-depth exposure to a specific location, a Semester at Sea offers an even deeper and more unique opportunity. You can earn college credits while sailing around the world on a floating campus, visiting countries for days at a time. You’ll live and learn onboard a cruise ship that carries them to a different locale every few days. Not only will you be learning and earning credits, but you’ll also be exposed to new foods, cultures, and languages. 

The ship’s environment is much more than a floating classroom. It combines traditional learning with your typical cruise ship amenities, like cabins and swimming pools. No matter what the area of study or career aspirations, a Semester at Sea represents both a remarkable educational opportunity and a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

@semesteratsea Study abroad to 10+ countries this Fall 2023! ♬ original sound - semesteratsea

How Does Semester at Sea Work?

The Semester at Sea program is exactly what its name suggests: students enroll for a single semester onboard a specially equipped and outfitted cruise ship that serves as a floating campus. Over the course of 100+ days, approximately 500 undergraduate students engage in a global study abroad experience that includes academic classes held at sea, required academic field work courses, and optional experiential in-country learning experiences throughout the trip.

Semester at Sea has a singular focus on global citizenship and attaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of world cultures. Cultural engagement is the theme of every program and onshore activity, with an academic curriculum offered through Colorado State University . Classes represent 20-to-25 majors or fields of study, and each of those offer both lower level and upper level courses, totaling approximately 75 classes to choose from. Many of the classes are offered based on that semester’s travel itinerary. Each student earns 12-15 credits, which can be in their major or in elective classes.

Each Semester at Sea has its own unique itinerary that includes port stops in at least ten countries, spending multiple days in each. When the ship arrives in each country, students are given three options:

• Participate in required fieldwork courses associated with an academic curriculum
• Take an optional Semester at Sea Field Programs
• Plan your own travel experiences

Life on board the ship reflects much of what is found on a college campus, though being on a cruise ship adds a significant twist. Students choose from standard or premier cabins, with the more costly premier option ensuring that no more than two students share a cabin, as well as a window. Meals are taken in the student’s choice of several communal dining rooms found onboard the ship, which also contains a library, an amphitheater, fitness areas, and a pool. Onboard learning takes place in traditional classroom settings, but also takes advantage of the remarkable at-sea environment when possible.

The ship has many private and quiet places where students can study, and in addition to the ship’s crew and the academic staff, Semester at Sea ensures that students have access to counselors. Tuition includes an email account and a WiFi package, as well as travel insurance.

How Long is Semester at Sea?

The exact number of days for each Semester at Sea varies based on that semester’s itinerary, but each is more than 100 days and includes stops at least ten countries.

How Much Does Semester at Sea Cost?

Semester at Sea’s cost depends upon the itinerary and the type of cabin that the student selects. For a premier cabin, which guarantees just two students per cabin and a window as well as a private bathroom, the cost is $34,650 for the semester. A standard cabin comes with a price tag of $31,650. These costs include the following:

• The semester’s tuition and travel to more than ten countries
• Cabin, including every-other-day cleaning by onboard staff
• Meals aboard the ship, even on days in port. A late-night snack is also offered most evenings at sea.
• Amenities including access to the gym, pool, spa & salon (services not included)
• Crew gratuities of $2 per day
• Instructor-led, day-long academic field classes
• Email account
• Starter internet package
• Comprehensive travel health insurance
• Pre-voyage advisement and on-site residential student services staff
• Fuel fee (may be adjusted with an additional charge or a refund, with notice given no later than 30 days prior to departure)

Semester at Sea does NOT include these additional expenses that may be incurred:

• Flights to embarkation and from debarkation
• Overnight stay prior to embarkation/after debarkation
• Travel visas and passport costs
• Vaccinations and boosters
• Between-meal food & beverages while onboard
• Personal travel in country
• Optional SAS Field Programs

Financial aid , scholarships , and grants are available to help pay the costs of attending Semester at Sea. 

In fact, approximately 60% of students attending the program receive some kind of assistance.

Students who do not qualify for typical financial aid can apply for scholarships through the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) and Semester at Sea. These require filing a FAFSA application and submission of the Student Aid Report to the ISE financial aid office, along with tax returns from the most recent tax year. The program also offers an interest-free payment plan and provides a helpful link to outside funding sources.

Who Can Attend Semester at Sea?

While Semester at Sea is best known for its undergraduate degree program, the global experience is available to a wide range of learners, including:

Do I have to be a senior to do a Semester at Sea?

Semester at Sea is available to undergraduate students who have completed at least 12 credits at the post-secondary level. You do not have to be a senior since varying levels of students can sail aboard.

When Is the Next Semester at Sea, And How Do I Apply?

Semester at Sea is offered on the same academic calendar as other colleges: a program is offered every Fall and every Spring. The next voyage departs on September 9, 2023 from Belgium, with an itinerary that includes stops in Greece, India, Jordan, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Spain, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. Applications require you to create an account and go through a five step application process.

Where Do You Go During Semester at Sea?

Every Semester at Sea has its own unique itinerary, but each lasts 100+ days and visits at least ten countries across multiple continents. Here are a couple upcoming sample itineraries:

What Are the Best Parts of Semester at Sea?

Many alumni of the Semester at Sea program refer to their enrollment as the experience of their lives. They praise the academic curriculum and the faculty for having transformed their worldview and opening their eyes to their responsibilities as global citizens. Many find themselves thrilled by the remarkable travel opportunity and experience.

In addition to the classroom academic program, students particularly value the hands-on experiences in the countries that they visit. Semester highlights include the amazing cultural opportunity of meeting one-on-one with citizens of the different countries they visit as well as the lifelong friendships that they made while on board as the ship.

What Are the Worst Parts of Semester at Sea?

Though most aspects of Semester at Sea win high praise, students do note that the costs of enrollment, as well as incremental expenses, can add up quickly. Some object to the high levels of safety precautions that the program imposes for off-ship activities and express a desire for more independence when in the various countries visited. Alumni repeatedly warn against thinking of  Semester at Sea as a vacation – the itinerary is demanding, and many note that they are exhausted by the end of each day.

What Else Should I Know About Semester at Sea?

Semester at Sea is a singular experience that many alumni describe as life-changing.  Those who have participated are eager to discuss the highlights and share insights about the program’s impact.

Megan Arzbaecher attended Semester at Sea in Fall of 2010, and she enjoyed her experience so much that she returned to the program as a staff member nine years later.  Five years later she created her own travel blog and eventually leveraged her experience into a graduate level studies in sustainable tourism management and a career in international travel.

Megan has posted frequently about her experience with the Semester at Sea, offering helpful tips about what she wishes she had known before embarking, what to pack for Semester at Sea, and more. Writing about her experience, she says, 

Semester at Sea was undoubtedly the best study abroad program for me and my interests. Most of the SAS alum that I encounter would say the same thing, but maybe we’re a special breed of people. But for me, the adventure, diverse country list and unique global experience is what won me over and why I decided that Semester at Sea was the right program for me.

Semester at Sea has existed since 1963, and has a well-earned and widespread reputation. Many alumni have learned about the program from friends, siblings, parents, and even grandparents who have attended in years past, or from their home college’s education abroad program. Students who want more information can find useful tips online, and several YouTube videos posted by alumni eager to share what they’ve learned and what they wished they had known before attending.

What Students Say Surprised Them During Semester At Sea

Even with all of the information that has been made available from Semester at Sea itself, campus counselors, online blogs, review sites, and word-of-mouth, students still find themselves by turns challenged or delighted by unexpected events or experiences. 

Here are some of the things that surprised them the most:

• The physical impact of time zone changes
• Seasickness
• Extremely limited days off from the program
• The rigorousness of the academic curriculum
• The importance of booking their spot in field programs and field classes in advance

Others noted the positive experiences with unique onboard experiences that have now become a tradition onboard Semester at Sea ships. These include the Neptune Day celebration when the ship crosses the equator, the Sea Olympics day, and the Alumni Ball.

Alumni also note that incoming students should understand that the program is going to show them the world as it is: Sarah Hutton is a Temple University alumni who attended Semester at Sea in the spring of 2009 and who calls it “the best decision I ever made.” But she notes that along with the remarkable experiences of seeing an African sunset in Namibia and canoeing through caves in Thailand, she also saw “some terrible things.” She writes, “I saw African children who had been orphaned due to AIDS. I visited the townships in South Africa. I witnessed the failure of Mauritius to educate all of its students. I went to Mother Teresa’s orphanage in India. I saw prostitution issues in Thailand. It wasn’t all glamour and it certainly wasn’t all “tourism” and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Source: Sarah Hutton Interview

Those who have attended Semester at Sea universally warn potential students against thinking of it as a cruise with a minimal amount of homework or studies required. The curriculum is rigorous, and there are really no days off from learning. Though the ship does have pools, deck chairs, and the benefits of having staff clean student cabins on a regular basis, students are quick to note that the trip is a voyage rather than a vacation.  

a + world academy

Your high school at sea, ask us a question.

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Our Mission To ensure our students a unique educational program that best positions them to be global citizens and leaders for the 21st century. While creating strong academic achievement in our students, A+ World Academy focuses on developing the whole student, not just academics. Our program is rigorous, exhausting and amazing.

Sail the Atlantic While Taking High School Classes

A + World Academy is a high school and gap year program that sails to 20 cities in 14 countries on 4 different continents on the world’s oldest active fully rigged tall ship, the Norwegian Sørlandet .

Students learn to sail our incredible ship and take standard high school or AP® level courses while at sea. At each port we engage students in the most culturally and historically relevant aspects of the city through excursions and field experiences, opening their eyes to things they’ve only read about.

Discover New WorldViews

We also give students free time (shore leave) to explore each city with their fellow students. Our students come from a variety of countries around the world and bring different perspectives and worldviews to the table. It’s a truly amazing way to discover people, places, and cultures while completing a year of high school!

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2024-2025 Voyage Plan

Discover more about the 18 cities and 13 countries our students will visit during the 2024-2025 school year!

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The 2024/2025 Early-Bird Enrollment Special is officially live. Apply now to join a transformational voyage unlike anything else

A+ World Academy is registered in Bern, Switzerland Postal address:  A+ World Academy, c/o Stiftelsen Fullriggeren Sørlandet Postbox 102, 4662 Kristiansand, Norway Visiting address:  Havnegata 23, 4611 Kristiansand, Norway

Purdue Study Abroad Global Partnerships and Programs

Semester at Sea

Program details.

Eligibility

The program is open to Purdue students in good standing who have completed at least two semesters of university study by the start of the program. Successful candidates will demonstrate academic success, maturity, and a desire to experience another culture.

STUDENTS SHOULD NOT APPLY TO SAS BEFORE BEING APPROVED BY PURDUE.

GPA Requirement: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale Language Requirement: none

Purdue Credit

Estimated program costs.

The SAS program fee is per person and includes tuition, room (standard cabin), board, premium travel health insurance, fuel fee, and email account.

Costs for this program are estimated and subject to change. The cost figures listed below are for: Fall 2024

Financial Aid

See the program's website for additional scholarship and work/study options.

Purdue University financial aid may be applied to the costs of studying abroad. Students interested in receiving financial aid should

• direct financial aid inquiries to the Division of Financial Aid on the West Lafayette campus; 
• consult website Study Abroad Financial Aid Process ;
• complete and submit the FAFSA by the appropriate deadline.

NOTE :  Recipients of certain tuition remission and scholarship programs should pay careful attention to the regulations for using those benefits for study abroad.  Ask your financial aid advisor about any limitations.

Click here for a list of scholarships and grants available to assist with the costs of studying overseas.

Application Deadlines

For full consideration, students must submit all supporting documents (typically an essay, transcripts, 1-2 recommendations, and copy of passport) before or by the application deadline.  Popular programs fill quickly, often before the deadline. To ensure a place in a program, apply early.

As soon as a student submits an online application, a My Study Abroad  account is created. Applicants should consult this page often to check on the status of the application.

The Institute for Shipboard Education accepts applications on a rolling basis; therefore you are encourage to apply early to ensure acceptance.

Returnees Information

Click below to search for Purdue students who have participated in this program and are willing to be contacted.  If you get no results, you can use the search form to find people who studied in the country you are interested in.

The websites listed below contain information about this program. The accuracy of information at external sites cannot be guaranteed.

• Program Sponsor's Home Page: Semester at Sea
• Program Website
• Search Google(tm) *
• Department of State Consular Information (You must find Multiple Countries in list)
• CDC Travel Information (You must find Multiple Countries in list)

• Study Abroad

AHOY! Ready to Study Abroad at Sea?

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Aaaaaaaallllllllll aboard! Like the great explorers of yesteryear, you don’t want to just see the world - you want to sail it. As the old adage goes, “So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Important packing tip: flippy floppies.

What better way to explore the world than on innovative study at sea programs that don’t take you to just one country, but many? Study abroad programs in where the ocean is your home, the sky your map, and the options: limitless. 

You heard us correctly—what if you did study abroad at sea? if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like to sit still for very long, who wants to see more, do more, try more, all with a healthy dose of adventure… then don’t flounder. A semester at sea might be just the kind of study abroad program for you. 

What makes study abroad at sea so awesome?

Most study abroad programs involve living in one country for a number of weeks, months, or even a year. You fully immerse yourself in that one culture and learn everything there is to know about it, although you can obviously take occasional weekend trips to other countries and explore the region around you as well. 

However, study abroad cruise programs follow less of an immersive educational model, and more of a comparative educational model. You get to study abroad on the ocean! Instead of experiencing just one country, you’ll experience many (anywhere from 2 to 11 countries). With each new country, you’ll have new experiences, new things to learn, new foods to try, and new ways of looking at the world. You will be able to compare one way of living to another, just in a single seaside journey from one place to the next. 

Sleep with the fishes without “sleeping with the fishes.”

Many study at sea programs are also adventure-focused. On many programs, students have the chance to sail through the world on a cruise ship, but other programs allow students the chance to actually sail a sail ship around the world and learn the ropes (literally). Your education at sea won’t disappoint.

For those students who feel an endless hunger to see as much of the world as possible and prioritize adventure over all else, then a semester (or year) at sea abroad might be just the right fit for you!

5 exciting college programs at sea 

Ever if you’re a secret land lubber, these are still worth a peek! Get a feel for what sort of shamoo-approved semesters at sea are out there and check out a few below.

1. Seamester: Indian Ocean, Singapore to South Africa

You're bound to find one-of-a-kind adventures on the ocean with the Seamester: Indian Ocean, Singapore to South Africa semester program, which offers programs like semester at sea. Spend 90 days sailing through the Indian Ocean, and explore areas like Singapore, Sunda Islands, Borneo, Java, Bali, Christmas Islands, Cocos Keeling, Mauritius, and South Africa. Throw in 12 college credits, International Yachtmaster Training (IYT): International Crew Certificate, PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue and/or Divemaster Certification, and your time on the ocean will come to be one of the most unique — and valuable — experiences of your entire life.

• Eligibility: College students
• Program length: 90 days
• More info: Read Seamest

2. Semester at Sea Fall Voyage

Semester at Sea (SAS) is one of the most prominent program providers to study at sea. SAS combines classroom learning with world exploration aboard the MV Odyssey cruise ship, where students learn from top-notch professors, but then learn about the cultures they’re studying once they dock. Some of the countries students will be visiting on the upcoming Fall 2018 Voyage include Germany, Spain, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Burma, Việt Nam, China and Japan.

• Program length: 1 semester or 1 year
• More info: Read Semester at Sea reviews

Never be bored in your marine bio class again.

3. SEA Semester: Oceans and Climate

Are you passionate about environmental issues and how they relate to international policy and diplomacy? Do you dream of sleeping underneath the stars, gaining practical experience both as an explorer and a scientist? Then the SEA Semester: Oceans and Climate program might be just the right thing for you. 

This study at sea program pushes students beyond their comfort zone, requiring them to work as a deckhand and help man a sailboat through the South Pacific. Here, you’ll collect scientific data and conduct baseline research on climate change, which you’ll present at the conclusion of your program. It’s hands-on learning—both on the ship and in your studies!

• Eligibility: College students; science majors
• Program length: 1 semester (fall spring) or summer semester at sea
• More info: Read SEA Semester reviews

4. Seamester: Circumnavigating the Globe

Combine your love of adventure, the ocean, and exploring new cultures with Seamester! Seamester has three sailing vessels that circumnavigate the globe, so you can choose a voyage that most interests you. You’ll spend up to three months sailing across one of the world’s seven oceans while gaining your sea legs as you explore different cultures and countries, including the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Africa, South America, Australia, Indonesia and all of the tiny islands along the way.

Oh, and you’ll also earn 12 college credits, as well as receive International Yachtmaster Training (IYT): International Crew Certificate, your PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue and/or Divemaster Certification. Not bad for one semester abroad, eh?

• Program length: 20-90 days
• More info: Read Seamester reviews

5. Evolve Abroad: Marine Specialist Work & Study Summer Programs

What do we love most about this program? It's hard to say, but the fact that the included professional experience will make your resume sparkle is up there (perhaps as bright as the rainbow fish from that childhood story?). Check off your work abroad AND study abroad bucket list items on this intensive short-term combo program. All aboard for your best summer break yet.

• Eligibility: Students, ages 18+ 
• Program length: 1 month

On the boat or off, the water calls you—you know, like Moana.

5 high school study abroad programs at sea

High school on a ship? Yes please. If you’re a high school student who just can’t wait until they’re in college to get started on their lifetime of adventure and learning, good news! There are programs out there for you as well. We know you’ve always dreamed of going to high school on a cruise ship, so check out these programs below!

1. ActionQuest BVI Summer Adventures for Teens

ActionQuest is an arm of Seamester, specializing in programming for teens — and they know how to cater to a younger group of students! Their program BVI Summer Adventures for Teens takes small groups of similarly aged teenagers around the British Virgin Islands to gain experience, earn certifications, and develop leadership skills. Students will also get the chance to learn sailing and scuba diving; this program will be especially valuable to students with a special interest in marine biology, water sports, or navigation. It's the perfect way to spend your summer before college!

• Eligibility: Ages 14 and up
• Program length: 17-21 days
• More info: Read ActionQuest reviews

2. Outward Bound: Surf, Scuba, Raft, & Hike in Costa Rica & Panama

For middle schoolers and high schoolers between the ages of 14 and 18, you qualify to participate in Outward Bound’s Surf, Scuba, Raft, & Hike in Costa Rica & Panama program. This incredible 2-8 week summer adventure teaches students to kayak, scuba dive, and surf, among many other things. Throughout the trip, you’ll explore the coastlines of Costa Rica and Panama, where you’ll not only learn outdoor survival skills and leadership qualities, you’ll also have a chance to participate in service programs with local conservation or social services groups. 

• Eligibility: Ages 14-18
• Program length: 2-8 weeks, summer only
• More info: Read Outward Bound reviews  

3. SEA Expedition

Join SEA Semester on its high school at sea SEA Expedition , which focuses on field research, sail training and an innovative approach to academics while on the ocean! Studying abroad as a high schooler is amazing enough—but high school at sea? Opportunities with these programs allow students to jump into a world of discovery high school semester at sea. It allows for personal growth and adventure at a young age, setting you up for a future of exploration. 

• Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors and seniors
• Program length: Approximately 2 weeks, summer only

4. Class Afloat

Canadian-based but open to international students, Class Afloat has been in the business of providing a cruise ship for high school since the 1980s. Since then, nearly 2000 Class Afloat students have sailed more than 700,000 nautical miles to over 250 ports of call around the world. In this program, classroom learning is enriched through port and shipboard programs and activities aimed at engaging, hands-on education at sea for every participant. This study abroad cruise just won’t quit!

• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, gap year students, university students
• Program length: One semester (four months) or full academic year (8.5 months)
• More info: ClassAfloat.com

5. A+ World Academy

Do you want to go to high school on a cruise ship with classmates from all over the world? Do you desire a learning environment and friendships where English isn’t everyone’s first language? Do you want to work on high school credits and courses but also balance your learning with maritime responsibilities? Check out this program—docking in Norway—and get the most thrilling chapter of your captain’s log started now.

• Eligibility: Ages 15-18
• Program length: Full academic year only
• More info: APlusWorldAcademy.Org

Pack your sunglasses—You’re ready for your study abroad cruise 

This could be you. Think about it.

Studying abroad on programs like Semester at Sea is a daring adventure. You’re not only pushing yourself outside of your boundaries as a student, learning from new cultures, you’re also adapting to a new way of living that is completely at the whim of nature. You’ll learn new skills, make new friends, and explore the world in a way that many others never get the chance to experience. 

So what are you waiting for? Jump aboard this study abroad cruise already!

Compare ALL Programs to Study at Sea NOW

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Summer at Sea

Summer at Sea is a new short-term, faculty-led study abroad program jointly administered by The Institute for Shipboard Education and Peace Boat. While aboard the Peace Boat passenger vessel, the Pacific World , students can earn up to six credits — three per session — through Colorado State University. Two voyage sessions , each visiting five ports of call, will be offered eac h summer .

Why Join us?

Hands-On Learning - Daily observations from deck and course-connected, experiential programming in each port stop.

Multi-Country, Comparative Approach - Understand how different countries around the world are grappling with the same challenges and finding new solutions.

Community - Small cohort sizes mean direct access to our world-class faculty, small group discussions, and a unique living-learning community

Intercultural Growth - Peace Boat is a Japan-based international NGO with predominantly Asian travelers on board. Beyond your coursework, practice new languages, learn new customs, taste new foods, form lifelong friendships.

Limited Spots

Only 30 spots per segment

First-come, first-served

Students admitted on rolling basis

Early Application Deadline: December 1

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A look into the history of Semester at Sea over nearly 100 years.

Introduction

Nearly 100 years ago, the idea for a floating university that would travel the world became the passionate pursuit of James Edwin Lough, a psychology professor at New York University. He believed changes needed to be made to traditional teaching methods of American universities and soon became a leader in a new educational movement. Travel and first-hand experience, he felt, must be part of every scholar’s education, and he set out to find others who shared this vision.

Semester at Sea History

The Maiden Voyage

One of Lough’s most significant counterparts was Constantine Raises, a Greek student who supported the effort and assisted with necessary academic and itinerary preparations. Although the program was successfully planned, enrollments fell short of expectations and the sailing was postponed for one year. Embarrassed, New York University dropped its sponsorship of the program, and James Lough took a leave of absence.

Despite the setback, Lough’s original vision eventually led to the successful maiden voyage of the SS  Ryndam  on September 18, 1926. Departing Hoboken, New Jersey with a capacity of 504 students and a faculty and administrative staff of 63, Lough sailed as Dean and Raises served as Voyage Director. Because the program was no longer sponsored by a single school, colleges and universities were eager to participate, and applications poured in.

It was an exciting sail. Imagine the glorious SS  Ryndam  decorated with flags from stem to stern, thousands lining the Fifth Street pier to see off their loved ones, and excited students waving from the decks. Many got so caught up in the spirit of the moment that they tried to book passage themselves! The students, representing 143 colleges, came from 40 states, as well as Canada, Cuba, and Hawaii. During the 7 1/2-month voyage, the ship covered 41,000 miles and visited 35 countries and more than 90 cities, including Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok, Colombo, Bombay, Haifa, Venice, Gibraltar, Lisbon, and Oslo.

As the ship set sail, Lough tried to describe what lay ahead: “This shall not be a mere sightseeing tour, but a college year of educational travel and systematic study to develop an interest in foreign affairs, to train students to think in world terms, and to strengthen international understanding and good will.” Upon their arrival home and again years later at their 1976 reunion, the students aboard described the sailing as “the greatest educational experience of our lives.”

Gaining Momentum with the University of the Seven Seas

Although the voyage was a great success, the concept of shipboard education did not fully take hold until the 1960s when it was resurrected as the University of the Seven Seas by a visionary California businessman named Bill Hughes. In February 1963, a charter contract was signed with the same shipping company that had provided the SS  Ryndam , Holland America, and preparations began to create the university aboard the MS  Seven Seas .

Although the University of the Seven Seas was authorized by the state of California to issue transcripts and award diplomas, it was never fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. This prevented it from assuring students that their credits would be transferable to, or even recognized by, any other school. So in 1965, Hughes decided to affiliate with Chapman College in Orange, California who provided the program with academic credentials and the new life it needed as World Campus Afloat.

The 1960s and World Campus Afloat

In the late sixties, Dr. M.A. Griffiths, a professor of Middle Eastern history at Chapman, was named Dean and Academic Vice President (later Vice President of International Studies) and headed up World Campus Afloat. In 1969, Dr. Griffiths sent his associate, Dr. Lloyd Lewan, to travel as Dean on board the ship. This would be the first of many voyages for Dr. Lewan, who became Director of Operations and Associate Dean for the program. Dr. John Tymitz served at the time as Associate Director of Operations. In 1966, the Holland America Line exchanged the old Seven Seas for a new ship called the SS  Ryndam , the same name as the original floating university. But in 1970, the Holland America Line went through a reorganization and withdrew its ship from the program.

C.Y. Tung:  A Shipping Mogul and Visionary

Enter C.Y. Tung of Hong Kong. This distinguished Chinese gentleman and shipping magnate had dreams of a United Nations university on a ship. He was fond of saying that “ships could transport more than cargo, they could carry ideas.” Through negotiations between Dr. Griffiths and Mr. Tung, an agreement was struck and C.Y. Tung provided World Campus Afloat with the ship and ship management expertise to launch the program into a new era. The first ship Mr. Tung provided was the  Queen Elizabeth , sister ship to the  Queen Mary , which he completely refurbished. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by a fire. But Mr. Tung kept his commitment and purchased another ship for the program. That ship was christened the SS  Universe  and would sail for many years to come.

A Ship could carry more than cargo, they could carry ideas.” C.Y. Tung, Founder of the Institute for Shipboard Education

In 1976, Chapman College underwent financial problems, compounded by the oil crisis, and had to abandon World Campus Afloat. With the full support of C.Y. Tung, Dr. Griffiths left his tenured position and took the ship program with him. Mr. Tung and Dr. Griffiths then founded the Institute for Shipboard Education with Dr. Griffiths serving as Executive Director and Dr. John Tymitz second in command. Soon after, Dr. Lewan also joined the program. Working out of a small office in Laguna Hills, California, Dr. Griffiths and Dr. Tymitz moved boxes, licked stamps, recruited students, and searched for a sponsoring university. The University of Colorado was that university, enabling the program, now named Semester at Sea, to sail again, after only a one semester hiatus. Around this time, Dr. Griffiths also brought Dr. Max Brandt into the program, a man he called “a true internationalist.” This core team grew as the years went by into a strong ISE family comprising many.

Pittsburgh Sponsors the Program

In 1981, the University of Pittsburgh took over the sponsorship of the program — a sponsorship that continued for 25 years. Dr. M.A. Griffiths retired in 1984 as Executive Director (though he continued for a number of years working in fundraising and alumni affairs). Dr. Tymitz was named the new Executive Director (later renamed as Chief Executive Officer) of ISE and ably led the program through many strong and exciting years until his retirement in 2007.

The University of Virginia

In 2006, the program found a new home and academic sponsor at the University of Virginia. With Dr. Les McCabe at the helm as the new leader of SAS, the program continued to thrive with the recent purchase of its floating college, the MV  Explorer . Interestingly, in full circle fashion, Dr. McCabe had been originally hired as a young man 23 years earlier by Dr. Griffiths.

Colorado State University: An Ideal Academic Partner

Semester at Sea is proud to have Colorado State University (CSU) as our current academic partner. As of June 1, 2016, CSU became the new academic partner for Semester at Sea. Founded in 1870 as a land-grant institution, CSU combines intellectual classroom pursuits with hands-on experience in the field and laboratory — similar in approach to the Semester at Sea global comparative experiential learning model. CSU is a natural partner for SAS program due to the university’s role in the founding of the Peace Corps and its emphasis on the importance of diversity and global education. CSU also received the 2013 Senator Paul Simon National Award for Outstanding Campus Internationalization. 

The first around-the-world voyage led by Prof. James Edwin Lough of New York University set sail: 504 students, 63 faculty, 7 1/2-month duration, 41,000 miles, 35 countries, and more than 90 cities.

University World Cruise is not affiliated with Semester at Sea but may have inspired the first 1963 voyage.

The concept of shipboard education fully took hold in the 1960s when it was resurrected as the University of the Seven Seas by a visionary California businessman named Bill Hughes.

February 1963

A charter contract is signed to create a university aboard the MS  Seven Seas.

First voyage of the University of the Seven Seas sets sail: 275 students, 22 ports, 16 countries.

Chapman College administers the program and changes the name to World Campus Afloat.

First Leaders

Dr. M.A. Griffiths, a professor at Chapman College, leads World Campus Afloat (WCA).

Holland America Line (ship provider) exchanges the  Seven Seas  for the new SS  Ryndam.

Dr. Griffiths sends his associate, Dr. Lloyd Lewan, to travel as dean for several voyages.

Dr. John Tymitz serves as associate director of operations.

Holland America Line undergoes a reorganization and withdraws its ship from the program.

While docked in Hong Kong, 60 participants of the World Campus Afloat program were granted permission to visit Canton (Ghangzhou) in the People’s Republic of China. This was the first time U.S. citizens were allowed in the Communist ruled China under Chairman Mao.

Enter C.Y. Tung

C.Y. Tung, a Hong Kong business magnate, imagines a floating United Nations University. “Ships could transport more than cargo, they could carry ideas.”

Tung provides WCA with a ship and management expertise to launch shipboard education into a new era.

The  Queen Elizabeth I , is destroyed by fire in Hong Kong.

Finding a Home

Compounded by the oil crisis, Chapman abandons World Campus Afloat.

First Semester at Sea (SAS) voyage is launched aboard the SS  Universe . The University of Colorado-Boulder is named academic sponsor.

SAS takes 500 U.S. college students — largest in history — to mainland China and to Egypt to meet Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

The University of Pittsburgh assumes academic sponsorship.

Students meet Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev (USSR) and Corazon Aquino (Philippines).

ISE operates the first Seminar at Sea. Students meet 1979 Nobel Laureate Mother Teresa.

SS  Universe  is the first ship of U.S. passengers to visit Vietnam after the U.S. embargo is lifted. Students meet Nobel Peace Prize recipient Nelson Mandela.

Pete Peterson, first U.S. ambassador to Vietnam after the war, visits the ship three times.

First voyage to visit Havana, Cuba.

Cuban President Fidel Castro meets with students in Havana, first of several meetings with students in the program.

SAS conducts its first summer voyage.

University of Virginia becomes new academic sponsor.

ISE purchases MV  Explorer.

Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu sails his first full SAS program on the Spring Voyage.

First Leadership Forum on Global Affairs, a biannual four-day voyage examining international issues.

Semester at Sea celebrates the 100th voyage. The MV  Explorer  receives ISO certification for environmental excellence.

Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu sails on the entire Fall Voyage.

A short-term lease is signed for the sixth traveling campus for Semester at Sea, the MV  World Odyssey , and it is is unveiled prior to the Fall 2015 Voyage.

Colorado State University becomes new academic partner.

ISE secures a 10-year lease on the MV  World Odyssey.

In October 2023, ISE celebrated its’ 60th anniversary.

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