Program Reviews

Hands down best way to travel and study. Travel anywhere from 5-15 countries and get up to 12 credits for college, what is better then that!?! You will get the opportunity to spend 4-5 days exploring a country, partying, and making friends! You will learn to love new cultures and leave with so many friends from around the world. I went as a student in my masters program and wouldn't trade it for the world- that's because I had the world at my hands! I wish you the best of luck when you choose where to study, but how many people can say the lived and studied in the ocean!?

Semester at Sea is one of a very few study abroad opportunities for undergraduate students to have a truly comparative international experience. There is something so magical about waking up every few days in a new country, new culture, and ready to have some of the most intense and thoughtful intercultural dialogues. SAS is for the student who has been blessed with wanderlust, who has a desire to learn, grow and take a risk. This program is for the student who understands that the world may seem big, but through intercultural experiences, it is getting smaller and deeper each and every day

As a student without a language focus, this was a great way to see many different parts of the world without having to commit to one culture and language! Life on the ship is structured with classes, activities, groups, meetings, etc but when in port you have be option to explore on your own or do field programs through Semester at Sea. Each class requires certain field programs, but they're easy to get done so you can spend time doing things that internet you.

I have such a hard time trying to describe SAS to people. There are many great study abroad programs out there...but SAS is not just simply another "study abroad program." It's an all-encompassing, life-changing, introspective, and personally challenging experience that will stretch you as much as you allow it to.

Every personal boundary, opinion, bias, and perspective will be tested as you sail between 10+ countries. As you're confronted with so many different cultural intricacies and challenges, all right in a row, you have no choice but to compare experiences and re-evaluate yourself and your role in society. So much change and travel means there is never enough time to become stagnant or comfortable. You're patience and flexibility is constantly tested, and you'll grow so much personally because of it.

There's the big, not-to-be-missed sightseeing opportunities: hiking Table Mountain in South Africa, being yards from a wild lion on an African safari, standing at the base of the Taj Mahal. There's the unique local experiences: sliding down sand dunes in Namibia, sampling street food everywhere, wandering markets and bartering. There's the personal, reflective experiences: the feeling of staring at the horizon for days on end while sailing the ocean is something I will carry with me my entire life. There's the social experiences: learning a ton about yourself and your ship friends as you're sequestered on the ship for days on end. They will become and remain some of your best friends for a lifetime.

You will see the good in the world and the world's people. A friend and I were once stranded at an internet cafe late at night in a giant thunderstorm in a tiny Guatemalan town, a 35 minute drive away from where the ship was about to leave port that night. There were no taxis or transportation in sight. We asked the cafe owners (who spoke broken English) for advice. They easily could have let two clueless Americans fend for ourselves. However, they instead offered to personally drive us back to the ship, which was clearly out of their way. We tried paying them as a token of thanks, but they refused to accept any money. Everybody I know from SAS has a similar story...there is lots of good left in the world, if you learn where to look.

Bottom line: SAS changes you, in the best way possible. It's everything a study abroad program should be. Please contact me with any questions; I can't begin to describe how SAS has personally affected my life.

I highly recommend this program for your junior year/semester abroad. Unlike most programs where you go to one place, this program is on a cruise ship which travels either around the world or to various continents (depending on the semester). This has several advantages. You leave your property on the ship while you go out to explore the country, this is much better then having to lug your things from place to place. Most meals are included on the ship so you dont have to worry about finding places to eat everyday although many students tend to seek some authentic meals in each of the countries) You get to see a lot of different countries, for those of you who cant decide this solves that issue. Also the ship goes to several ports where most people could not go by themselves, some are exotic, others USA citizens might not be allowed to go. Not only does the cruise go to many distant and interesting ports but you get college credit for doing so (most colleges will give you credit need to check with your specific college). The classes are held on the days the ship is at sea. the courses are in english another plus for those who do not speak and understand a foreign language

I was the only one from Carroll University to go on the summer 2013 voyage. I was scared out of my mind with not knowing anyone and traveling on my own. I was worried about the process of making new friends again and essentially starting all over again. Everyone on the ship was so welcoming! My roommate is from Chicago so living in Wisconsin its great to be able to see my roommate quite frequently. I made so many new friends from all over the US and the world. Getting to explore places as diverse as Morocco to places such as Malta with this group of amazing people truly made the trip so much better. Faculty, crew and students were all so welcoming and it was truly amazing to be surrounded by people who were all interested in being or becoming global citizens! With going so many new places it was hard to get into a routine and really get a true understanding of each culture but getting to experience a variety of cultures was truly incredible! I suggest this program to anyone wanting to become more global, independent and a variety of other traits that will help further you as an individual and also within the job market.

Is there sea sickness? yes. Are there days you are going to wish that you could see land? Yes. Is the first sight of Japan on horizon the most exhilarating celebration on the deck with classmates? YES.

Great aspects are that you will make friends on this voyage that will you will stay in contact with forever. There is something spectacular about traveling to any city in the United States and knowing someone who lives there from your voyage or another SAS voyage. SAS Alumni stick together.

This isn't just a study abroad program its a life altering, life long friend gathering, mind blowing, cultural immersion. You will be witness to some of the world's poorest populations and some of the most successful alum and lifetime learners.

What other program allows you to have your own cabin/room, which is your home base, all while traveling to 10 uniquely different countries? Living on a ship for 3-4 months is an experience you will not be able to capture with any other program.

You will sleep under the stars, celebrate the equator crossing, have Thanksgiving dinner with your professors, learn from instructors who are industry leaders or the forefront of creativity. There are clubs to join, grandparents/life long learners to adopt, and children to mentor.

On my voyage we had the opportunity to meet Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro. Being in the presence of world leaders and Nobel Prize recipients can't be put into words. I went skydiving in South Africa over Table Mountain, whale watched, drank wine, sailed across the harbor in Hong Kong, toured the worlds largest copper buddha/wooden buddha/tallest buddha etc, spent 3 days in a beach chalet in Malaysia, saw anti-american propaganda still present at historical Vietnam war sites, smelled some of the worst smells at local markets, witnessed a boy with elephantiasis of both legs, went on safari, booked a hotel room in Rio that overlooked Ipanema and Coco Cabana Beaches, saw the biggest spider that should ever be allowed to walk the planet, ate an ostrich burger, sang songs with friends, bare witness to genius, debated and chatted with instructors over eggs, watched a Maasai warriors offer a welcome dance, stood at the base of the Taj Mahal and was in awe of this wonder. Setting foot at some of the most momentous and oldest historical sites in the world, that you've only viewed in pictures, changes EVERYTHING.

This program imprints on your soul and your wanderlust will never be stronger after stepping off the ship for the last time.

Semester at Sea is an absolutely amazing opportunity to see the world and have educational experiences in the classroom at sea with on site activities during port stops. Anyone who has ever taken a journey with this organization can attest these were the best days of their lives! Coursework is interesting and matches the destinations with on-site activity opportunities. Locations visited allow students to broaden their horizons and become a member of the global community. I have no negative comments about this program or experience. Highly recommend!!

Semester at Sea is the ultimate travel study abroad. You take amazing classes while at sea and have free time in port. While you will have a few small projects to do at a variety of different countries they are never overwhelming and most of them are things you would take in anyway. This is true global education with learning from experiences. The professors are amazing and you spend so much time with them, they become a part of your family. You'll make amazing friendships and have amazing experiences. Yeah the wifis a little spotty, and at times, you might long for land on the longer stretches between countries but a deck side dinner will make you realize what an amazing experience it is. The second you leave you'll be trying to figure out how to go again. Worth every penny.

You will leave Semester at Sea without the right words to describe your experiences. You will not have another opportunity quite like this one. Though you may not be fully immersed in one single culture, you will learn a lot about a lot of cultures and develop you own ship culture with your peers on your voyage. This unique group of students will become some of your best friends for life!
The hardest part was getting the paperwork done for visas and your home university. Once you're past that, it's smooth sailing..... (well sometimes!)