Seamester: Transatlantic, Mediterranean to Caribbean - 90 Days

Name: Seamester: Transatlantic, Mediterranean to Caribbean - 90 Days
Brand: Seamester
SKU: 69904
Rating: 4.94 (18 reviews)

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4.94 Rating

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Location

Multiple Locations +7

Italy
- Rome
- Sardinia
Monaco
- Monte Carlo
France
- Nice
- Cannes
Spain
- Barcelona
- Palma de Mallorca
- Canary Islands
Morocco
- Marrakech
Dominica
Antigua and Barbuda

Term

Fall

Subject Areas

Communications Environmental Studies Marine Biology Oceanography

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Degree Level

High School Diploma

Housing

Boat

Language

English

Pricing

Starting Price

30970

Price Details

12 academic credits from the University of South Florida

International Yachtmaster Training (IYT): International Crew Certificate, Navigation
Master and Master of Yachts 200 Ton Theory (course based on experience)

PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue or Divemaster Certification

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Classes Meals

What's Not Included

Airfare

Last Updated: Oct 28, 2023

Last Reviewed: Dec 30, 2022

Wish List

88 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Why limit yourself to just one ocean, country or continent? Choose this Sea|mester journey spanning over 6,500 miles that offers the best of land and sea. Sail the Mediterranean, cross the Atlantic and cruise the Caribbean against the backdrop of sunrise, sunset, and moonlight.

Gaze at the Pantheon and Coliseum in Rome. Tour the ancient fortress town of Bonifacio - a mountain in the sea with over 1,700 summits and water so clear that visibility is perfect even at 50 feet below. Ride camels among the sand dunes on the beaches of Agadir and wander in the courtyard of the King's Palace in Casablanca. Conquer our longest sailing passage and experience deep blue freedom in every direction as you cross the Atlantic with pilot whales, bioluminescent plankton, and flying fish. Night dive over vivid Caribbean Reefs. As your Sea-mester journey closes, realize that the greatest achievement of your voyage is that it was accomplished by you.

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Video and Photos

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Program Highlights

Become A Certified Scuba Diver
Learn To Sail
Earn 12 College Credits
Cross the Atlantic Ocean

Scholarships

Seamester Scholarships & Financial Aid

Sea|mester offers scholarships, financial aid, and tuition assistance to applicants who show great potential to succeed and grow from our unique experience yet would otherwise be only able to attend with financial assistance.

The total amount of funds available for any given semester varies. There is no scholarship application fee, and all Sea|mester applicants are eligible to apply.

Value

$500 - $14,000

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Program Reviews

4.94 Rating

based on 18 reviews

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Rating Spread Study

5 rating 94.44%
4 rating 5.56%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 4.3
Support 5
Fun 5
Housing 4.45
Safety 4.95

Good for Students, Adventure travelers, Building your resume

Showing 17 - 18 of 18 reviews

I did this trip because I love sailing and I have always wanted to travel internationally. This trip provided a perfect opportunity to do both of those things. The staff was amazing and I really enjoyed having them aboard, not just as staff members but also as friends. The close quarters necessitated by life on a ship at sea, as well as the challenges presented by sailing and working in such an environment, created a strong sense of comradery among everyone aborad and by the end of the trip, we felt like a family. The places that we visited together, from the beaches of southern France to the mountains of Morocco and the open waters of the Atlantic were all beautiful and magical, each in their own way. I was always excited waking up in a new place, to see what the day would offer and what new adventure we would have.

What would you improve about this program?

The packing list did not seem to be designed specifically for this trip, so some of the things that we were told to bring were not needed while a couple of things that would have been nice to have were not included. This was, however, a fairly minor inconvenience as all of the critical gear was included.

Sea|mester gave me the opportunity to travel the world, learn to sail, and meet new amazing people. This program is one of a kind and there is nothing else out there like it. The sense of accomplishment when you cross an ocean, the excitement of every new destination you go to, the amazing diving, the interactive classes, the learning and discovering of yourself, are examples of things you get only from Sea|mester. The Captain and staff were always on top of everything, always putting our safety first. I am so thankful for this program and the opportunities it gave me, I would never trade my time on Argo for anything else. This program will not disappoint. This program will give you 15 college credits to prepare you or got towards your undergrad.

Questions & Answers

What are the age range requirements?

Seamester students are typically between the ages of 18-24. We see mainly gap year and study abroad students and a few postgraduate students as well!

By Seamester Study Abroad & Gap Voyages on December 11, 2019

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

From the first time I saw the website, it gave me butterflies. I’d never experienced that kind of thing before. My parents wanted me to take a gap year and asked me to check out programs. It was the one that made me decide I had to take a gap year. I read all of the blog posts and looked at all of the pictures. I felt like it was the kind of thing that was once in a lifetime. I had to get in on it.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The website is so thorough and they send you emails with the packing lists and everything which was really helpful. After you get accepted in, they send you all the information about your passport, vaccines, and paperwork. They were helpful when it came to me trying to figure out what kind of dive gear I needed and what clothes I should pack. In the end, all I did on my own was book flights.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Make sure that you bring enough clothes, especially underwear. This program makes you tougher and a better survivalist but once you start smelling yourself it can get rough. Pack a whole lot of underwear.

I think a winter hat was also good because it can get cold on the water. A comfy sweatshirt and sweatpants are super important. When you get wet and cold, which you will, they are awesome to slip into.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

It’s hard to describe the average week because so much goes on. The constants are watch, class, meals, and showers. Those things cycle around to give you a bit of normalcy but it’s always exciting. In the average week, you’ll have at least five unforgettable experiences. The once thing you can always look forward to is hard work. It takes a lot to be on the program and it isn’t always easy. You’ve got to have a really positive attitude.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I was scared of swimming in the open water.

I knew that we would have to jump in showers in the middle of the Mediterranean and I was scared of the open water. I got over my fear by just letting it go and going for it. I jumped in the Mediterranean with no land in sight and ended up having a great time splashing around with my friends. We did it all the time after that and I never remembered my fear.

What was the biggest life lesson you learned on the boat?

I learned that the way that you look at something can change everything about it. Life on the boat can be really hard. It’s tough to be away from your family experiencing new things all the time. But if you laugh easier and harder, smile more, and build other people up, everything will be better. I think it was a positive attitude that carried me through the experience.

Alex Greenberger

Alexandra Isaksen

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

I am in quite a privileged position in that I have so many travel memories to choose from.

When on the boat, I regularly see big marine life like whales breaching and dolphins chasing the boat to then diving underneath the boat and seeing turtles and sharks is a very. However, my most recent memory was two very inquisitive dolphins who stuck around for long enough to allow me to jump in and swim with them. It was a mum and calf and the calf would mimic every motion I did; if I span my body, it would copy; when I blew bubbles, it would play with the bubbles all while the mother looked on making sure I wasn’t causing too much trouble. It was an amazing experience.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

My current work allows for many learning curves. I came into the job knowing very little in terms of sailing and any nautical know-how; in fact, I knew pretty much nothing other than a good boat floats and a bad boat sinks. However, over the last 4 years, I have increased both my practical and theoretical knowledge of how boats work and the various factors that affect them and even managed to get myself to point where Sea|mester has let me take control of Ocean Star a key part in the companies fleet.

Now being the Captain, it makes me appreciate the responsibilities previous captains I’ve worked with had and what an amazing job they all did. I have tried to take the best parts of all and merge them into my own unique style in order to help try and educate and lead the students through an amazing experience.

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

The best communications I get from old students are when they get in contact to ask me for a reference letter to some kind of job or internship they're applying for.

I have had a lot of students come on the boat and not be 100% sure what they want to do after the trip or where they want to go, but it's amazing to know that they have left the boat after an amazing trip and been inspired enough either by the sailing side, the science on the trip or that they simply want to travel and experience the world and are asking advice on the best spots to become a dive instructor.

It's always nice to hear from previous students about what they're up to years later and how the trip has affected them.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would most likely head out to the Galapagos or the Costa Rica trip with Go Beyond. Both trips have amazing wildlife experiences from rainforests to the amazing exploration of coastal environments and seeing a wide range of wildlife, I am quite a keen photographer of wildlife both in the marine and terrestrial, so the number of wildlife opportunities in those areas would be phenomenal.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

The company is unique as it provides such a broad spectrum of experiences while providing the best quality in such a wide range. From students coming board for 80 to 90 days aboard the bigger ships that work year-round, many of those have never stepped foot on a boat and being afforded the chance to learn diving and experience amazing island adventures.

The summer program offers an amazing chance to learn smaller sailing boats, many more water sports and the chance to make amazing friendships, and then the Go Beyond programs, which provide amazing community service projects around the world with the chance to also experience the best aspects of the local areas.

I often find myself looking at the team around me and being in awe of the energy and the different components some bring to the table, but really, the best moments for me are at the end of the trip when we see the feedback and how much they enjoyed it, and also feedback from parents to say how much their son or daughter has grown upon returning home. Knowing this means that myself and the rest of the staff on the boat made a positive impact on someone's life.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I think the biggest key to any company succeeding is making sure that everyone gets on well, communicates effectively and really has a good laugh with each other.

I have worked for many places where the environment is quite still and dull. I enjoy working with everyone at GXG - I may go months even years without seeing some because of the travel, but when I end up seeing someone, it’s as of only days have gone by since I saw them, and I think for me that ability to feel relaxed with people and be yourself and be trusted to do what you do is so key in a business.

About Seamester

Seamester offers unique educational voyages where students spend their time sailing between countries and continents. For more than 40 years, we have consistently delivered outstanding educational experiences for students. We design our programs to provide engaging learning experiences with real outcomes in ways that are impossible to replicate in...