Semester at Sea: Study Around the World

My son participated in the Spring 2022 voyage as a GAP year student. Contrary to program description, there is no support for the small subset of younger GAP year students. My son was bullied by an older roommate, and after having paid for an outside cabin was placed in an interior space without windows (again, paid for outside cabin at 100% list price -- no aid, no discount) He was basically told to "suck it up." Although kids are told intoxication, etc. would not be tolerated, it was rampant without recourse (a night in "drunk tank" in medical area). Similar to sex. Confusing since they're told not to "hook-up" during presntations but there are bowls of condoms available throughout the ship. Academically, no extra consideration. Again, GAP year students are simply thrown into the mix of majority junior year college students. Try CIEE - two successful summer programs completed in China and Italy (prior to Semester at Sea).

I was a student aboard the old World Campus Afloat program Spring 1975 voyage prior to the renaming to Semester at Sea. SP75 traveled east from Florida and ended in Los Angeles after voyaging for about 25,500 miles, for 107 days and visiting 13 different counties and stopping in 13 different ports. I had one outstanding professor, two very good professors and one who should have never been teaching. Overall, the academics, environment and experience were top notch with the one exception. Accommodations aboard the Ship were not much different than living in the Dorms. As we all learned during the 1st week aboard, tolerance, respect and patience for your fellow shipmates or you didn't survive.

After being off the ship and completing the experience 47 years ago, the experience of this semester still remains a life changing event. It indirectly changed my path for employment, it certainly changed my perspective on how the rest of the world views America and Americans, and it allowed me to view America from the outside looking in with hopes and intent of making America and the World a little better. And I am still in touch / communicate with fellow students from SP75.

Taking college courses on a ship was unlike any experience I've had and taught me how to be a global citizen.
During my time on Semester at Sea, we traveled to 13 countries and experienced 13 different cultures. During in-country days I participated in organized field classes that allowed me to apply concepts from my courses to actual interactions with local experts and organizations. The information I learned during these in-country experiences will forever have an impact on me and my learning.
Voyage 129 taught me how to be flexible, open-minded, resilient, and globally aware. I am grateful to have been a part of an incredible program and I recommend it to any college student!

Semester at Sea had a profound impact on my life. By the time I boarded the MV Explorer, I had been to 15 countries and participated in three study abroad programs, but SAS impressed an intrepid traveler like me. Few programs can compare with SAS: a dozen or so ports of call, 100+ days of sailing and exploring the world, a multitude of classes in a variety of subject areas, a floating campus complete with extracurricular activities, and a global community like no other. While the price is steep, this is an investment in your future that you can't afford to skip. For some, the cost is comparable and, in some cases, less than a semester at some colleges. For others, scholarships, financial aid, and careful budgeting may help as they did for me. It may have taken me a decade to pay off my SAS student loan, but the memories, knowledge, perspective, and friendships I gained are priceless.

In 2016, I took the journey of a lifetime. I was able to visit 12 countries and 26 different cities that all made a lasting impact on my education and future endeavors.

If you want to go on a multi-country study abroad program, I highly recommend you take the opportunity and sign up for a semester at sea right now. This 106-day voyage around the world will allow you to discover the history of each location your visit, dive deep into their rich cultures, and expand your knowledge of the world around you. You truly become a traveler and not a tourist.

I will cherish my memories and friendship for the rest of my life. This is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you WON'T regret it.

Interesting program model and well-facilitated! Such a unique academic experience to learn about a place in your courses then to arrive there by ship to experience it first-hand. Since time at port can vary from a couple days to a week in each country, one must be intentional about how to spend the time. Shipboard community was strong and the alumni community continues to be too.

This was a fun and enriching journey but if you're looking for an immersive cultural experience, it's not what I would recommend.

As the Director of Global Routes, an innovative high school and college abroad program in it's own right, facilitating profound international experiences, I can honestly say I would not be here without my own transformative experience on Semester at Sea. I can not say enough.

In 2002, I walked onto a ship in Vancouver as a typical fun-loving college boy, and stepped off in Florida, 100 days later with a deep understanding of empathy, compassion, global issues, and my role in the world. I went on to pursue a career as a global educator,

The faculty were outstanding. The community was extraordinary, and the fine level of support and freedom in-port was out of this world. If you're reading this, and considering a semester in England, or Spain, or France, or New Zealand, change your plans and jump on board SAS for a rich tapestry experience that will forever alter your perspective of the world and your place in it.

As soon as I heard of Semester at Sea, I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. My voyage had the opportunity to visit 11 countries while taking classes on the MV World Odyssey; who else can say they have done that? There was lots of work leading up to it, and of course I had my doubts that it would live up to my dreams. But it did that and more! The community on the ship is one that you cannot experience with any other program. This is absolutely the best way for college students to study abroad.
My advice to anyone considering Semester at Sea: DO IT. Do not think too much about it, just go and everything will work itself out, and most importantly: you will have the trip of a lifetime.