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Semester at Sea: Study Around the World

Semester at Sea: Study Around the World

Semester at Sea
Semester at Sea
4.91 · 168 reviews
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Semester at Sea

 4.91 · 168 reviews
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Location
Multiple Locations +19
  • Netherlands
    • Amsterdam
  • Portugal
    • Lisbon
  • Spain
    • Malaga
  • Kenya
    • Mombasa
  • Ghana
    • Accra
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
    • Casablanca
    • Tangier
  • South Africa
    • Cape Town
  • India
    • Kochi
  • Malaysia
  • Vietnam
    • Ho Chi Minh City
  • Thailand
    • Bangkok
    • Bangkok
  • France
    • Nantes
  • China
    • Hong Kong
  • Germany
  • Brazil
    • Salvador
  • Sri Lanka
    • Colombo
  • Indonesia
  • Scotland
Term
Fall, Spring
Subject Areas
Advertising Anthropology Art History Business Communications Creative Writing Cultural Studies Economics Education Engineering English Environmental Studies Finance Geography Global Studies History Hospitality Humanities International Business International Relations Journalism Liberal Arts Literature Marine Biology Marketing Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Social Sciences Sociology Theater Tourism Women's Studies +23

Program Details

Program Type
At Sea
University
Colorado State University
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Boat
Language
English

Pricing

Starting Price
33750
Price Details
Our program fees include up to 15 academic credits, housing, buffet style meals, travel health insurance, one in-port field class for each course, and a full-time shipboard residential and student services team. We have need and merit based grants, student assistant positions, service and journalism fellowships, and more financial aid awards available. About 60% of voyagers receive some type of financial aid!
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Classes Meals Travel Insurance Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

-Up to 15 college credits
-Academic Field Classes
-Email account
-Comprehensive travel health insurance

What's Not Included
Some Accommodation Some Activities Airfare Visa
What's Not Included (Extra)

-Overnight stay prior to embarkation
-Textbooks
-Any appropriate vaccinations and boosters
-Between-meal food & beverages while onboard
-Laundry
-SAS Field Programs and personal travel in-country
-Fuel surcharge (if applicable)

Oct 16, 2025
Feb 16, 2026
Wish List
320 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Semester at Sea is a unique opportunity to travel around the world with a cruise ship as your campus and an ever-changing scenery as your view. On board the MV World Odyssey, our seven deck, 590-foot ship, you will have the opportunity to select from 70-72 courses across a wide range of disciplines. In one semester, you will get exposure to 10+ countries across multiple continents, earn 12-15 credits from Colorado State University, and transit over 20,000 nautical miles.

Go to class while sailing the sea, watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean or stare up at the Mediterranean stars. Whether in class, studying, or engaging in shipboard activities, you’re always a few steps away from friends, the ocean and a global perspective.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers a unique global study experience aboard a ship, visiting multiple countries in one semester.

AI-generated summary from verified community reviews Read reviews →

Video and Photos

Video thumbnail Play Video
MV World Odyssey sailing into port
Three student posing for a picture in Jordan
Student gazing out of safari truck
Students on a camel trek led by local guide
SAS students studying on deck
SAS student on Sea Olympics day
FA22 Back of Ship Photo
Students exercising on the deck of the MV World Odyssey
Students studying by the ocean water
Faculty teaching out on deck
Elephants walking by in Kenya
Students on a Field Class in-country

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Program Highlights

  • Earn 12-15 academic credits from Colorado State University
  • Explore 10+ countries around the world
  • Maximize your time in-country through Field Programs
  • Scholarship opportunities available

Popular Programs

SAS Ship

Fall 2026: Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia

Embark: September 9, Ijmuiden, The Netherlands
Disembark: Dec 22, Bangkok, Thailand
Itinerary: Portugal, Morocco, Brazil, St. Helena, South Africa, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Hong Kong

Spring 2027 Voyage map

Spring 2027: Asia, Africa, and Europe

Spring 2027: Asia, Africa, and Europe
Embark: Jan 5, Bangkok, Thailand
Disembark: Apr 20, Bremerhaven, Germany
Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco, Scotland

Program Reviews

4.91 Rating
based on 168 reviews
Leave a Review
  • 5 rating 93.45%
  • 4 rating 5.36%
  • 3 rating 0.6%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0.6%
  • Academics 4.15
  • Support 4.75
  • Fun 4.75
  • Housing 4.8
  • Safety 4.8
Good for Students, Adventure travelers
Showing 49 - 56 of 168 reviews
Dylan
33
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Life-Defining Experience

Nov 14, 2014

The semester was the most challenging, yet rewarding, most exciting, most frightening, and most eye opening experience of my life. Imagine waking up in the middle of the ocean, going to the most interesting classes you've ever taken. You then eat lunch, listen to an announcement about daily activities and the current depth and temperature of the ocean, head to class or study, and hang out with your new best friends the rest of the night. You even get a free snack time later.

What would you improve about this program?
This program is too expensive, but it is worth the cost.
123 people found this review helpful.
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Mariah
33
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best part of college

Nov 14, 2014

if you love to travel do semester at sea! I loved this program, loved the people, loved the ship, and had one of the best experiences of my life. You learn so much about how to travel and become a seasoned traveler in just a few months. Perfect for college aged students

What would you improve about this program?
I was not crazy about a few of the ports but that depends on what voyage you pick.
123 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Nicole
33
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The greatest experience I have ever had!

Nov 14, 2014

I love to travel, so I was excited at the prospect of a study abroad program that would allow me to visit many different countries in a short amount of time, rather than just immersing myself in one country.

The Semester at Sea experience is one of a kind - not many people can say they lived on a ship for months while taking classes and seeing the world! In the classes I took, the course work often related to the countries we were visiting, which made the lessons more applicable and relevant. I would say the only difficulty I sometimes found was keeping up with the reading in the course work, just because there were so many other things to do in port and around the ship, and there never seemed to be enough hours in the day.

But I think my biggest takeaway from Semester at Sea are the wealth of friendships and memories that I made that summer. The shipboard community becomes incredibly close because you're surrounded by the same people all of the time and going through this amazing journey together. And not only did I form strong friendships with students, but I was able to get to know professors, staff, and their families, too.

I would definitely recommend Semester at Sea to anyone looking for a phenomenal study abroad experience. All I can really say is: do it! You won't regret it!

What would you improve about this program?
I believe in the fall and spring semesters of Semester at Sea, students have their classes every other day. I voyaged in Summer 2013, and because of the short time frame, we had class every day. This led to some difficulty in keeping up with the course work because there was no one-day buffer between class days to be able to catch up on work if you were behind.
145 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Marissa
33
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Semester at Sea is more than a study abroad program

Nov 13, 2014

Semester at Sea is more than a study abroad program; it's the first chapter of a new life, a new way to look at the world and the people who inhabit it. At its core, the program boasts the promotion of an international education in which cultural exchange, adventure, and formal education merge to provide a uniquely enriching experience abroad. Unbeknownst to the program however, alumni would disagree. The breadth of impact attributed to moments and experiences abroad with Semester at Sea are innumerable, immeasurable and frankly, unbelievable. The program spans a mere four months of a student's life, yet its influence is resolute. Lifelong friendships are unavoidable.

Dreams are fulfilled, and replaced with new bigger ones. Visions of change are realized. A short visit to the Wikipedia page for Semester at Sea will illuminate a small few of the achievements made by notable alumni. The truth is that Semester at Sea turns dreamers into believers, and believers into achievers. If you want to visit a few countries, take some pictures, and then return to the life you left at home, Semester at Sea is not for you. If, however, you want to see the world for what it truly is, and never be the same again as a result, sign up now for the voyage of your life.

134 people found this review helpful.
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Paola
33
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best experience of my life!!

Nov 13, 2014

I went on the Fall 2013 voyage, and SAS truly changed my life as well as my global perspective. I made life-long friends with whom I still keep contact and I now have memories that will one day make great stories for my grandchildren, if I ever have any. Studying abroad in general is a must, but only the Semester at Sea program will make a global citizen out of you!

What would you improve about this program?
Maybe if the costs were lower then the program would have absolutely no flaw.
125 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Emily
33
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing

Nov 12, 2014

Before the voyage I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future but after my service experiences and traveling I was able to realize that I want to be involved in the Peace Corp, and make a change.

What would you improve about this program?
I believe that my voyage had a great balance of locations but the voyages since then have become limited in the types of experiences that the students are receiving and I would like to see the diversity re-expand.
136 people found this review helpful.
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Jay
33
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Experience

Nov 12, 2014

The classes were great the way that they incorporated the travel. The food was sub-par, but not a big deal. The security was sometimes annoyingly tight, but it is understandable. The crew are amazing, the professors were great, and the entire ship community is awesome. You get to see so much in such a short amount of time- there is nothing like it. It opened my eyes to traveling in a new way. I had amazing experiences exploring and learning about different cultures. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I could!

What would you improve about this program?
Have more of the administration do consecutive voyages
136 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Dani
33
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study the World on a Ship

Nov 12, 2014

Semester at Sea is the experience of a lifetime and is something that SASers will most likely credit as being the best part of their college experience. Not only do you get to travel the world while taking classes, but you will also meet students and staff from all over the world!

132 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Do you do Masters classes?

No, we only offer undergraduate courses.

By Semester at Sea Marketing on May 19, 2021
Are there any age requirements for Semester at Sea?

There is no age requirement, but you must have graduated from high school in order to participate.

By Semester at Sea Marketing on April 30, 2020
Can you participate if you're not from America?

Yes!! Just be aware the cost is in American Dollars so be aware of your countries conversion rate as it can be pricey!

By Nicola Schatz on January 27, 2020
If you are transferring universities, are you allowed to do semester at sea the quarter before attending the new university?

As long as you were enrolled as a full-time student the semester immediately before your voyage, and you have proof of admission to the university you are transferring to (such as an admission letter) after your voyage, then you should be all set!

By Semester at Sea Marketing on January 29, 2018
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Alumni Interviews

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

Douglas W. Johnson

Program
Semester at Sea: Study Around the World
I spent 107 days on World Campus Afloat, Spring 1975 voyage. Departing from Fort Lauderdale, ending in Los Angeles. Went to Morocco, Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

A now retired Environmental Scientist, spent 45 years cleaning up oil spills, Superfund sites, hazardous waste sites, household hazardous waste from during post-hurricane, flood and fire events.

Interview

Why did you choose this program?

I wanted to travel outside the United States while in college. World Campus Afloat (WCA), now Semester at Sea gave me the opportunity to visit 12 different countries in 4 months while attending school.

It gave me an opportunity to look and experience numerous different cultures, religions and people while completing some of the hardest course work I had as an undergraduate.

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

In 1975, WCA was academically sponsored by Chapman College (now University). It was considered an intra-school transfer from the "home" campus to WCA and back.

I was a political science and geology double major student at the time. This voyage provided direct insight and experiences in both my academic studies areas.

Chapman College didn't give me any direct assistance, it was up to me to request the transfer, maintain my grades and to complete the requirements of the program.

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

You will be overwhelmed with new sights, smells, cultures, religions, and people. Write a daily journal, it will help you process what you experienced and understand the intangible gifts that you receive from participating in this opportunity.

Take Frisbees, balloons, and hard candy, the local little kids you will meet will be a lot of entertainment.

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

While on board the ship, classes everyday with the exception of an occasional Sunday off. While in port, no classes but expect to participate in In-Port Practicas. I averaged one to two per port. They are part of the learning experience. You are required to take 12 to 16 units. I took 14.5. Three classes every day with the 4th class every other day. Then you spend another three to four hours everyday and on Sunday's studying and writing.

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 had no "fears", but lots of apprehensions. Simply put, this was the first time I was totally responsible for my actions. There was no parachute to rescue me if I screwed up. When traveling with girls, I took on the added responsibility of looking out for someone else. It is is safe to say I grew up a lot during these four months. You can say this was a coming of age experience. Also, crammed into a ship with 600 other people you mostly just met is a learning experience in patience, respect, adapting. If you couldn't learn these three things in the first couple of days of a hundred plus day voyage, you were pretty much left out.

Write and answer your own question.

Rule one, keep all your senses in max absorption mode. You will see, smell, hear, and feel many new things. Show respect for those with different beliefs, customs, religions, and cultures. Don't be selfish. But most of all; be respectful.

Also, if you think this is a 4 month party, Don't waste your time and money and more over, don't become a burden or distraction on those that are truly trying to learn something to make a difference in themselves and hopefully others.

I would have gladly seen those that thought the four months as a floating party would have been left somewhere, mostly from the first port of departure.

I would do this again in a heart beat too. It is on my bucket list to redo.

Staff Interviews

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

Karla Correll

Program
Semester at Sea: Study Around the World
Job Title
Assistant Director of Admission
Karla sailed on Semester at Sea Summer 2010 as a student for University of Colorado - Boulder. In 2012, she started in admissions at the Institute for Shipboard Education.
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What is your favorite travel memory?

How do you pick a favorite travel memory???

I have endless stories that I could talk about for days, but I will never forget a homestay in Turkey, where the family I stayed with opened their home to me and taught me all about their lives, customs, and culture. The mother in the house was just learning English and we sat over long dinners telling stories of our lives, families, and travels and we would pause every once in awhile to ask her son to translate a few words for each other. It was an amazing experience that I truly felt I was part of someone's life on the other side of the world from me and is something I will never forget.

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

I don't believe in overrated or underrated countries purely because everyone sees places differently, but I do believe that what you put into it is what you get out if it. If you just look at the surface of a country and don't get to know the history, or the culture, or the geography, you are missing out on a huge part of the place you are seeing. Some of the places I enjoyed traveling to the most were the countries I least expected and really had amazing histories, cultures, and friendly people.

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

Passion and deep institutional knowledge are the biggest factors in the success of Semester at Sea. Most, if not all, of the ISE/Semester at Sea staff are alumni of the program and know how life changing it can be and that passion is put in each day they work there.

Each and every employee believes in the program and the mission of Semester at Sea, and that ships can carry more than cargo, they can carry ideas. They believe that for over 50 years, Semester at Sea has taught students that the world is their classroom and helped students turn into global citizens.

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

At any job, just like any opportunity, you have the ability to get out as much as you put in. I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by hard working people that encourage going above and beyond and allowing for creative and new solutions. With the world changing and technology improving every day, it creates unique challenges, but also great opportunities to get more done from other locations or change something to work more efficiently. With easier and faster access to all corners of the world, the opportunities are endless.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Semester at Sea is unique in so many ways, but the employees unwavering passion and dedication to the program are unique to any other company I have ever seen. The ability to travel to the ship for embarkation and disembarkation is also very unique. Many companies you do not get to meet their students or customers.

With Semester at Sea, you get to work with the students from admission, preparation, watch them succeed on the voyage, and see them hold their head high as they walk off the ship at the end of a life changing semester. There is nothing more rewarding than that.

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Angela Broyles
Assistant Director of Admissions & University Relations: Southeast US

About Semester at Sea

Semester at Sea is a unique, ship-based, multi-country study abroad experience academically partnered with Colorado State University. In one semester, students will get exposure to 10+ countries across multiple continents while earning 12-15 college credits. Our mission is to take journeys of discovery that spark bold solutions to global challenges...