Semester at Sea: Exploring the World Through an Extended Voyage

Semester at Sea (SAS) offers a unique study abroad experience, allowing students to explore multiple countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe during a single voyage. This floating campus provides a global perspective through hands-on field experiences and comparative academic examination.

The Semester at Sea Experience

Semester at Sea's global comparative study abroad program is enhanced by a robust academic program led by a team of academic experts from renowned institutions around the world. During the 100+ day voyage, students can earn 12-15 credits from Colorado State University, while taking major or elective courses, drawn for 20-25 fields of study. A wide variety of coursework from 20-25 disciplines is integrated with relevant field studies in up to a dozen countries, allowing for a comparative study abroad experience that is truly global. The University of Virginia is the programs academic sponsor. Students from 250-300 colleges in the United States and the world participate on Semester at Sea each term.

Voyage Length and Academic Structure

Each spring and fall semester, up to 600 undergraduates participate in the 100- to 110-day program. During this time, students attend classes in a number of subjects and disciplines, including humanities courses relevant to one (or more) of the countries on the itinerary, while the ship is at sea. All students are required to take an interdisciplinary, core global-studies course. No classes are taught in port, and students can take Semester at Sea-sponsored trips or travel independently in the port country. Before arriving at a port, they are briefed on the culture and societal rules of the country they are visiting. At the port of call, guest speakers (including community leaders and American ambassadors) deliver lectures to the students and faculty.

Ports of Call and Field Programs

Exploring countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe, this voyage gives participants a truly global study abroad experience on our floating campus! Join Semester at Sea as we sail to countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. With guided Field Programs and plenty of opportunities for in-country travel on your own or with fellow SAS voyagers, you’ll explore your interests and deepen your understanding of the world. The program itinerary differs each semester, and the ship typically docks at 10 or 11 ports.

Here's a glimpse into some of the destinations and experiences offered:

Read also: The Length of a College Semester

Thailand: Travelers flock to this warm destination for the tranquil beaches, delicious cuisine, magnificent temples and scenery, colorful history, and archaeological sites.
Vietnam: Vietnam is known for its lush, emerald green mountains, outstanding cuisine, and welcoming citizens. Here you can explore the Cu Chi Tunnels where Viet Cong soldiers lived and fought, travel by boat through the Mekong Delta, sample world-class pho, or bike through small villages. Students often enjoy a three-day trip to Cambodia from Vietnam to interact with an NGO that educates and trains disadvantaged locals in rural areas for employment in the hospitality industry. Semester at Sea ports of call in Vietnam include Ho Chi Minh City. Field Program options include cruising down the Mekong Delta or having a homestay with a local family.
Malaysia: What makes Malaysia worth visiting is the country’s diversity. Within this one country, you get to explore thriving, modern cities while exploring colonial architecture. At the same time, you have the option to relax on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and trek in lush green jungles home to orangutans, leopards, tigers, elephants, and more. Semester at Sea ports of call in Malaysia include Penang. Field Program options include visiting Kuala Lumpur and taking Malaysian cooking classes.
India: As one of the most populous nations in the world, India is bustling with a vibrant culture influenced by a variety of religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Semester at Sea ports of call in India include Cochin and Mumbai. Field Program options include multi-day trips to Mumbai, the Taj Mahal, New Delhi, and more. Highlights include exploring the Taj Mahal, one of the world’s seven wonders, or traveling to the holy city of Varanasi on the Ganges River.
Kenya: When it comes to wildlife destinations, Kenya is hard to beat. Between parks, reserves, and private conservations, Kenya is home to some of the most diverse wildlife populations on the planet. Semester at Sea ports of call in Kenya include Mombasa. Highlights include visiting the grassy plains of Amboseli National Park where elephants are silhouetted against Mount Kilimanjaro, among other animals such as giraffes, zebras, hippos, lions, cheetahs, and more.

Read also: Navigating the Spring Semester
South Africa: Whether hiking Table Mountain for one of the world’s best views, riding horseback on safari, or engaging with local entrepreneurs in Cape Town, students always fall in love with South Africa. Full of adventure and captivating sights, Cape Town offers countless opportunities for cultural and natural exploration. Semester at Sea ports of call in South Africa include Cape Town. Field Program options include overnight trips to a safari park, seeing lions, giraffes, hippos, zebras, and more.
Ghana: Ghana is a sub-Saharan beauty bursting with a unique and thriving culture. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy treks through the Accra plains and neighboring reserves. Semester at Sea ports of call in Ghana include Tema and Takoradi. Common Field Programs include visiting the Cape Coast Slave Dungeons for a historical Ghanaian perspective on the 17th-century slave trade, easily accessible from Takoradi.
Morocco: The Kingdom of Morocco is an immensely rich cultural center point of north-western Africa. The port of Casablanca, established in the 20th century, is a busy metropolis and home to the Hassan II Mosque, the second largest in the world after Mecca. This enormous structure, resting at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, was built by 30,000 workers over a period of five years, officially opening in 1993. Semester at Sea ports of call in Morocco include Casablanca and Tangier. Field Program options include multi-day trips to the Sahara Desert, where students can ride camels to their campsite and sleep under the stars.
Spain: Spain’s diverse landscape, architecture, art, and cuisine make the country rich in culture and charm. Semester at Sea ports of call in Spain include Barcelona, Valencia, and La Coruna. Field Program options include explorations of the art, culture, and architecture of the two diverse regions.
Germany: Germany is a must-see destination for its combination of old-world charm and modern urban cities. From beautiful scenery and great architecture to lively festivals, exciting nightlife, and delicious cuisine, Germany offers it all. Semester at Sea ports of call in Germany include Bremerhaven.

Read also: Navigating University Semesters

An early-1990s spring itinerary included Nassau, Caracas, Salvador (Brazil), Cape Town, Mombasa, Chennai, Singapore, Shanghai, Osaka and Hong Kong. More recent voyages have explored Hawaii, Japan, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco, and the Netherlands. The fall 2019 itinerary included the Netherlands, Poland, the Kiel Canal, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Morocco, Ghana, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, the Panama Canal, Ecuador and Costa Rica. The Summer of 2012 voyage aboard the MV Explorer included Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, and Portugal. Semester at Sea had one summer voyage in 1996.

Flexibility and Itinerary Changes

As we have been operating shipboard voyages since 1963, we’ve learned that itineraries are subject to adjustment. More than half of our voyages have required some deviation from the planned itinerary. The need to change an itinerary prior to and/or during a voyage can arise due to a number of factors: weather, political unrest, and other health and safety considerations. Should there be a need to adjust our published plans, we have identified potential diversion ports in each region of our expected travel. These ports are selected based on a number of factors including safety, educational value, and accessibility. Other ports may be added as required. Just as our world is dynamic, this list of potential ports is also subject to change.

Past Rerouting Incidents

1997's fall voyage was rerouted due to terrorism concerns after the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for American citizens in the Middle East.
After the September 11 attacks, the Universe Explorer was redirected after its stop in Kobe, with the U.S. State Department recommending stops in Singapore, Seychelles, and Cape Town.
2005's summer voyage was rerouted from London to Le Havre due to safety concerns after the July 7 London bombings.
During the fall 2006 voyage, Typhoon Shanshan caused the MV Explorer (en route from Japan to Qingdao, China) to be rerouted to Hong Kong.
The summer 2008 voyage was rerouted from Istanbul to Alexandria due to bomb threats in Turkey.
The fall 2017 voyage was rerouted from Mauritius at the vessel owner's request, and the ship went from India to South Africa.
The Spring 2020 voyage avoided a number of countries (including China) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fuel Costs and Surcharges

Semester at Sea, like any company, sets up a yearly budget based largely on estimates of fixed and variable costs with some room for variation. We are directly impacted from time to time just as everyone is in the travel industry and the maritime industry in particular, with periodic and significant overall increases in our fuel prices. Depending on each port’s regulatory and environmental requirements, we have to consider at least two different types and grades of fuel, each with significantly different price points. Political unrest in certain parts of the world, as well as periodic natural disasters, also can contribute to increasing and unpredictable volatility as well, which in turn lends to overall instability and unpredictability in fuel prices. Fuel charges remain a material component of our overall cost structure. We make every effort to contain fuel costs through enhanced itinerary planning (which we conduct one to two years in advance), and through the use of standard advance fuel purchase commitment arrangements when appropriate. However, it is impossible for us to accurately predict what we might pay for fuel per voyage, port-to-port. In order to facilitate your financial planning, we may invoice you with a “fuel fee,” which at the time is our best indication of what our final “fuel surcharge” is expected to be. In advance of sailing, Semester at Sea may enact a fuel supplement surcharge for all participants, in the event that the average price for the blended types of fuel and related costs during the voyage is expected to exceed a certain budgetary threshold in pricing per metric ton, the amount of which will be offset by advance fuel fee billings/payments. These incurred costs include not only what is expected to be paid in various ports, but also include additional costs for fuel contracts entered into. These fuel contracts are intended to cushion the financial impact if future fuel prices became volatile. Such surcharges when enacted are necessary to offset the total excess fuel costs that exceed this budget threshold.

Eligibility and Application

Yes, students from all majors regularly enroll in Semester at Sea. Voyages typically fill one to four months prior to sailing. Semester at Sea operates on a rolling admissions basis, meaning there are no application deadlines for specific semesters. However, it is recommended that you begin the application process 12 months before the semester in which you would like to participate. Once the Office of Admission has received your completed application, you will receive a reply in about 7-10 business days.

Lifelong Learning Program

Semester at Sea’s Lifelong Learning program provides adult educational travel to people at least 30 years of age who are seeking an opportunity to travel and learn as part of the Semester at Sea community.

A History of Semester at Sea

Founded in 1963, the program is managed by the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE). ISE had hosted a summer, 65-day Semester at Sea program that focused on one region of the world. In May 2011, SaS introduced a 26-day Maymester voyage with a curriculum based around the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals. The Maymester voyage offered students the opportunity to earn four to five transferable credits. But after the Maymester 2012 voyage, Semester at Sea canceled the short-term voyages due to low enrollment. A two-week, December-January Enrichment Voyage for continuing education participants was also canceled.

Past Vessels

Semester at Sea has used a number of ships as its floating campus, including the MS Seven Seas (formerly the USS Long Island), the SS Ryndam (not the later freighter of that name), the SS Universe (formerly the SS Atlantic), the SS Universe Explorer and the MV Explorer. The SS Seawise University (formerly the RMS Queen Elizabeth), which SaS intended to use, burned and sank in 1972 in Hong Kong Harbour during her conversion into a floating campus. The Universe Explorer, which retired in 2005, had four main decks and a small swimming pool at the stern of the ship. The Seawise University, Universe, and Universe Explorer were supplied and managed by Tung Chao Yung's Seawise Foundation. A lease was announced in May 2015 for the ship previously known as the MS Deutschland to be renovated, re-flagged and renamed the MV World Odyssey, operated by V-Ships.

Incidents

A student died in a 1993 hiking accident, and five students were killed in a bus crash during a field trip in India in spring 1996. The spring 1994 voyage (on the SS Universe) ended in Hong Kong because the ship was scheduled for dry-dock maintenance after the voyage. However, the ship was unable to adhere to its sailing schedule during the semester due to mechanical difficulties. It made several unscheduled stops, and had to anchor between ports while repairs were made. The ship was towed to the South China Sea and anchored overnight, guarded by crew members against piracy. A planned stop at Manila was canceled, and the Universe was rerouted to Singapore. Examinations were completed at anchor in the harbor, and the students and faculty were flown to the next two planned ports (Osaka and Shanghai). Two incidents occurred during the fall 2000 semester on the SS Universe Explorer. Entering Vietnam, the ship was struck by a barge; its hull was damaged, and student rooms were closed. The Universe Explorer remained an extra day in Vietnam for repairs. On January 26, 2005, the MV Explorer weathered a combination of three storms in the North Pacific. A 50-foot (15 m) freak wave smashed the bridge's windows, breaking one of them and briefly affecting the ship's navigation systems. Coast Guard dispatched a Lockheed HC-130 search-and-rescue plane and two cutters after receiving a distress call from the ship. Two crew members were injured during the incident. While the ship was repaired in Honolulu, the students were flown to Hong Kong to continue their courses. On November 7, 2017, in Bagan, Myanmar, a St.

tags: #semester #at #sea #program #length