Don't let the price stop you - Semester at Sea is priceless Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned just as much outside the classroom as I did inside. There is no better way to learn about a topic than to experience it for yourself. The professors love their jobs and their subjects and encourage students to embrace the unique experience at hand in a variety of ways.

On-site administration of your program

Semester at Sea is a flawless system. Even when there are kinks and things that can go wrong, they ensure that things go smoothly. Never did I feel like I would be heading into a country unprepared and I always knew what the expectations of the program were. The administration helped create a home away from home right away and were probably the main contributing factor of the community feeling on the ship. The administration is extremely efficient and knowledgeable, and I could easily put all of my faith in them in a variety of situations, be it academic or personal. No matter how many students were on the ship, they treated us all like their kids, or friends, or cousins--people they cared about.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Cabins are small, but YOU LIVE ON A SHIP. A beautiful, well-maintained ship. The ship is always available to sleep on even in port. Each person gets a closet and drawers, and although it's not much space, it is manageable and completely worth it. I felt spoiled, actually.

Food on the ship was usually good, although sometimes food selections became repetitive and we would all be marking our calendars for Taco Day. It was always nice to know there were meals on the ship even in port in case I was running short on cash in a country. There were other food options available at the pool bar or piano bar if you wanted to pay extra, but I found I didn't really need to.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It is the perfect blend of an American college atmosphere on the ship, and then a variety of cultural experiences when you go to a dozen different countries over the course of a semester. On ship there are several activities for everyone to participate in: movie nights, seminars, the Ambassador's Ball, dances, pub nights, Sea Olympics (which is AMAZING), talent shows and coffee houses... the list goes on and on. In countries, Semester at Sea offers tours to help you get a taste of the culture, and pre-port orientations to get you acquainted with the country you are about to enter. SAS has affiliation with local organizations and universities in the different countries, allowing interactions with local students that you might not get elsewhere. On what other program can you stay in a Dalit village in India, then a few weeks later be on a homestay in Japan? The beauty of it all is that even if you don't want to participate in the organized programs SAS offers, they equip you with the tools to discover the culture, nightlife, and social scenes in each country on your own.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Semester at Sea is well-seasoned and knows what issues arise. They have well-qualified doctors and nurses on board, and make sure students take the proper medication when traveling to various countries (we had Malaria medication reminders, for example). They helped students seek out dentists or other specialty doctors in country when it was necessary. Health and safety is always the number one priority, and SAS made sure we were well equipped with the knowledge we needed to protect ourselves the entire duration of the voyage.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)