life changing experience April 02, 2026

By A student (University of Colorado - Boulder) - abroad from 09/11/2025 to 12/22/2025 with

Semester at Sea Study Abroad: Make the World Your Campus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was 1000% worthwhile. Money comes back, experiences don't so take advantage of the time you have, be independent and do/see what interests you the most. Nothing is exactly how it seems, you can always zoom in more.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The courses were difficult in that they were very focused on international issues/subjects, something that US universities don't necessarily focus on. The professors did understand and want us to enjoy our time in country though so work loads were manageable. Many resources and textbooks needed to be downloaded or prepared ahead of time so think ahead!
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	All of my in country experiences were great and the field programs for classes were very well-rounded with many different activities.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	My cabin and roommate were perfect, exactly what was expected!
* Food:	Although pasta and potatoes did get old, thats ship life! And there were always other options.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I felt immersed in every country we went to, and there was always space and time to take a break on the ship if it became overwhelming.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I had not health issues while aboard but the ship doctors were all very nice and cared so much about our safety and well-being.
* Safety:	The admin and ship crew were very safety focused and made sure we were well equipped on and off the ship for any emergencies and issues.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes The perspectives that I gained and the people I met are unforgettable. I will always miss the ship, the countries, and the cultures. The people make the place, and the best part is that the people are just as excited to see the world as you are.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget? (1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)	I think this totally depends on the type of person you are. I am someone who came in with the mindset of "money will come back experiences won't", not to say i wasn't concisous about spending, becuase I was, but I also knew that somethings would never happen again and if it was more expensive then it is what it is.There are ways to save though: don't get snack bar and grill food for every meal, don't over sign-up for field programs, and don't spend too much time in the salon/spa.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	In country i spent anywhere from $90-$400, depending on conversions, what was planned, and length of time in the country.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I listed most of them above, and mainly just think ahead and be smart. lots of countries have a bargaining culture so (kindly and respectfully) take advantage of that.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Other Hotel Hostel
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students Other
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	the culture that we made on the ship, it was the best port how well we were briefed before each country how each class had a field class, it was a whole new type of hands-on learning
* What could be improved?	the food, like i said, can get old and it part of ship life when youre at sea for 9+ days! the wifi/internet is very limited and defiantly added a challenge to register for classes for the next semester
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	It is 100% okay to want to travel/do activities on your own, be independent and don't let yourself miss out on things you're excited about just because no one wants to go with you.