Semester at Sea
Why choose Semester at Sea?
Founded in 1963, Semester at Sea is the leading shipboard program for study abroad in the United States. We offer more than a hundred day voyages every spring and fall. Our program participants travel aboard the MV World Odyssey, attend classes in a closely knit environment with an international faculty, complete fieldwork and travel while in port, and earn up to 15 transferable academic credit th...
Founded in 1963, Semester at Sea is the leading shipboard program for study abroad in the United States. We offer more than a hundred day voyages every spring and fall. Our program participants travel aboard the MV World Odyssey, attend classes in a closely knit environment with an international faculty, complete fieldwork and travel while in port, and earn up to 15 transferable academic credit through Colorado State University, our academic sponsor. More than 60,000 alumni from about 1,700 different institutions have studied and traveled to more than 60 countries with Semester at Sea and its predecessor programs. We aim to educate students with the global understanding needed to address the challenges of our interdependent world. With the world as our classroom, our unique shipboard progr...
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Semester at Sea Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
DO SEMESTER AT SEA!!!
September 03, 2025by: Tristan Bartosiewicz - United StatesProgram: Semester at Sea: Global Study Abroad on a Floating CampusI just studied abroad with SAS in spring of 2025. To say this experience changed my life would be an understatement. I cannot recommend this enough. The learning opportunities are amazing, the staff and faculty do everything they can to make this your home away from home, and the traveling experiences are ONCE IN A LIFETIME!
BEST 4 MONTHS EVER!!!
August 28, 2025by: Rachel Nelson - United StatesProgram: Semester at Sea: Global Study Abroad on a Floating CampusWhen I completed Semester At Sea in the fall of 2024, it was my first time traveling over seas. Growing up going on cruise’s I was super excited to start this new journey on the floating campus. Going in knowing no one else I was nervous but soon felt so welcomed, the community on the ship is amazing. Getting to travel the world with other college kids that have the same interest as you is such a wonderful experience. The professors and other staff members are there to make your learning come to life and it was magical to watch that happen, exploring your learning in each country was eye opening. Not only getting to explore a country but 10 countries allowed for a broad variety of cultures that we get to dive into and explore was so rewarding. I would 1000% go on Semester At Sea again and would recommend it to everyone if you’re deciding to study abroad.
Life-Altering Experience!
August 26, 2025by: Cate Gardner - United StatesProgram: Semester at Sea: Global Study Abroad on a Floating CampusI don’t even know where to begin! Semester at Sea was truly a life-changing experience. There’s no other program where you can see so many different places in a single semester. For example, I visited 10 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe, experiencing diverse cultures and meeting people from all over the world. Semester at Sea also gives you incredible freedom: while docked, you can join field programs or explore each country independently. Through this journey, I not only learned about the world but also about myself. I became more independent, more confident, and gained a global perspective that has completely changed the way I see the world.
Semester at Sea Programs
Browse programs you might like
Unlike traditional study abroad or tourism experiences, Semester at Sea offers a unique opportunity for deep, authentic engagement with countries...
Unlike traditional study abroad or tourism experiences, Semester at Sea offers a unique opportunity for deep, authentic engagement with countries...
Join Semester at Sea as we go on a global journey, sailing on our floating university and making the world YOUR campus. Experience the diversity ...
Come face-to-face with diverse cultures and perspectives while sailing on our floating university! Semester at Sea brings together students from ...
Join Semester at Sea and sail on our floating university! Make the world your campus on this global journey that brings you face-to-face with div...
Make the world YOUR campus and set sail on our floating university! Semester at Sea is a global journey that brings students face-to-face with th...
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Interviews
Read interviews from alumni or staff
Emma Rattenborg
Participated in 2015
Emma was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, and currently studies comparative cultural studies at Northern Arizona University. Emma’s passion ...
Emma Rattenborg
Participated in 2015
As a comparative cultural studies major, I felt that having a cross-cultural experience was perfect for me. Not only would I be able to sail to six countries in Asia, which relates to my emphasis on Asian studies, but I would also be able to compare those places to the other countries the program would travel to. I have always had the intent to live abroad and work internationally later on in life, so I felt this was a study abroad program that would allow me to see all of the places I could potentially return to for a more extended amount of time.
Sarah Hutton
Participated in 2009
Sarah Hutton grew up outside of Washington, D.C. before relocating to Philadelphia to get her bachelor's and master's degrees. She studied abroad thro...
Sarah Hutton
Participated in 2009
I knew I wanted to study abroad from the time I was in high school. I actually turned down acceptance to certain programs when I was applying to colleges because the curriculum was so strict that it left no room for taking a semester to study abroad. I wanted to see and learn different things and meet new people with different perspectives. I had lived in the same town my whole life and was ready to experience new things; although I was close to my family and chose a college within a few hours of driving distance from my hometown, I wanted the experience of really getting out into the world for at least a semester.
Lindsey Romes
Interviewed in 2014
Prior to joining SAS, Lindsey served as Special Assistant to the Dean of Students at Regis University in Denver, CO, and worked at Ernst & Young focus...
Lindsey Romes
Interviewed in 2014
What inspired you to travel abroad?
After sailing as a staff member on the Summer 2013 voyage, I accepted a Student Affairs position with the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), the organization that runs SAS. My job is to focus on the co-curricular piece of shipboard life, including programming, community building, reflection, health and wellness, service learning, intercultural competence, and leadership and involvement. Learning happens both in and out of the classroom, and my role here contributes to the components of holistic development of all participants.
Ready to Learn More?
Founded in 1963, Semester at Sea is the leading shipboard program for study abroad in the United States. We offer more than a hundred day voyages every spring and fall. Our program participants travel aboard the MV World Odyssey, attend classes in a closely knit environment with an international faculty, complete fieldwork and travel while in port, and earn up to 15 transferable academic credit through Colorado State University, our academic sponsor. More than 60,000 alumni from about 1,700 different institutions have studied and traveled to more than 60 countries with Semester at Sea and its predecessor programs. We aim to educate students with the global understanding needed to address the challenges of our interdependent world. With the world as our classroom, our unique shipboard progr...
Semester at Sea
Semester at Sea
Ready to Learn More?
Founded in 1963, Semester at Sea is the leading shipboard program for study abroad in the United States. We offer more than a hundred day voyages every spring and fall. Our program participants travel aboard the MV World Odyssey, attend classes in a closely knit environment with an international faculty, complete fieldwork and travel while in port, and earn up to 15 transferable academic credit through Colorado State University, our academic sponsor. More than 60,000 alumni from about 1,700 different institutions have studied and traveled to more than 60 countries with Semester at Sea and its predecessor programs. We aim to educate students with the global understanding needed to address the challenges of our interdependent world. With the world as our classroom, our unique shipboard progr...
Articles
Awards
Check out awards and recognitions Semester at Sea has received
