Study Abroad Programs in Road Town, British Virgin Islands

My Seamester trip was genuinely the best 20 days of my life! My biggest regret was not doing a longer trip with them. It was crazy how much I got to experience in just these 20 days. I learned how to scuba dive and got to dive in some of the most stunning dive sites in the Caribbean. I learned responsibility, as we got the opportunity to be full-immersed in sailing an 88-foot schooner. And I learned how to live and work well with others in very close quarters. The friends I made on this trip will be my friends for a lifetime. Seamester does a really good job of cultivating an environment where you work hard and play hard. Additionally, the staff were the most patient, kind, selfless and hard working people I have ever met. I really trusted them to keep us safe, and I learned so much from them. They are amazing role models and had everyone's best interest in mind at all times. I seriously could not recommend this program enough, the only thing I would do differently is never leave :)

My biggest takeaway, besides the incredible places we visited and sailing, was how inspiring the staff was! I loved meeting new people and hearing about how their paths brought them to Sea|Mester!! It truly opened new pathways that I hadn't imagined, knowing that I could have those experiences too. I had the best time exploring different islands and learning so much about sailing a big boat! My biggest excitement was that every day was a new adventure. I learned so much in just a short amount of time and would highly recommend this program!! (Although my one regret is that I didn't do a longer trip!)

I have recommended the experience to everyone I know. My only regret is that I didn’t go longer. The staff before the trip and on board were so incredibly helpful. Overall I made friendships and memories to last a lifetime. I loved every moment!

Being on Seamester was such an amazing experience in so many ways. From learning how to scuba dive to being completely under sail for the first time, I was able to learn so many new things and fall in love with boat life. The community was one of the best parts of the trip. Since we all are with each other pretty much 24/7 it’s easy to create really close relationships. Overall, the trip was amazing, the only thing I wish that was different was that I chose a longer trip

The hardest question after returning from this trip is "What was your favorite part?". The only answer is EVERYTHING. Everyday on Ocean Star is absolutely incredible and just when you think you've seen it all it only gets better! Living onboard with your fellow students, you will get to experience the trip as a working member of the crew. That's right, This is NOT a cruise ship. Be prepared for dance parties while cooking in the galley, cleaning the saloon and heads, and getting your hands dirty hauling lines and flaking the anchor chain. Within 3 days, every person on the boat will feel like family and by the end you will have up to 15 lifelong friends. The Seamester staff are AMAZING! They care so much about every student and want to see each person thrive. They provide top of the line medical care and good medical facilities were easily accessible everywhere we went (speaking from personal injury experience). If you, or your parents, are concerned about storms, they closely monitor the weather and will alter the course or the schedule if necessary to make sure the conditions are safe. I came into this program with next to no sailing or diving experience (as did the majority of the students on my trip) and I never felt behind at all. We started with basic sailing 101 for everyone and slowly built our skills from there. In a few short weeks, you'll have a brand new boat vocabulary and be confident enough to take the helm on passage! The 80 days I spent on Ocean Star were some of the best days of my life! We went horseback riding on the beach in Nevis, toured a chocolate factory in Grenada, found the geckos on Union Island, visited a mud bath in St. Lucia, went canyoning in Guadeloupe, dove with reef sharks in Saba, and so much more! This experience was better than I could have ever dreamed. If you are adventurous, hard working, open minded and up for any challenge, then this program is for you. Apply! I promise you will regret it if you don't!

Seamester was definitely one of the best experiences of my life! This is not a luxurious sailing program (there’s no crew to sail you from place to place or cook for you), but that makes it so much better. Learning to sail while actually living on a boat was amazing. You can look forward to swimming in the ocean every day, getting really close with your fellow crew, and making so many cool memories!!

Every day was different from the last and the constant adventure is something I will never forget! The students and staff onboard were all fantastic and I made some of the best friends ever in such a short period of time. I wish I had done the 90-day voyage but I think even after that I would be wanting more.

Seamester provided me with the best 3 weeks of my life. From the moment I stepped aboard I felt an instant connection to my crew and the staff. Throughout the 3 weeks aboard I gained a new family that I will never forget. Together we sailed to foreign shores, dove to immense depths, laughed, sang, learned and created memories a of a lifetime. The staff were incredible and knowledgeable. The places you go are nothing short of amazing, but the people you meet and the things you learn are truly the most amazing part of this experience. This trip has immensely changed my life, and while right now I am not floating in the ocean, this program has taught me to accept the uniqueness in life and to never stop seeking adventure.

It was a really great program and I got to have so many new experiences and everyone got along so well. I definitely think you have to be a specific type of person to go on this trip, you have to be very adaptable and open to new sometimes nerve racking experiences. The staff of the ocean star were amazing leaders, super interested in helping us and teaching all the new skills while also joining in on our shenanigans from time to time :) I will miss them all very much. I think the friendships made were the most valuable aspect, everyone was so supportive and protective of one another and got along so incredibly well, we all loved each other a lot after only 20 days.

I had the time of my life! What made my best time was the diversity of experiences and learnings we made and the balance between academic classes, diving, sailing, on-shore activities, free time with the crew.

This experience was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I wish that everyone would have the opportunity to do something like this, because it not only sparked my interest in pursuing a career at sea but it also gave me a sense of being able to face anything coming my way with confidence. The staff on my trip were amazing and made me feel safe and cared for. The friends I made on this trip are now some of my closest. Overall, this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and I feel so much stronger and well prepared for all that life can throw my way!

If you have the chance to go aboard with Sea|Mester, take it! I promise you won’t regret it. Yes, you may be worried since the whole idea of sailing is new and you won’t know anyone going into it, but I promise it will be the best experience of your life. Hands down, Sea|Mester is probably the best thing I have ever done. Learning to sail was a blast. I saw so many cool things scuba diving. Exploring the beautiful islands was incredible. The staff were amazing. I made friends of a lifetime. Like I said, if you have the chance, take it! You wont regret it. I wish I could do this experience over again. Almost made me want to switch from being a doctor to working as staff on one of the boats. That’s how awesome it was!

I came upon this trip due to an interest in marine biology and diving. Even if I did not have these interests I still would highly recommend going on this voyage. It was honestly the best time of my life and I met people that I will be friends with for the rest of my life. Whether it was an awesome hike or a great dive, there was never a dull moment. You will be busy, but it is a good type of busy especially when you get to hang out everyday with awesome people and staff. Got to get my rescue diving certification which is also sick and nav master license. The classes are not bad either and the staff do a great job at making them interesting. Overall, I would love to do this trip again and will do my best to make it back on a vessel like Ocean Star in the future.

My seamester voyage was remarkable. Every day brought new adventures, challenges, and opportunities to learn. I remember thinking “I could describe any day on Ocean Star to someone at home and it would seem like an adventure.” Part of the joy of the trip, maybe counterintuitively, came from having to work hard to maintain the boat, build relationships and a positive culture aboard, and meet my own personal needs in a wholly new environment. I went to bed every night tired but satisfied, and I came out of the experience proud of what I had accomplished. I made life long friends on my voyage, including the Seamester staff, who inspire me and motivate me. I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything.

I truly enjoyed my experience. The group of students I was with were caring, kind, and thoughtful of one another. The staff was incredible. Their devotion and commitment to the program and to their students is really commendable. I take my hat off to the staff who worked tirelessly to run this program, and who met the countless challenges posed before them with incredible problem solving and the most uplifting energy. Thank you for this most memorable experience, and I look forward to sharing it with my friends and family.

Seamester Study Abroad at Sea responded to this reviewOctober 05, 2021

Thanks for you review Megan. It was an absolute pleasure having you on the crew of Ocean Star during summer 2021!

Sea|Mester is a life changing opportunity. It took me to places I had never been (literally and figuratively) and had me contemplating ideas I had never considered before. I learned so much through the classes, the work on deck, the places we visited and the people I met. I came to see the world, and the ocean, differently than I had before, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do so. If you are considering doing Sea|Mester I encourage you to do so because the experience is utterly unique and indescribable. If you're willing to work hard, which is honestly the best part, do this because it is an adventure that will stay with you forever.

I studied abroad in the BVI’s to give myself a break and self-reflect. For 80 days I completely went off the grid and I reflected about what I want to accomplish my senior year of college. This program gave me all that and more, I met great people and made friends for life.

My experience with Seamester was amazing, wonderful, exciting! I could go on and on. It has been almost 2 years since my voyage and I still get so excited and happy when I think back on my trip. I have done other study abroad programs where you stay in a host country, and while that type of experience is wonderful, Seamester takes it to a different level.

Seamester was the best experience of my life. I had no diving or sailing experience prior to this trip. I came out with a sailing certificate and an advanced PADI diving certificate. The friendships and experiences I had on this trip are probably going to be some of the best memories of my life. Some highlights were swimming with dolphins, hiking in the rainforest and seeing bioluminescence while sailing in the middle of the night. Words really can not describe how beneficial Seamester was for me. Anyone who has a desire to travel and seeks adventure can't afford to miss out on this study abroad program. Academics: On my program Oceanography and Seamanship were offered. The classes were so fun it hardly felt like work. Studying Oceanography while living on a boat is amazing. Oceanography had many PowerPoints and labs. The labs were mostly observation in the water while snorkeling or on a boat. There was also a group project and an individual paper. There was a midterm and a final. Grade Received: B Seamanship also had a midterm and final. Some PowerPoints but mostly everything was hands on, learning as you went. Grade received: A Living Situation: We lived on S/Y Oceanstar the entire time. In my small room there were 6 beds built into the wall and just outside our room were six more. Room was extremely tight but I give it an A+ because we were living as sailors on a sailboat. It was part of the experience and the adventure. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Cultural Immersion: My program took us to the West Indies from BVI to Dominica and islands in-between. Whenever we went to shore, which was often, we had a chance to talk to locals. Some tour guides were well known by staff that we were able to become friends with. Program Administration: Every time I came in contact with anyone from Seamester I was impressed. Emails are returned quickly. They will even talk on the phone or by email to your schools administrators to help you get situated. I felt very safe with the Oceanstar staff. They were responsible but also made the trip fun. Health and Safety: Considering the fact that we were on a sailboat in the middle of the caribbean, sometimes not even able to see land, I would say I felt very safe. We had multiple drills in case of emergency. We wore life vests during passages. Sometimes sail raises were a bit dangerous, but the staff always had a close eye on us to make sure everything was done correctly. Social Life: Our boat had 17 people. We became a family in those 40 days. With so many people in close quarters there were going to be some problems. For the most part everyone built each other up and helped whenever possible. I was most concerned about this and I ended up becoming life long friends with everyone aboard.