



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...
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

Meredith Dungar
Participated in 2007
Meredith currently lives in Colorado, but traveling remains a strong passion, ever since studying abroad during her undergraduate degree at the Univer...

Meredith Dungar
Participated in 2007
Absolutely without a doubt, keep an open mind. Also, eat. It sounds so silly, but when you're traveling around and your blood sugar drops, I don't care who you are or who you're with, it's hard to stay nice.

Kelly Webber
Participated in 2004
While earning her degree in Marketing and German, Kelly spent her Junior year abroad in Heidelberg, Germany and aboard the USS Explorer with Semester ...

Kelly Webber
Participated in 2004
I actually had the opportunity to do two semesters abroad, so I had the best of both worlds! I studied in Heidelberg,Germany for one semester and then did Semester at Sea for my second semester of junior year. This was a great opportunity to experience one culture more in depth (my time in Heidelberg) versus the comparative nature of a multi-country program (Semester at Sea).

Dr. Katherine Zagone
Participated in 2007
Dr. Katherine M. Zagone is a naturopathic doctor and bellydancer based in San Diego, CA. She combines the mind of a doctor and the heart of a healer t...

Dr. Katherine Zagone
Participated in 2007
I've always been passionate about different healing techniques. I chose Semester at Sea because I wanted to get a taste of a number of countries so I could explore various cultural healing modalities on one trip. I also wanted to live on a ship, because, well, it's awesome. Semester at Sea allowed me the structure to get the experience and knowledge I craved without planning and paying for multiple trips.
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...
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Awards
Check out awards and recognitions Semester at Sea has received





