Unlock Your Potential: The Enduring Benefits of Semester at Sea for Lifelong Learners

Semester at Sea offers a unique opportunity to travel the world while engaging in immersive learning experiences. More than just a traditional cruise, it's a chance to broaden your horizons, connect with diverse cultures, and become part of a vibrant, intergenerational community. The Lifelong Learning program specifically caters to adult learners, providing enriching experiences and lasting benefits.

A Voyage of Discovery: What Makes Semester at Sea Unique?

Semester at Sea offers a distinctive approach to global education, setting it apart from typical travel experiences. When you sail with Semester at Sea, you are at the helm, charting your own course for personal and intellectual growth. Unlike a traditional cruise, Semester at Sea is a floating campus that fosters a unique living and learning environment. Participants take classes from award-winning professors and engage in lively conversations, building lifelong bonds within a diverse shipboard community.

The Lifelong Learning Program: Education for All Ages

The Semester at Sea Lifelong Learning Program provides adult learners, who are 30 years of age or older, with an opportunity to join the SAS academic community. One of the most appealing aspects of Semester at Sea is its inclusivity. Did you know that you can sail with your children, ages 5-17, as Lifelong Learners? Families can select large suites that accommodate parents and up to two children, or select separate cabins for parents and children. Lifelong Learner children and grandchildren participate together with the children of faculty and staff in the onboard Dependent Children’s Program, a unique learning cooperative. Children of all ages will gain insight into college curriculum and learn from the inter-generational shipboard community.

Lifelong Learners add a valuable generational element to the shipboard community. They are retirees, professionals on leave, or simply adventurous travelers who desire to study with bright, enthusiastic undergraduate students from around the world.

Immersive Learning Experiences

Semester at Sea’s global comparative study abroad program is enhanced by a robust academic program led by a team of academic experts from renowned institutions around the world. During the 100+ day voyage, students can earn 12-15 credits from Colorado State University, while taking major or elective courses, drawn for 20-25 fields of study. Each Semester at Sea course, except for Global Studies, includes a day-long, in-country Field Class. These instructor-led, experiential programs are uniquely designed to bring course concepts to life.

Read also: Explore Global Opportunities

Field Programs: Extending Education Beyond the Classroom

Field Programs are SAS-sponsored in-country excursions. Semester at Sea collaborates with well-known, trusted, and insured in-country providers to offer Field Programs in each port stop at an additional cost. Field Programs range in cost and duration and are optional for all voyagers. Many Lifelong Learners choose a balance between Field Program participation or planning their own travel in port.

Community and Connection

The Semester at Sea shipboard community is unlike any other. To grow, learn, and see the world from a new perspective is not always easy. At times, you will be uncomfortable. At times, so will everyone else. Be curious, get involved, and attend evening seminars and programs. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to stretch yourself.

The Extended Family Program: Building Bonds that Last

Lifelong Learners, faculty, staff, and students have the unique opportunity to join the Extended Family Program on their voyage. The program allows Lifelong Learners and other adult passengers to “adopt” a group of students, with the intent of serving as mentors, providing support, and establishing an extended family on the ship. The Extended Family Program has resulted in many long-standing friendships long after voyages have concluded.

Shipboard Activities: Engaging and Enriching

Every day at sea, there is a seminar organized by the Lifelong Learning Voyage Coordinator. The seminars are designed to be of particular interest to the Lifelong Learner community. They may include presentations from faculty, staff, crew members, or even one of your Lifelong Learner peers. Join in our Neptune Day festivities when we cross the equator. Show your strength during the Sea Olympics. Participate in the talent show, holiday festivities, and dances! What are you good at? Lead an evening seminar to others related to your career or hobby. Volunteer your time to help the school-aged “ship kids” with schoolwork or arts and crafts activities.

Life Onboard the MV World Odyssey

The MV World Odyssey has operated as the SAS campus since 2015. The World Odyssey is a medium-sized vessel and can carry up to about 700 passengers. The ship offers a unique living and learning environment. Between adjusting to classes, meeting new friends, and tackling global issues, you will discover the joys of shipboard life. Our ship environment is similar to a small liberal arts campus - the ideal place where students and professors live, work, and socialize together.

Health and Safety: A Top Priority

public health requirements, as well as all other statutory standards. The health and safety of all our voyagers is our number one priority! Semester at Sea and the captain and crew of the MV World Odyssey take health and safety very seriously. The ship offers a medical clinic with basic diagnostic services, over-the-counter medications, and limited prescriptions. There are 4-6 medical professionals on each voyage and one is on-call 24/7, even while the ship is in port. There are also two mental health counselors available to all voyagers.

Cabin Options: Comfort and Convenience

Semester at Sea has a variety of cabin options available to Lifelong Learners, ranging from single cabins to more spacious options that accommodate a family of four. Lifelong Learner cabins are typically located on Deck 8 alongside other non-student cabins. We have a variety of cabin options to meet every traveler’s needs. Most Lifelong Learner cabins offer an ocean view and a French balcony, and all cabins come equipped with a telephone, safe, refrigerator, and hair dryer.

Here's a glimpse at some of the cabin options:

484 Sq. Can accommodate families with two adults and two children.
323 Sq. Reservation priority given to families with two adults/two children.
242 Sq. Enjoy luxurious accommodations!
204 Sq. Travel in style!
161 Sq.
129 Sq.
115 Sq. For the savvy traveler, our Economy single cabins offer porthole views, single twin bed, desk and chair, shower, closets, television, telephone, refrigerator, safe and hair dryer.
90 Sq. Also for the savvy traveler, our Economy inside cabin (sans window) offers a single twin bed, desk and chair, shower, closets, television, telephone, refrigerator, safe and hair dryer.

Dining and Amenities: A Comfortable Voyage

Three meals per day are included in your voyage fee, even when the ship is in port. Vegetarian options are available at every meal, and other dietary restrictions are generally accommodated. Access to ship amenities includes the gym, pool, fine dining, spa, salon*, and more!

Staying Connected: Internet Access

The MV World Odyssey is equipped with internet access for all voyagers. All voyagers will receive 100 megabytes per day. The shipboard network provides access to resources needed for courses and submitting assignments. There is a basic file-sharing system, print management, learning management system, direct messaging/discussion platform, and intranet information site. Internet access is provided but with restrictions. Our floating college has wireless available in most areas of the ship that allows access to the ship’s intranet and Internet portal.

Read also: Affording Baylor University

Voyage Cost and Financial Aid

Voyage pricing is based on cabin type and single or double occupancy. Rates for Lifelong Learners are based on cabin type and single or double occupancy. Rates for children are based on age and cabin arrangement.

The anticipated fuel fee based on our initial cost projections is included in your voyage fee. However, Semester at Sea reserves the right to add an additional charge or refund a portion of the fuel fee with notice given no later than 30 days prior to departure. Semester at Sea, like any company, sets up a yearly budget based largely on estimates of fixed and variable costs with some room for variation. We are directly impacted from time to time just as everyone is in the travel industry and the maritime industry in particular, with periodic and significant overall increases in our fuel prices. Depending on each port’s regulatory and environmental requirements, we have to consider at least two different types and grades of fuel, each with significantly different price points. Political unrest in certain parts of the world, as well as periodic natural disasters, also can contribute to increasing and unpredictable volatility as well, which in turn lends to overall instability and unpredictability in fuel prices. Fuel charges remain a material component of our overall cost structure.

ISE offers a variety of need-based financial awards. Students who qualify for federal aid and loans can also receive ISE assistance. For federal aid and loans you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on your home campus. For international students, please complete the ISE International Student Aid form, found in your student portal. Semester at Sea financial aid deadlines are typically 3.5 months prior to voyage embarkation date.

Booking Your Voyage

Voyages are typically available for reservation about 18 months prior to the start of the voyage. The average Lifelong Learner selects their itinerary and makes a deposit between 6-12 months out, to allow for all the preparation that goes into a voyage. As soon as you are academically admitted, please submit your deposit within 30 days of admission. The deposit is applied against the tuition and fees for the semester. At this time, we offer a Loyalty Award to alumni (of any kind) who are sailing a full voyage as a Lifelong Learner. Alumni who have only sailed on an Enrichment Voyage, Maymester, Reunion/Homecoming voyage, or any of the Forum on Global Engagement voyages are not eligible for a loyalty award. Lifelong Learners should notify the Director of Lifelong Learning upon reservation in order to confirm their previous participation on a voyage.

Prior to fall and spring departures, refund of all payments, with the exception of the application fee (not applicable to Lifelong Learners), will be made for written cancellations or transfers received no later than the 90-day payment due date before the beginning of the voyage. Cancellations received after the 90-day payment due date before the start of the voyage will automatically result in forfeiture of the deposit made at the time of confirmation of acceptance in the Program.

Global Itinerary: Exploring Diverse Cultures

Join Semester at Sea as we sail to countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. With guided Field Programs and plenty of opportunities for in-country travel on your own or with fellow SAS voyagers, you’ll explore your interests and deepen your understanding of the world. Semester at Sea ports of call in Vietnam include Ho Chi Minh City. Field Program options include cruising down the Mekong Delta or having a homestay with a local family. Semester at Sea ports of call in India include Chennai, Kochi, and Mumbai. Field Program options include multi-day trips to Mumbai, the Taj Mahal, New Delhi, and more. Semester at Sea ports of call in Kenya include Mombasa. Semester at Sea ports of call in South Africa include Cape Town. Semester at Sea ports of call in Ghana include Tema and Takoradi. Semester at Sea ports of call in Morocco include Casablanca and Tangier. Semester at Sea ports of call in Germany include Bremerhaven.

Potential Itinerary Adjustments

As we have been operating shipboard voyages since 1963, we’ve learned that itineraries are subject to adjustment. More than half of our voyages have required some deviation from the planned itinerary. The need to change an itinerary prior to and/or during a voyage can arise due to a number of factors: weather, political unrest, and other health and safety considerations. Should there be a need to adjust our published plans, we have identified potential diversion ports in each region of our expected travel.

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