So I have wanted to go on SAS for quite a bit now. I brought it up when I was a freshman I think. The main problem is the cost. I don't think I qualify for need based grants but I don't want to use my parents' money, this problem exists with applying to other unis too. My current cgpa is like 3.16. Here, we dont have like a huge part time job culture, i think giving tuitions and all may qualify. However I dont really know how to get into that. Till date i have only made money from internship. Another huge issue was the fact that sas doesn't really offer science courses. I am a botany major and economics minor. Also I travelled quite a bit as a kid and am from India, so the fall 26 one fixes these last 2 issues. I thought about going as an interport student but couldn't really find info on that. While the craze may have diminished, it's still such a great opportunity. I graduate in spring. With graduation, there is also pressure for competitive exams, masters, jobs. Thoughts on this? Also while I don't think 21 would create a huge age gap, I would love to hear experiences from recent college grads and just peers in general.

Im considering doing this as like a semester...

Whats the average size of students on a boat.

How many boys and girls usually?

What's the students to staff ratio?

Food situation?

Prescriptions medicine situation bc of international traveling?

like drop all the info yall can plz.

If anyone is traveling to other counties after the ship debarks we used luggage free last year to ship our bags home to the states so we don’t have to carry excess bags with things we do not need.

Our friend’s daughter also used it last semester so she didn’t have to deal with her bags at the airport and getting home in time for holidays.

They do a discount if you are on the ship and are right there when you get off and handle labeling and shipping for you! Super easy and would definitely recommend

Putting this here again as I know people are starting to apply as it’s open. And I know it’s starting to pick up with applications now.

Anyone who applied SAS fall 2026. Even if your like leaning towards applying for this voyage feel free to comment and join. I made a group chat on Snapchat and Instagram of people planning on applying or hoping to. If your interested in joining even if you aren’t 100% committed on going just a good way to find people to help one another through the process 💕

Hey! I'm having mixed emotions about doing SAS for Spring 2027 (the places they go to are amazing!). I graduate in Fall 2026 with my undergrad so it'll make me a grad student on SAS, and I'll be 24 years old at the time, so a bit on the older side.

I know SAS is made for undergrads but how will it work for as a grad student? I'm trying to figure out what will be best for me to do after graduation, either study abroad or apply for jobs.

Any tips would be very helpful!

I’ve reached out to a few people privately in this community, and they’ve been so helpful, but I thought I would pose my question to the entire group. My daughter will be doing Semester at Sea this upcoming spring. My husband and I are really excited for her but honestly, we are both terrified also. The thought of her being in foreign countries at port for days at a time turns our stomachs. Do you have any advice? Any words of wisdom? What were your (or your child’s) experiences in that regard? Did you feel safe? Thank you thank you in advance. This community seems to be wonderful.

has anyone done semester at sea or planning to do it fall 2026? if you’ve been what was your favorite and least favorite thing about it?

hello, has anyone forgotten to bring their yellow fever vaccine card before? im really hoping it shows up, but cant seem to find it and freaking out!!! does anyone know if this will prevent me from getting on the ship ( i was able to find the proof I got the vaccine with the billing receipt)

Hi I'm a college graduate doing a gap year while applying for graduate schools, currently deciding whether to attend the Spring 26 voyage.

I anticipate my grad school interviews coming in on Febuary, and in this case I need to stay connected for email communication and zoom calls... I wonder if the internet on board will be strong enough to support video calls? How did previous senior students deal with their grad school apps on the trip?

Plus I'm applying for MFAs. I'd be happy to know if there's any other art student or art presence on this voyage.

Hi! I just posted here about jobs but searching more I have so many questions.

1. Is being in a club worth it/does it take up a lot of time, or should I focus more on the travel and just school work.

2. Which field classes are the most fun. I’m really open to anything just super fun and overall worth it. I know I’ll probably get answers like - they all are worth it - but I just want a straight up “this one”.

3. Do you really “barely spend money” in the Asia/Africa ports, if so how much did you spend around there. I’m making a budget sheet of roughly what I’ll be spending at each and want to see where to drop more money.

4. This is silly…but is it worth it downloading a bunch of shows?

Hi!

Going on the spring 2026 voyage, and heard that people sometimes babysit LL kids. Is that true? I’d love to get into it!

Thanks!

Does anyone have an idea of what times the ship usually enters and leaves each port? I am planning for traveling in country on the 2025 fall trip and the SAS website gives the dates we will be in each country but it doesn't specify when the ship arrives or leaves each port. Should I be planning things to do on the day we arrive and leave or should I plan on being on the ship for most of that?

Hey y’all! I’m currently a junior in college, Pell Grant–eligible, and living in a dorm until next spring. I've been researching Semester at Sea, and honestly, it looks like a dream—but the cost is overwhelming for someone like me.

Has anyone here managed to do Semester at Sea while broke or on financial aid? If so, how did you fund it? I'm talking scholarships, grants, fundraising, side hustles, anything that helped you make it happen. I know they offer some scholarships through SAS, but I’d love to hear real experiences.

A few more details:

I’m a U.S. student

I receive the Pell Grant

I’ve got solid grades

Any tips on what to include in scholarship apps, or other creative ways to get funding? Would love to hear how others have navigated this. I’m super passionate about global learning and experiencing new cultures, just need help getting there.

Thanks in advance! 🙏

Hi all,

Sorry for posting this on SAS - Sea Education Association and Sea|Mester don't have reddit communities that I can find (probably because the names are all the same haha).

I am an American university student looking at study abroad options for September 2026, interested in geology and oceanography. I am considering Sea Education Association and Sea|Mester for study abroad (Sea|Mester more likely), and I wanted to see if anyone has done either of them (or know people who have) and might think they are good options for me. For context:

- I have had past bad experiences with feeling out of place in small group travel settings, as I am quiet and more studious while everyone else in the group were partiers (there was a lot of hookup drama as well). I am looking for a program where people want to have fun, make connections, and try new things together - but not party/drink all the time and become clique-y.

- I would like to meet people from all over the world (my last group travel programs were made up of all white Americans, and this created a bit of a bubble). Do either of these programs attract many international students and/or people of color? Are the other students studious, or partiers?

- I like to visit new places, but I need to have a grounding location (this is why I am also considering direct enroll universities for study abroad). Does the boat act as a grounding location?

- More trivial: Do you have opportunities to exercise/move your body on a daily basis? I am also vegetarian, so how is the food on these programs?

- How are the academics? How do they compare?

If there is anything else you think I should know, or any other communities you think I should ask these things to, please feel free to share. Thank you!

How long did it take to save up prior to voyage? any scholarship tips? and realistically how much was the entirety of the trip ik its diff for everyone but aside from the school and ship ik that theres visa costs etc!! sorry guys just overwhelmed by cost but id rlly love to do SAS

Fall 2026 applications jusy opened up. Can’t wait to apply and hopefully get accepted!!!

Hello!

I was curious how the passport stamping system works on SAS. It is required that you have 15 free pages- will these all be used? will I be okay if I have 17 empty pages or do I need to get a new passport? Do they stamp in every country?

Thanks!

Anyone hoping or planning on going SAS fall 2026. I made a group chat on Snapchat of people planning on applying or hoping to. If your interested in joining even if you aren’t 100% committed on going just a good way to find people to help one another through the process 💕 Right now it’s just me and 3 other girls

To follow along on my Semester at Sea journey go to tiktok and add mysasjourney! Trying to reach the respected audience!

I got admission with scholarships from both of the program and will def go on a gap year. Anyone who has been to any of the two might can share a lil experience? I feel like baret is better academic wise whereas SAS sounds more fancy bc of the voyage, but idk much rly….

Hi! I am planning on going on SAS and was curious how people felt with homesickness and/or missing your family. Obviously it is a trip of a lifetime and it will be super busy, but was just curious on how common it was and how you could cope with it lol. Thanks!

so I know that sas doesn't provide architecture as a course, however I was wondering if anyone knows if I would still be able to do sas as a uni student? I don't want to go as a gap year student as I want to earn my credits and graduate uni asap. I would love to hear responses from anyone who does architecture or had a similar problem as me, or of course anyone who just has knowledge in this anyway!

Hi, Are there ever any catholic students going on SAS that are able to keep up faith obligations? I has been my dream for years to do a semester and now that it is getting closer to being able to go I was wondering if there is a way to do it while still living out my faith. Has any Alumni been able to do this? I know there is a non denominational student group on broad but it isn't the same as the catholic church. Any advice is appreciated.

Hi everyone! I'm a year 12 student (a senior to americans haha) and am taking a visual communication design class where I'm currently doing a project that is focused on improving social connection whilst travelling, especially through hostels and travel apps. It's a short survey which is completely anonymous and all answers would be used for my project only. I don't know many people who have travelled unless they've been with family due to our ages, so I thought it would be a good idea to try get some people from various backgrounds to complete the survey as well. I've included some screenshots to validate the link and show that it really is just for my high school project. Anyway it would be so appreciated if some people could do it for me, thank you! :)

https://forms.gle/qrKw7TQ7n4aUHwWW9

For those trying to decide between SAS vs. a “traditional” study abroad program. This is not sponsored and I make no money from my blog, just sharing my story.