Spring 2026 | Journey to Asia, Africa, and Europe
Exploring countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, this voyage gives participants a truly impactful study abroad adventure on our floating college!
Sailing with Semester at Sea is a life-changing adventure that takes you around the globe aboard our floating college, sharing experiences with a close-knit living and learning community. If you’re interested in joining our Spring 2024 Voyage, here’s everything you need to know about admissions and financial aid.
97%
of voyagers
say SAS was their most significant college experience
42%
of voyagers
spend extended time living abroad after SAS
73%
of voyagers
experience long-term positive impact
22%
of voyagers
go on to work outside the United States
Find your voyager type and click to learn about specific admissions requirements.
Recent high school graduates who are interested in sailing before enrolling full-time at an undergraduate institution
Students who are enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program at an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university
Students who have recently completed their undergraduate studies and wish to extend their learning
Each semester, the Institute for Shipboard Education and Semester at Sea offer scholarships, need-based grants, and merit grants to make it possible for more students to set sail and join our living and learning community. Even students who don’t receive financial aid at their home colleges or universities may qualify for funding assistance through Semester at Sea.
10+ Destinations
Experience life in more countries than any other study abroad program.
Shipboard Life
With the ship as your home, you’ll be part of an amazing community of learners.
College Credit
Keep your goals on track and earn up to 15 credits from a top-ranked university.
Global Experience
Become a citizen of the world and develop a comparative understanding of global cultures.
Because of Semester at Sea I have learned to believe in myself regardless of the challenges, and I now fully embrace differences and view them in a positive way. SAS was just the beginning of the voyage of a lifetime for me and how I will impact this world.
One of the most valuable things I took away from my experience was the relationships I made aboard the MV Explorer, some of which I continue to connect with. They were all current college students, and offered me great advice when I began my freshman orientation during the fall after my summer voyage.
I’m just thankful that I’ve lived long enough to, climb to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa—marvel at the Taj Mahal in India—climb the Great Wall of China—almost slide down the inside of the Great Pyramid in Egypt—watch the penguins in Antarctic and swing on a vine in the Amazon with a group of Semester at Sea students…I will travel and marvel at beautiful places and people around the world, look for new friends, send cards to my family and five great grandchildren, hoping it will instill in them the desire to meet and mingle with the rest of the world.
Semester at Sea is indeed a voyage of a lifetime. The passion and professionalism of the staff, the faculty, and the crew are undeniable. I will always remember the places we visited, but more importantly, the people I met, especially the students whose unbridled enthusiasm and energy were contagious.
A lot of my personal travels and the path toward the creation of Pencils of Promise started as a student on Semester at Sea. It was not only the best, but most important thing that I’ve ever done because it set me on the path to becoming a global citizen.