I went on Semester at Sea 3 years ago, and students on the current voyage agree cruise travel is still the best way to study abroad

Maria NoyenFeb 8, 2022, 22:34 IST

Semester at Sea is a once in a lifetime study abroad experience.Courtesy of Natalia Noyen

My older sister inspired me to go on Semester at Sea after she told me about her 2011 voyage.
I got to experience it for myself in spring 2018 and traveled to 11 countries in just 3 months.

I went on Semester at Sea in the spring of 2018, after being inspired by my older sister who did the program seven years beforehand.

Semester at Sea is probably the coolest thing I've ever done.Maria Noyen/Insider

My voyage kicked off in San Diego and I ended up visiting 11 countries in the span of just over three months.

I loved getting to travel so widely within a short span of time.

One of our last stops was in Ghana.Luke Hyce/Semester at Sea

My favorite memories are from being on the ship with the people I met along the way.

Gathering up on deck to see the first sunset at sea was tradition.Luke Hyce/Semester at Sea

But the last few years have been tough for people wanting to go on the program — my younger sister had her own voyage cut short in March 2020.

My sister Nati still has great memories from her time even though her voyage was cancelled midway through.Maria Noyen/Insider

Until January 2022, there'd been no other Semester at Sea voyages.

Because there's been so long of a wait, voyagers today are even more excited about the prospect of travel than I was four years ago.

COVID-19 meant they needed to prepare more extensively than I did.

Students on my voyage touring Honolulu, Hawaii.Luke Hyce/Semester at Sea

Students on the current voyage also need to be ready for more unpredictable itinerary changes than I experienced.

Students on my voyage had less changes to anticipate.Luke Hyce/Semester at Sea

There are also fewer voyagers this semester than there were on mine.

One night the lights of the ship were dimmed and we all got to stargaze in the middle of the ocean.Luke Hyce/Semester at Sea

The program still requires everyone to take certain courses, including global studies.

Since the current voyage won't cross the equator, students won't experience the wackiest part of the journey: Neptune Day.

Everyone drenched in fake "fish guts" then jumped in the pool.Luke Hyce/Semester at Sea

But they will likely get to experience Sea Olympics day and the Alumni Ball.

Sea Olympics was taken quite seriously.Luke Hyce/Semester at Sea

Everyone still has their favorite dining hall on the ship.

Teachers on my voyage sitting on the Lido deck.Luke Hyce/Semester at Sea

And even though travel has changed, the excitement about visiting your dream destination is still very alive.

Japan was the second country we visited and felt like a completely different world.Maria Noyen/Insider

If there's anything you'd like to know about SAS, let me know, or follow the journey of current voyagers like Blake documenting the experience on YouTube.

Ask me any questions about Semester at Sea!Maria Noyen/Insider

I'm a gay travel writer and think these are the 5 safest, most queer-friendly Caribbean travel destinations

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