Livin' The Suite Life

Oh ay oh! Are you a 2000s Disney Channel fan whose dream is to sail on a cruise ship, travelling the world while still receiving an education just like Zack and Cody in The Suite Life on Deck? Well, stop wishing upon a star because you can make that dream come true!

Semester at Sea (SAS) is a multi-country study abroad program where students can live the suite life, earning college credits while sailing to 10-14 different countries all in the timespan of one college semester, and this is exactly the trip I plan to take in Spring 2022. The Martin twins may have attended classes at the Seven Seas High School on the SS Tipton, but we’ll get to attend classes on the MV Odyssey, through a program that was formerly known as the University of the Seven Seas. That’s practically the same thing! Right?!

Not in college? Don’t worry and don’t stop reading because Semester at Sea also provides the opportunity for people of any age to sail as Lifelong Learners! This is a once-in-a-lifetime, dream trip available to anyone! If you’re a professor, you could even apply to teach some of the classes on board! The students need a Mrs. Tutweiller (or a few), of course.

As mentioned previously, I plan to live the suite life in Spring 2022. However, Semester at Sea is offered every year in the Fall and Spring, with a different itinerary for each trip, so you can really make sure your voyage meets your wants and needs. My itinerary encompasses 14 unique places and lasts from January 5 to April 20, 2022. Let’s check it out!

The Itinerary

January 5 - Tokyo, Japan (Embarkation)

We embark in Tokyo, Japan on January 5. Since this is only the departure port, I plan to arrive a few days early to check out Tokyo Disneyland, a hedgehog cafe, and of course, the local culture and cuisine.

January 11-16 - Port of Shanghai, China

The next stop is Port of Shanghai, China where opportunities for exploration and knowledge include visiting the Great Wall, visiting a Tibetan monastery, observing and learning about monks, or just experiencing the city life in Shanghai.

January 22-26 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

After about a week at sea, we will port in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the largest city in Vietnam. Perfect for economics and management students, Ho Chi Minh city is the economic and financial center of Vietnam. But there are excursions here for everyone! If you're looking to add one more country to your list, traveling into Cambodia from Vietnam is easy, and the temples of Angkor Wat are a popular location for tourists!

January 30-February 2 - Port of Surabaya, Indonesia

Geographers are sure to love Port of Surabaya, Indonesia as it is an archipelago on the Equator off the coast of Southeast Asia. Here, you can tour a cigarette factory, visit Chinatown, visit Mount Bromo, and more!

February 5-7 - Singapore, Singapore

Perhaps one of the busiest ports of call due to its reliance on international trade, a visit to Singapore is up next. Though Buddhism is the most popular, people of many different religions live in Singapore, so popular excursions here include visiting the various Buddhist and Hindu temples, Catholic churches, Muslim mosques, etc. Viewing the Singapore city skyline, botanical gardens and parks, World War II sites and memorials, and going on a nighttime safari are just a few of the other experiences available to voyagers.

February 13-17 - Port of Cochin, India

In India, voyagers will have yet another chance to learn about various religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. You might also be able to take a traditional Indian dance class, such as a class in Kathakali, Sattriya, or Manipuri.

February 23 - Port Louis, Mauritius

Though we will only be here for one day, Port Louis offers views of beautiful flora and fauna, and opportunities for kayaking in the beautiful coastal seas.

March 2-6 - Port of Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town offers the Table Mountains, perfect for hiking, horseback riding, safaris, and more. The wildlife here is astonishing, but students also have the opportunity for engaging with local entrepreneurs in Cape Town.

March 11 - Port of Jamestown, St. Helena (UK)

Though it's in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, St. Helena is a British territory! Most of the population is Anglican, and the port was discovered in May 1502 by Spanish navigator Joao da Nova.

March 17-21 - Port of Salvador, Brazil

Next, we head to yet another continent, South America! In Salvador, Brazil, you can explore cobblestone alleys, baroque churches, and plenty of colorful buildings.

March 31-April 4 - Port of Casablanca, Morocco

Perhaps the port that I most look forward to personally, Casablanca, Morocco serves as another beautiful port of call. Between Algeria and the Western Sahara, a popular excursion here is venturing out to ride camels!

April 7-9 - Port of La Coruna, Spain

La Coruna, Spain, a city diverse in its peoples, landscapes, art, cuisine, and more, serves as another culture-rich port of call. Overnight trips to Sevilla, Granada, and Madrid are available to explore all of the unique gardens, cathedrals, and other cultural sites.

April 12-14 - Dublin, Ireland

The final stop before disembarkation is Dublin, Ireland. This one is for the history-junkies as it is home to where Celtic tribes lived between 600 and 150 BC, where Anglo-Irish rebellions began in the 12th century, and where guerrilla warfare was heavily used in the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising.

April 20 - Bremerhaven, Germany (Disembarkation)

The journey ends in Bremerhaven, Germany where once again, you will have to plan ahead if you want to stay a few extra days before returning home in order to experience sites and activities such as visiting the German Maritime Museum or trying an authentic Bratwurst.

This Boat’s Rockin’ (Courses)

No matter your age, major, or class year, this program has rockin’ courses. From Introduction to Cultural Anthropology to Oceanography to Documentary Film as a Liberal Art to 20th Century Pop Culture Theatre, nobody gets left out when it comes to SAS’s course offerings. There are over 70 classes offered on each voyage, and what is even better is that each course includes an in-country Field Class, where you’ll have a day-long excursion in one of the countries during the voyage to allow for a more in-depth study of course curriculum in a real-life situation abroad. Some examples may be kayaking through mangroves to study the ecology of the species that grow there for your oceanography class, exploring an ancient castle and creating a documentary about it for your film class, or attending a local dance or theatrical performance for your theatre seminar. The opportunities are endless!

Programs, Extracurriculars, and… the Suites!

Outside of class, SAS makes sure there are ample opportunities for self-expression and for taking a break when you’re burnt out from studying. There is a student band on board, a cappella groups, art clubs, intramural sports, LGBTQA groups, an entrepreneurship club, insight lectures about future ports of call, and so much more! And if the club you are looking for is not offered, gather some friends of similar interests, and create it!

Beyond clubs, SAS offers programming days where students have no classes and can enjoy films, seminars, etc, or a themed day of events such as the Sea Olympics, Neptune Day, or the Talent Show. While the Sea Olympics, where students take part in a variety of mental and physical challenges, and the Talent Show, where voyagers and crew can show off their special skills, are fairly self-explanatory, Neptune Day is quite an odd event, where much of the traditions remain a secret until you are on board experiencing them for yourself! The day celebrates crossing the equator for the first time on the voyage, and the main highlight of the day is known as participants paying homage to King Neptune by kissing a fish!

When it’s time to settle in for the night to study or go to bed after enjoying the ocean breeze, or these crazy activities, you will still truly be living the “suite life” in your cabin, which has its own private bathroom. You can room in two or three-occupant rooms, indoor or “outdoor” where your cabin has a window so you can always view the beautiful ocean. Lifelong Learners even have the option of rooming in a single-occupancy suite by themselves!

Whichever voyage you take, whichever courses you study, whichever cabin you choose, and whichever way the wind blows, I say, “hey, ho, let’s go” rock the whole world round. It is sure to be an action-packed adventure full of learning about new cultures, new subjects, trying new cuisines, experiencing new traditions, and more.

So… “come along with me, let’s head out to *sea* what this world has for you and for me, now...” during our Semester at Sea. 😉

SAS Website: https://www.semesteratsea.org/

SAS Spring 2022 Voyage: https://www.semesteratsea.org/voyages/spring-2022/

This post is in no way sponsored by or affiliated with Semester at Sea or Disney Channel. All thoughts and opinions included are my own.