My Semester at Sea Journey

Imagine yourself waking up in a whole new country, let alone a continent, about to step foot on a ship with 500 other college students about to travel to 11 countries while taking college classes for a semester. 

That was my reality on September 9, 2022, when I boarded the MV World Odyssey in Amsterdam to begin what would become the most transformative few months of my life. I was just beginning college, but instead of walking onto a campus, I walked onto a floating university. The classrooms had windows that looked out over the ocean. Our gym swayed with the waves. The pool deck doubled as our hangout space and our study spot. The world became both my school and my playground.

Over the next 106 days, I visited Portugal (Lisbon), Morocco (Casablanca), Spain (Valencia), Croatia (Dubrovnik), Greece (Piraeus), Cyprus (Limassol), Jordan (Aqaba), Kenya (Mombasa), India (Mumbai), and finally, the UAE (Dubai). We spent four to seven days in each country, enough time to immerse ourselves in new cultures and make memories I’ll never forget. In Portugal, my friends and I bussed down to Lagos and stayed in an 8-room hostel, living our best spontaneous backpacker lives. We took a ferry to Mykonos, explored the Great Walls of Dubrovnik, and even squeezed in a 15 hour adventure to Ibiza.

In Morocco, I had the chance to speak with the Vice President of the House of Representatives, an experience that made me realize just how unique Semester at Sea really was. It wasn’t just about sightseeing; it was about connecting, learning, and growing. In Jordan, I snorkeled in the Red Sea for a class and helped film a TV episode. Seeing Petra in person felt surreal. Then there was the 10 day stretch between Jordan and Kenya, our longest sea span, where the ocean became our classroom and our campus life really came alive.

In Kenya, I went on a safari and saw elephants, giraffes, and lions in their natural habitat. It felt like something straight out of a documentary. And in India, standing in front of the Taj Mahal was a moment of pure awe, a bucket list item I never expected to check off during my first semester of college.

While each country offered unforgettable experiences, the real magic happened on the ship. Ship life was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The crew members were some of the kindest people I’ve ever met, each with amazing stories and hearts of gold. I was part of a "ship family," a program that paired students with faculty or staff to create a home-like connection. 

There were also lifelong learners on board, adults who joined the voyage for the adventure and learning experience. Their stories and wisdom added a depth to our conversations that you don’t typically find in a college setting.

I made some of my best friends on that ship. We studied together, ate meals in the dining hall, played volleyball on the deck, danced at the deck 9 pool parties, turned from pollywogs to shellbacks when crossing the equator, and watched sunsets that looked like they were painted across the sky. Even though we came from different places, we shared something rare and unforgettable, a semester unlike any other.

Looking back, those three months didn’t just give me new stamps in my passport, they gave me new friends, new ways of thinking, and a clearer sense of what I want out of life. I didn’t know what to expect when I stepped onto that ship, but what I found was so much better than anything I could’ve planned. Semester at Sea didn’t just teach me about the world, it taught me about myself, too. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience that I could not recommend more to anyone who wants to do it.

Fall 2022 Voyage 130