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Antigua to Virgin Islands

575 Nautical Miles via Antigua, Nevis, St. Barts, Statia, Saba
Meet loggerhead turtles, seahorses, and whale sharks along the way. Cultivate your sailing skills while island hopping among Nevis, Dominica, Guadeloupe, The Saints, Antigua, St. Barts, St. Eustatius, and Saba. Don't worry; you'll give each island the personal attention it deserves by surfing and snorkeling in their pristine waters, trekking along their dormant volcanoes, and immersing yourself in the unique landscapes and cultures each has to offer. All the while, you'll be earning six college credits as well as sailing and diving certifications.
  • Days
  • Credits
  • Students
  • Term
  • Tuition (USD)
Jul 6 - Aug 14, 2025 - Aboard S/Y Ocean Star
  • 40
  • 6 credits
  • 26
  • Summer
  • $13,970
Availability: Open
Review the Application Process >

Life Aboard

Sails Up Anchors Down

USF Accredited Academics

Certification Courses

Activities

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Educational & Cultural Tours Hiking & Trekking Service Personal Time

The Voyage

Your Adventure Starts Here
Welcome Aboard!

The journey begins at the historic Sir Admiral Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour, Antigua. It won’t be hard to find our 88-ft schooner, S/Y Ocean Star, tied alongside the dock with an eager crew of 4 staff waiting to greet you with a smile. After dropping your bags in your cabin, it’s time to take a breath, look around, and realize that this beautiful schooner floating atop crystal clear Caribbean waters is now your home and classroom for the next 40 days as you embark on the voyage of a lifetime.

Sample Trip Itinerary*
Start Location End Location
Antigua (ANU) Tortola, BVI (STT or EIS)
Area Ports of Call
Leeward Islands Antigua, Nevis, St. Barts, Statia, Saba
Windward Islands Dominica, Les Saintes, Guadeloupe
British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Peter Island, Salt Island, The Dogs, Sandy Spit, Jost Van Dyke
*Please note that all destinations are weather dependent and subject to change.
study-aboard-boat-sail-semester
Learning The Ropes
3-5 days

Early on day two, we cast our lines and the journey begins. As with all Sea|mester voyages, the first 5 days of the program is a crash course on how to be successful in your new environment. With the guidance of our staff, you’ll learn the in’s and out’s of how to live, work and learn in such close quarters with others – from sailing to cooking and everything in between.

Those new to scuba diving will spend quite a bit of time underwater working towards the PADI Open Water Certification. Those arriving with more experience will get reacquainted with the underwater world by taking a few refresher dives. During the first week, you’ll also have your first lectures for each of the two college-level courses. While the structure of the syllabi might look familiar, you’ll quickly find that learning from the deck of a boat couldn’t be more different.

Play Video
scuba-semester-abroad
Exploring The Underwater Realm
15-20 Dives

Students often tell us they chose this voyage because of the amount of diving and dive training we offer. Whether a deep dive on a 100ft. sunken ship in Statia, or a night dive in Guadeloupe, during your 40 days you’ll likely dive 15-20 times. If you’re new to diving, you’ll earn the PADI Open Water Dive Certification as well as the Advanced Open Water Dive Certification. If you’re already an experienced diver, you can work all the way up to the PADI Rescue Diver Certification. If you feel that scuba diving is a passion, this is definitely the voyage to consider.

study-abroad-sailboat-antigua
Antigua
(4-6 Days)

Directly after visiting two very french islands, you’ll arrive at the very British Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua.  This is one of the world’s only fully restored Victorian era dockyards, which provides an amazing backdrop to your time spent in Antigua.  While here, you’ll enjoy a steel drum and reggae concert at Shirley Heights, walk the historic ramparts of English Harbor and dive the crystal blue waters while anchored outside of Green Island.

>Next stop: St. Barths
semester-abroad-caribbean-nevis
Nevis
(1-3 Days)

After making it through your first overnight passage from the BVI, you’ll make landfall at the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton.  Here on Nevis you’ll have the chance to explore the capital city Charlestown, hike through a volcanic rainforest to “The Source”, bike tour its hilly and quaint roads or simply enjoy a little personal time on the beach.

>Next stop: Dominica
semester-sea-program-caribbean
Dominica
(3-5 Days)

Nicknamed the Nature Isle of the Caribbean, Dominica is often considered one of our students favorite islands of the voyage.  With the help of our good friends, local Dominicans Pancho and Sea Cat, you’ll hike through the rainforest to the world’s largest boiling lake, all while refreshing yourself in one of its dozens of natural hot springs.  You’ll also spend a day taking a tour of the island eating more deliciously fresh Caribbean fruit than your stomach should be able to handle.

>Next stop: Guadeloupe & Les Saintes
semester-abroad-caribbean-les-saints
Guadeloupe & Les Saintes
(2-4 Days)

One of the reasons you’ll love the Caribbean is the cultural diversity between each individual island.  Due to colonialization in the 1500’s, Guadeloupe & Les Saintes are to this day considered to be a region of France.  The minute you step off the boat you’ll realize that the islands  are very much steeped in French culture.  The best examples are found in Fort Napoleon (yes that Napoleon) in Les Saintes, and the underwater statue of Jacques Cousteau at Pigeon Island in Guadeloupe.

>Next stop: Antigua
study-abroad-st-barths
St. Barths
(2-4 Days)

Surf day!  Although you will certainly enjoy a cup of french espresso in Gustavia, the real adventure begins as we pack a couple of jeeps with surf boards and hit the waves for a day of surfing on St. Barths north shore.  Being another of the Lesser Antilles French islands, you’ll pause at lunchtime for a beach picnic of freshly baked baguette and stinky cheese before paddling back out to catch another wave.

>Next stop: Saba & Statia
semester-at-sea-saba
Saba & Statia
(3-5) Days

These two Dutch islands provide you with yet another culturally diverse backdrop on your adventure through the Caribbean Lesser Antilles.  During your time in Statia you’ll dive the 100ft. shipwreck of the Charlie Brown and snorkel the ruins of Oranjestad’s sunken harbor in search of the elusive blue bead.  At Saba, you’ll test yourself by tackling the 2,855 ft. (1,064 stone steps) tall Mt. Scenery and spend the day learning how to blow glass while visiting the quaint town called The Bottom.

>Next stop: British Virgin Islands
Play Video
life-aboard-seamester
Typical Day…
There’s no such thing!

The only thing that’s typical about a day with Sea|mester is that it’s going to be anything but typical!

While living aboard you’ll be involved in every aspect of running Ocean Star.  Whether standing watch at 2 AM under a blanket of stars, monitoring the ship’s systems, or planning, provisioning and cooking the meals for your team, by the end of the experience you’ll feel the accomplishment of knowing that you played a big part in the success of the expedition.

captains-license-semester-abroad
Rite of Passage
Sailing Without Seeing Land

It always seems like we’ve crammed about a month’s worth of information into that first 7-day period, but time will fly by as you absorb it all. Station drills, man overboard drills, fire drills… it’s now time for you and your team to put it all to the test with the first of many sailing passages – a 24-hr voyage from Nevis to the island of Dominica.

As we turn our bow to the southeast, the rhythm of the trip shifts. With the fundamental knowledge in place, we now embark on the next phase of the expedition, our days alternating between those spent ashore exploring and those on the passage, voyaging between six and thirty-six hours to reach a new destination.

Seamester Study Abroad Gap Year Brochure
FCM16-78.18 work-on-boat-semester-abroad study-caribbean-semester-abroad surf-community-service-semester-abroad semester-abroad-grenada college-student-scuba-certification
Time to Say Goodbye

The best way to explain what it means to say goodbye after such an incredible experience is to use the words from someone who had to do just that…

The time has come to pick up anchor and head back to where our voyage began 39 days ago. So much has changed throughout our journey. Seventeen individuals from all over the world came together as a family, and that is something truly special. We traveled the Caribbean working together to sail Ocean Star from island to island, making memories that will last a lifetime along the way. Everyone contributed blood, sweat, and tears to this beautiful vessel this summer. The bonds we created are powerful, and the memories will stick with us forever. Keep the sun on your face, the wind in your hair, and the salt life in your heart.

Anonymous Ocean Star shipmate

Need More Information?

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Vocational Certifications

Depending upon previous experience, students will have the opportunity to complete a number of the following certifications during their voyage.

Seamester is a PADI 5 Star Resort

Scuba Certifications

Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Rescue Diver
Divemaster
Learn more about scuba
 

Seamester is an International Yacht Training partner school

Sailing Certifications

International Crew
VHF Operator
Navigation Master
Learn more about sailing

Seamester Safety Certifications

Safety Certifications

Emergency First Response - First Aid & CPR

Need To Know

During the 40-day Sea|mester, we always try to fit about 60 days’ worth of activities and academics in, so to say that the voyage is full on would be an understatement. In addition to the sailing and scuba diving training, we also include 6 academic credits for the Seamanship and Oceanography classes taught aboard. For more information on our classes, please visit our academics page.

None at all. All you need is a great attitude and a willingness to fully participate in every aspect of the experience.

Four professional staff members live aboard full-time. There will be the Skipper, the First Mate and a Marine Biologist (who is typically a diving instructor) and a fourth staff member who could also be a scuba instructor, EMT, Marine Scientist or someone with other special skills. Take a look through our team page for more information.

Meet our team

The short answer to this question is, great! Well, usually anyway! In the Caribbean, the trade winds blow a steady 8-14 knots and the average temperature is 80 Degrees Fahrenheit with 76% humidity and 79 Degrees Fahrenheit water temperature. What’s great about the Caribbean weather is that there is always a breeze, so it feels very comfortable almost all the time. Yes, it does rain now and then, but it is more of a tropical shower, lasting only a few minutes, rather than a complete day of rain.

When we are ashore or close at anchor, there will be plenty of opportunities to communicate with friends and family at home. That said, while aboard we have guidelines as to when it is appropriate to use your personal communications devices. The environment we strive to create relies heavily on each individual remaining focused on the group and our experience. Being tied to the modern world of “instant communications” can, in certain circumstances, be a hindrance to the personal and group processes aboard.

Cell Phones: Check with your provider before you go, but so long as you have a sim card, your cell phone will likely work in most global locations.

Internet: While our vessels are not wifi equipped, another way to communicate is by email, text, Facetime or Skype using shore side internet. The internet is often free or available to purchase in most of the locations that we visit.

Both on the vessel and ashore, the answer is up to you. The vast majority of the meals during your trip are prepared and eaten aboard. For meals aboard, each person on the crew takes a turn as head chef to plan and cook the meals for an entire day with the help of another person acting as sous-chef. We all work to stay within a budget, with both students and staff responsible for stocking the vessels. We endeavor to accommodate everyone aboard while providing what any alumni will tell you, was a great dining adventure. During your free time ashore you will have the opportunity to eat more adventurously. With this voyage being based in the Caribbean, the venturesome amongst the crew will want to seek out some of the traditional West Indian meals such as Chicken Roti or some local Salt Fish.

Sea|mester students range in age from 18 through to about 22. Average age is right around 20, yet this can change from voyage to voyage. Give a call through to the office if you are interested in learning more about the student crew.

Nitty Gritty

Students come from all over the world, so coordinated travel is vital.

You can choose to book on your own, yet we suggest that you start by requesting a quote from one of our recommended travel partners as they will provide you with service on-beyond an online booking service or search engine.

This voyage is scheduled to begin in Antigua (Airport code ANU).

This voyage is scheduled to end in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (Either fly to St. Thomas – airport code STT – and take a ferry to the BVI or fly direct to Tortola – airport code EIS).

When booking travel, students should be aware that the program start date is the date upon which students should arrive aboard the vessel. The program end date is the date on which students should depart the vessel and start their travel home.

Recommended Travel Agents

a. TRC Travel Center

Leah Hernandez is our primary travel coordinator, and she works for a company called TRC Travel Center. Leah obtains great fares and provides close monitoring and assistance on travel days in case of flight difficulties. Leah will also maintain your flight details in the Student Portal on your behalf, ensuring their accuracy in the event of flight changes. Connect with Leah –
Phone: +1.281.528.7727 (9am – 5pm Central Time)
Email: leahctn68@hotmail.com

b. Global Marine Travel

An alternative is to contact Global Marine Travel (GMT) to request a quote for a “Marine Fare” ticket. Marine Fares may be cheaper or more expensive than a regular fare, but in most cases will be more flexible should you need to change your ticket and will include the provision for a larger number of checked bags. Do the research to figure out which ticket suits you best. Connect with GMT –
Phone: +1.954.761.9595 (24hrs)
Email: info@flygmt.com

When contacting GMT, you will need to reference the following:

  • Organizational Name: Global Expeditions Group
  • Vessel Name (select): Ocean Star, Argo or Vela
  • Vessel Registry: British Virgin Islands

c. Other Booking Options – Air Miles & Self Booking

We cannot be responsible for coordinating flights booked in this way, so please ensure that you are booking the correct itinerary (dates/destination) before purchasing a ticket online or through a source other than our recommended travel partners. If you have any questions regarding the date or time of arrival for your voyage, please call us to confirm any proposed flight itinerary before you book it. Once booked, you will be required to enter, then maintain accurate flight details in the relevant section of the Student Portal.

Passports

Your passport’s expiration date is of utmost importance to the immigration officials in the countries we visit. Each government mandates a “minimum validity,” with many using a six-month rule, meaning that the visitor’s passport must remain valid for six (6) months AFTER the last day of travel in that country. A few nations have more lenient minimum validity rules, but since we typically visit multiple countries throughout the voyage, meeting the six-month standard is compulsory in most cases. If your passport expires sooner than six months after the final day of your program, we recommend that you talk to the passport office about their backlog and renewal timeframe. You may also contact our office to learn more about whether you would be able to travel on a passport that expires earlier than six months after your trip ends.

Visas

US Citizens: Those traveling on a US passport rarely need to apply for specific country visas in advance of the program. In certain circumstances, we are required to process a vessel cruising permit or visitation visa on your behalf before the trip. If this is the case, we’ll let you know in advance whether there are any steps that we need you to take.

Students traveling on non-U.S. passports: Aside from needing a valid US ESTA to transit through the United States (if applicable), students traveling on a Canadian or an EU passport rarely need to apply for any other specific country visas in advance of the program. Learn more about the ESTA requirements, and whether this applies to you here – https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.

Citizens of Asian, African, and South American nations may need to apply for specific visas. Since we cannot apply for visas on your behalf, you must take the following steps as soon as you can.

  • Contact our office and request a definitive list of the countries we will visit on the voyage. Please do not rely on the sample itineraries listed on our website.
  • Verify visa requirements for your nationality by contacting the local embassy or consulate for these destination countries.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

We do not currently require proof of vaccination in order to enroll.

Other Immunizations

We know that each individual has unique medical considerations and understand that families have varying opinions on immunizations as a whole. While we are not physicians and cannot provide official or specific medical advice, we recommend that you talk with your healthcare provider to discuss the trip and check that all standard immunizations and boosters are up to date.

The CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website at www.cdc.gov contains an excellent section that focuses on Travelers’ Health. This is a useful resource as you consider which precautions you might want to take. When completing your research, bear in mind that your voyage is almost 100% coastal. Many of the CDC’s recommendations are specific to agricultural or rural areas or regions within the country which we do not visit.

Sea|mester tuition includes the following:
  • Sea|mester academic instruction for the applicable courses offered during the voyage
  • University of South Florida (USF) academic credit for all academic classes offered during the program.
  • Full room and board
  • All group excursions, field trips and destination-focused educational experiences
  • Non-professional sailing instruction and certification costs
  • Non-professional scuba instruction and certification costs
Not included in the Sea|mester tuition:
  • Travel expenses from home to the program (flights, visas, ferry, taxi, baggage, taxes, etc.)
  • Required International SOS and MedAire membership & emergency evacuation insurance. (20-day voyages = $100 | 40-day voyages = $175 | 80 & 90-day voyages = $250) LEARN MORE >
  • Vaccinations (if required/selected)
  • PADI required course books and materials
  • Personal spending money
  • Travel & Tuition Protection insurance – LEARN MORE >

Though the fundamentals of our voyages do not change, specific logistics evolve over time and can be subject to change based on any number of factors, most of which relate directly to risk management planning.

For this reason, the map and voyage timeline portions of this page should give you a basic understanding of the places we’ll go and activities we’ll do, but you should expect your voyage to be unique. If you take a look through the Trip Logs for previous voyages you’ll see that they can differ significantly.

With that in mind, we encourage all students to “live in the moment” while on the program. Travel, even on organized trips, requires flexibility and a willingness to accept adversity and change. We hope you’ll take the bumps in stride, and enjoy the adventure!

Students come from all over the world, so coordinated travel is vital.

You can choose to book on your own, yet we suggest that you start by requesting a quote from one of our recommended travel partners as they will provide you with service on-beyond an online booking service or search engine.

This voyage is scheduled to begin in Antigua (Airport code ANU).

This voyage is scheduled to end in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (Either fly to St. Thomas – airport code STT – and take a ferry to the BVI or fly direct to Tortola – airport code EIS).

When booking travel, students should be aware that the program start date is the date upon which students should arrive aboard the vessel. The program end date is the date on which students should depart the vessel and start their travel home.

Recommended Travel Agents

a. TRC Travel Center

Leah Hernandez is our primary travel coordinator, and she works for a company called TRC Travel Center. Leah obtains great fares and provides close monitoring and assistance on travel days in case of flight difficulties. Leah will also maintain your flight details in the Student Portal on your behalf, ensuring their accuracy in the event of flight changes. Connect with Leah –
Phone: +1.281.528.7727 (9am – 5pm Central Time)
Email: leahctn68@hotmail.com

b. Global Marine Travel

An alternative is to contact Global Marine Travel (GMT) to request a quote for a “Marine Fare” ticket. Marine Fares may be cheaper or more expensive than a regular fare, but in most cases will be more flexible should you need to change your ticket and will include the provision for a larger number of checked bags. Do the research to figure out which ticket suits you best. Connect with GMT –
Phone: +1.954.761.9595 (24hrs)
Email: info@flygmt.com

When contacting GMT, you will need to reference the following:

  • Organizational Name: Global Expeditions Group
  • Vessel Name (select): Ocean Star, Argo or Vela
  • Vessel Registry: British Virgin Islands

c. Other Booking Options – Air Miles & Self Booking

We cannot be responsible for coordinating flights booked in this way, so please ensure that you are booking the correct itinerary (dates/destination) before purchasing a ticket online or through a source other than our recommended travel partners. If you have any questions regarding the date or time of arrival for your voyage, please call us to confirm any proposed flight itinerary before you book it. Once booked, you will be required to enter, then maintain accurate flight details in the relevant section of the Student Portal.

Passports

Your passport’s expiration date is of utmost importance to the immigration officials in the countries we visit. Each government mandates a “minimum validity,” with many using a six-month rule, meaning that the visitor’s passport must remain valid for six (6) months AFTER the last day of travel in that country. A few nations have more lenient minimum validity rules, but since we typically visit multiple countries throughout the voyage, meeting the six-month standard is compulsory in most cases. If your passport expires sooner than six months after the final day of your program, we recommend that you talk to the passport office about their backlog and renewal timeframe. You may also contact our office to learn more about whether you would be able to travel on a passport that expires earlier than six months after your trip ends.

Visas

US Citizens: Those traveling on a US passport rarely need to apply for specific country visas in advance of the program. In certain circumstances, we are required to process a vessel cruising permit or visitation visa on your behalf before the trip. If this is the case, we’ll let you know in advance whether there are any steps that we need you to take.

Students traveling on non-U.S. passports: Aside from needing a valid US ESTA to transit through the United States (if applicable), students traveling on a Canadian or an EU passport rarely need to apply for any other specific country visas in advance of the program. Learn more about the ESTA requirements, and whether this applies to you here – https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.

Citizens of Asian, African, and South American nations may need to apply for specific visas. Since we cannot apply for visas on your behalf, you must take the following steps as soon as you can.

  • Contact our office and request a definitive list of the countries we will visit on the voyage. Please do not rely on the sample itineraries listed on our website.
  • Verify visa requirements for your nationality by contacting the local embassy or consulate for these destination countries.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

We do not currently require proof of vaccination in order to enroll.

Other Immunizations

We know that each individual has unique medical considerations and understand that families have varying opinions on immunizations as a whole. While we are not physicians and cannot provide official or specific medical advice, we recommend that you talk with your healthcare provider to discuss the trip and check that all standard immunizations and boosters are up to date.

The CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website at www.cdc.gov contains an excellent section that focuses on Travelers’ Health. This is a useful resource as you consider which precautions you might want to take. When completing your research, bear in mind that your voyage is almost 100% coastal. Many of the CDC’s recommendations are specific to agricultural or rural areas or regions within the country which we do not visit.

Sea|mester tuition includes the following:
  • Sea|mester academic instruction for the applicable courses offered during the voyage
  • University of South Florida (USF) academic credit for all academic classes offered during the program.
  • Full room and board
  • All group excursions, field trips and destination-focused educational experiences
  • Non-professional sailing instruction and certification costs
  • Non-professional scuba instruction and certification costs
Not included in the Sea|mester tuition:
  • Travel expenses from home to the program (flights, visas, ferry, taxi, baggage, taxes, etc.)
  • Required International SOS and MedAire membership & emergency evacuation insurance. (20-day voyages = $100 | 40-day voyages = $175 | 80 & 90-day voyages = $250) LEARN MORE >
  • Vaccinations (if required/selected)
  • PADI required course books and materials
  • Personal spending money
  • Travel & Tuition Protection insurance – LEARN MORE >

Though the fundamentals of our voyages do not change, specific logistics evolve over time and can be subject to change based on any number of factors, most of which relate directly to risk management planning.

For this reason, the map and voyage timeline portions of this page should give you a basic understanding of the places we’ll go and activities we’ll do, but you should expect your voyage to be unique. If you take a look through the Trip Logs for previous voyages you’ll see that they can differ significantly.

With that in mind, we encourage all students to “live in the moment” while on the program. Travel, even on organized trips, requires flexibility and a willingness to accept adversity and change. We hope you’ll take the bumps in stride, and enjoy the adventure!

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