South Africa to Caribbean

Aboard S/Y Argo

5,700 Nautical Miles via St. Helena, Brazil, Devil's Island

This voyage is a once in a lifetime opportunity to sail aboard S/Y Argo, our 112-foot schooner from Cape Town, South Africa to Antigua in the Caribbean via St. Helena, Brazil and Devil’s Island. The voyage offers a full compliment of academics allowing students to earn up to 12 college credits. Additionally, this voyage will prove to be an exciting travel adventure that emphasizes blue-water sailing skills development, SCUBA diving training and cultural exploration. Sail training certifications for this voyage are issued through International Yacht Training, as IYT offers the only global standard in professional yachting certifications. Students have the opportunity to progress up to the level of Master of Yachts 200 Ton based on past experience and aptitude.

  • Days
  • Credits
  • Students
  • Term
  • Availability
  • Tuition (USD)
Spring / Jan 15 - Apr 13, 2020
  • 90
  • 12 credits
  • 24
  • Spring
  • Open
  • $28,370
Learn More About Financial Aid >

Life Aboard

Sails Up Anchors Down

Academic Classes

Certification Courses

Activities

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

The Voyage

Your Adventure Starts Here
Welcome Aboard!

With the sight of South Africa’s iconic Table mountain in the background – your plane touches down in Cape Town. Argo and her crew are located a mere 30 minutes away docked alongside the wharf outside the famous Table Bay hotel. Once aboard, Life on Argo begins with spending some time getting to know your surroundings, your peers and realizing exactly just what you can achieve over the course of the trip.

Even though the journey you are about to embark on totals about 5,500 nautical miles, you will quickly realize that as an official member of Argo’s crew, the opportunity to learn is boundless. From here on out each consecutive 24 hour adventure is unique. Your journey awaits…

Orientation in the Shadow of Table Mountain
8-10 days

Starting on day two we cast the lines off the dock and your journey begins. As with all of our voyages, the first week to ten days on the program will be a crash course into your drastically new environment. During this time you will learn what it’s like to live full time in close quarters with 31 other individuals. With the help and guidance of the 6 full-time staff, you’ll learn how to sleep, eat, clean up and sail on a 112 ft. schooner.

This time is also about exploring South Africa as much as possible before casting off and chasing the horizon. You’ll take advantage with a group safari, hike up the lion’s head, and tour the infamous Robben’s island political prison.

Scattered throughout this first week, you’ll also have your first lectures for each of the four college courses you’ll be taking over the next semester. Although the structure feels familiar while looking at your course syllabus, seeing upcoming midterms, finals and group projects, the setting couldn’t be any more different from a traditional campus.

Sample Trip Itinerary*
Area Ports of Call
South Africa Cape Town, Robben Island, Cape Point
Atlantic Islands St. Helena
Brazil Fernando de Noronhas , Fortaleza
French Guiana Devil’s Island, Iles du Salut
Caribbean Barbados, Bequia, Martinique, Dominica, Les Saints, Guadeloupe, Antigua
*Please note that all destinations are weather dependent and subject to change.
Play
Video
 seamester-sailing-video
The Journey, Not the Destination.
Rite of Passage

Just when you’re beginning to grow accustomed to the sights and sounds of the Cape of Good Hope, it’s time to go forth and cross an ocean. With only a few isolated stops until the other side, the horizonless sea will become your new home and the sight of land will eventually seem unfamiliar. You’ll cross the equator, battle squalls, navigate the doldrums and make the tradewinds work for you as you learn to soak in passage life.

Throughout your 90-day voyage, the longest passage can be up to 15 days long with the average passage being 2-5 days long. You’ll be an integral part of a watch team sharing the responsibility of navigation, bow watch, engine checks, sail trim and steering the ship to its intended destination.

Anchors Down – St. Helena
(2-4 Days)

Smack dab in the middle of the southern Atlantic Ocean, lies a tiny British territory with big mountains, big fauna, and big history. You’ll have the chance to stretch your legs walking in the exiled footsteps of Napoleon and maroon yourself deliberately through the many walking trails. As the halfway point of your trans-oceanic passage, you likely won’t hesitate to take a refreshing dip in St. Helena’s relatively chilly water. Be sure to bring a mask and snorkel as whale sharks and dolphins are frequent visitors to this lonely island.

>Next stop: Fernando de Norona
Fernando de Norona
(2-4 Days)

After not seeing land for 10+ days, you will assume that your eyes are playing tricks on you with the paradise that is Fernando de Noronha. Just off the coast of Brazil, the picturesque beaches and pristine landscapes of these remote islands are a sign of things to come and will let you know that you have truly arrived in the tropics. The crystal clear waters attract divers and snorkelers from all over the world and as a UNESCO world heritage site, this archipelago boasts one of the most intact ecosystems anywhere in the western hemisphere. This is where scuba becomes a big part of your life onboard and your crew will top it all off with a well deserved night out in the most civilization you’ve seen in a month!

>Next stop: French Guiana
Iles du Salut
(1-3 Days)

Many people have heard of Devil’s island but few would be able to stick a pin on a map. Once a notorious penal colony of imperial France, you’ll wonder why anyone would dread an extended stay in this sanctuary of waving palms and singing macaws. You’ll have a chance to explore French ruins and improve your diving skills right off the boat. An espresso and baguette to start your day on shore will serve as a reminder that you are making your way back to the real world and to take advantage of every moment you have left.

>Next stop: Barbados
Barbados
(1-3 Days)

Once you dock Argo at Port St. Charles, you’ll recognize the strangely familiar feeling of being stationary as it will be the first time you have been docked since leaving Cape Town. You won’t want to hang around to enjoy the feeling too long as the island of Barbados and its promise of adventure awaits! Here, beginning divers will become certified while advanced divers will enjoy some fun dives on the island’s many wrecks. Everybody enjoys some time on shore together with tours of cultural sites including colonial architecture, the Mount Gay rum distillery, and the Doyle sail loft.

>Next stop: Tobago Cays

Crossings

Just as you move the ship across the endless sea gradually with few indications that anything is changing at all – you won’t realize just how far you’ve come personally or how much you’ve actually learned during your time on Argo. Everything you’ve accomplished and all the ways you have changed aren’t always in the forefront of your mind. Sometimes it takes big landmarks or crossings for it all to come rushing back.

On this journey, you’ll hit a number of waypoints as you discover and develop your passions. Notably, you’ll make the transition from Pollywog to Shellback as you and your crew bring Argo across the equator from one hemisphere to another.

  • Get Our Free Online Brochure

    Full of detailed information about our voyages, staff, and FAQs for you to access anytime
Anchors Down -Tobago Cays & Bequia
(1-3 Days)

When you’re standing on the deck of Argo looking out on the uninhabited Tobago Cays, it’s easy to think that it looks like something out of the Pirates of the Caribbean… And that’s because it is. Acquaint yourself with distinctly Caribbean wildlife through night snorkels over shallow reefs and learn first hand about the bold conservation efforts of Bequia’s turtle rehabilitation sanctuary.

>Next stop: St. Lucia
St. Lucia
(1-3 Days)

Upon arrival you’ll set anchor in Soufriere in the shadow of the Petit Piton, one of the most iconic spots in all of the Caribbean. During our time in St. Lucia, you’ll work with the local marine park, SMMA, to spearfish the invasive Lionfish, take a mineral bath at the Diamond Botanical Gardens and have a chance at a well-deserved night out in Marigot Bay.

>Next stop: Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe & Les Saintes
(1-3 Days)

This small archipelago is considered a region of France, so the minute you step off the boat you’ll find yourself fully immersed in an enclave of European culture. Hike to Fort Napoleon, enjoy an espresso after siesta, or take out a Hobie Cat with one of your shipmates to live the lifestyle unique to this small corner of the world.

>Next stop: Dominica
Dominica
Port of Call (1-3 Days Each)

Although this island is close to its neighbors, the culture of Dominica might as well come from a different side of the planet. 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.

>Next stop: Antigua
Antigua
Port of Call (1-3 Days Each)

Directly after visiting two very French islands, you’ll arrive at the very British Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua. As one of the world’s only fully restored Victorian era dockyards, it provides an amazing backdrop to your time spent in Antigua. In your last port as a crewmember, 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: Real Life
Play
Video
 accredited-academics-seamester
Academics Aboard
12 USF Credits

Throughout the voyage, it’s easy to forget that this is college even though academics are an integral part of the experience. Our instructors schedule 3 or 4 lectures, discussions, or labs per class each week and each course includes quizzes, research projects, midterms, and finals.

Learning in an environment that combines academics with experience allows you to truly interact with your education. It brings academics to life, adding relevance and practical application to the material. Learning has never been this fun.

Play
Video
 Seamester Scuba Diving
Exploring the Underwater Realm
10-15 Dives

As Argo sails north towards the warm waters of the Caribbean, scuba diving will not only become a more frequent experience but a more exhilarating one as well. Over the course of the 90-day voyage, you’ll become an experienced diver, completing between 10 and 15 dives yet the novelty of breathing underwater will not disappear. Whether working towards a new certification in 15 feet of water, chasing down invasive lionfish, or exploring a wreck at 100 ft. – you’ll gain a lifetime worth of stories from places few people get to see.

If you’re new to diving, you’ll earn the PADI Open Water Dive Certification as well as the Advanced Open Water Dive Certification. Depending on time, conditions and student interest, many groups also earn the PADI Rescue Diver certification. If you’re already an experienced diver, you can work all the way up to the professional Divemaster certification. If you feel that scuba diving is a passion, this is definitely the voyage to consider.

First Step to Becoming a Captain!
Academics

For those who have the prior requisite experience, a passion for sailing, and hope to work in the maritime industry, all our 80 & 90-day voyages aboard S/Y Argo offer the Professional Skipper and Crew Training course (PSCT).

Typically only 3 to 4 students will choose to take this course. Students are offered the opportunity to work towards their Master of Yachts 200 Ton Offshore License by completing the theory portion, which means passing a series of in-depth examinations covering subjects such as Meteorology, Navigation, Tides & Currents, and Collision Regulations.
Time to Say Goodbye

The best way to explain what it means to say goodbye to your shipmates is to use the words of one of our past staff members themselves…

“It is our last day together on Argo and everyone has grown so much in the last three months. Learning how to connect with the ocean, losing your security blankets, immersing yourself with 25 random people, and surrendering to this social experiment called Argo has been life-changing. Everyone has gained so much knowledge, self-awareness, and self-love. Most of what we have gained is intangible, so when you see your kid for the first time in three months just listen to them and watch them. I promise you will be pleasantly surprised by the person you are meeting again.”
Rachel B.English Harbour, Antigua
Day 87
By Davis. R

The Argo Experience: An 87 day Compilation

Today was the last day of program before we start our final boat appreciation tomorrow. Everyone took some time this …

Read More
Day 78
By Ian. H

Hot Spring Waterfall

I want to start off this blog post by expressing how amazing today was, the beauty of Dominica blew my …

Read More
Day 77
By Robert. Z

Boiling Lake

6:45 wake-up this morning quickly rolled into a grab-and-go breakfast, and before you knew it lunches were packed, dinghies hit …

Read More
Day 75
By Caroline. P

Appreciating Argo

Our passage from St. Lucia to Dominica completed our night passages aboard Argo. It was our first and last student-lead …

Read More
Day 74
By Lindsay. M

Pigeon Island Isn’t an Island

Our unexpected stop in Rodney Bay turned out to be quite pleasant. Dominica is, unfortunately, still in the process of …

Read More

Trip Logs

Welcome Aboard!

With the sight of South Africa’s iconic Table mountain in the background – your plane touches down in Cape Town. Argo and her crew are located a mere 30 minutes away docked alongside the wharf outside the famous Table Bay hotel. Once aboard, Life on Argo begins with spending some time getting to know your surroundings, your peers and realizing exactly just what you can achieve over the course of the trip.

Even though the journey you are about to embark on totals about 5,500 nautical miles, you will quickly realize that as an official member of Argo’s crew, the opportunity to learn is boundless. From here on out each consecutive 24 hour adventure is unique. Your journey awaits…

Sample Trip Itinerary*
Area Ports of Call
South Africa Cape Town, Robben Island, Cape Point
Atlantic Islands St. Helena
Brazil Fernando de Noronhas , Fortaleza
French Guiana Devil’s Island, Iles du Salut
Caribbean Barbados, Bequia, Martinique, Dominica, Les Saints, Guadeloupe, Antigua
*Please note that all destinations are weather dependent and subject to change.

Orientation in the Shadow of Table Mountain
8-10 days

Starting on day two we cast the lines off the dock and your journey begins. As with all of our voyages, the first week to ten days on the program will be a crash course into your drastically new environment. During this time you will learn what it’s like to live full time in close quarters with 31 other individuals. With the help and guidance of the 6 full-time staff, you’ll learn how to sleep, eat, clean up and sail on a 112 ft. schooner.

This time is also about exploring South Africa as much as possible before casting off and chasing the horizon. You’ll take advantage with a group safari, hike up the lion’s head, and tour the infamous Robben’s island political prison.

Scattered throughout this first week, you’ll also have your first lectures for each of the four college courses you’ll be taking over the next semester. Although the structure feels familiar while looking at your course syllabus, seeing upcoming midterms, finals and group projects, the setting couldn’t be any more different from a traditional campus.

Play
Video
 seamester-sailing-video
The Journey, Not the Destination.
Rite of Passage

Just when you’re beginning to grow accustomed to the sights and sounds of the Cape of Good Hope, it’s time to go forth and cross an ocean. With only a few isolated stops until the other side, the horizonless sea will become your new home and the sight of land will eventually seem unfamiliar. You’ll cross the equator, battle squalls, navigate the doldrums and make the tradewinds work for you as you learn to soak in passage life.

Throughout your 90-day voyage, the longest passage can be up to 15 days long with the average passage being 2-5 days long. You’ll be an integral part of a watch team sharing the responsibility of navigation, bow watch, engine checks, sail trim and steering the ship to its intended destination.

Anchors Down – St. Helena
(2-4 Days)

Smack dab in the middle of the southern Atlantic Ocean, lies a tiny British territory with big mountains, big fauna, and big history. You’ll have the chance to stretch your legs walking in the exiled footsteps of Napoleon and maroon yourself deliberately through the many walking trails. As the halfway point of your trans-oceanic passage, you likely won’t hesitate to take a refreshing dip in St. Helena’s relatively chilly water. Be sure to bring a mask and snorkel as whale sharks and dolphins are frequent visitors to this lonely island.

>Next stop: Fernando de Norona
Fernando de Norona
(2-4 Days)

After not seeing land for 10+ days, you will assume that your eyes are playing tricks on you with the paradise that is Fernando de Noronha. Just off the coast of Brazil, the picturesque beaches and pristine landscapes of these remote islands are a sign of things to come and will let you know that you have truly arrived in the tropics. The crystal clear waters attract divers and snorkelers from all over the world and as a UNESCO world heritage site, this archipelago boasts one of the most intact ecosystems anywhere in the western hemisphere. This is where scuba becomes a big part of your life onboard and your crew will top it all off with a well deserved night out in the most civilization you’ve seen in a month!

>Next stop: French Guiana
Iles du Salut
(1-3 Days)

Many people have heard of Devil’s island but few would be able to stick a pin on a map. Once a notorious penal colony of imperial France, you’ll wonder why anyone would dread an extended stay in this sanctuary of waving palms and singing macaws. You’ll have a chance to explore French ruins and improve your diving skills right off the boat. An espresso and baguette to start your day on shore will serve as a reminder that you are making your way back to the real world and to take advantage of every moment you have left.

>Next stop: Barbados
Barbados
(1-3 Days)

Once you dock Argo at Port St. Charles, you’ll recognize the strangely familiar feeling of being stationary as it will be the first time you have been docked since leaving Cape Town. You won’t want to hang around to enjoy the feeling too long as the island of Barbados and its promise of adventure awaits! Here, beginning divers will become certified while advanced divers will enjoy some fun dives on the island’s many wrecks. Everybody enjoys some time on shore together with tours of cultural sites including colonial architecture, the Mount Gay rum distillery, and the Doyle sail loft.

>Next stop: Tobago Cays

Crossings

Just as you move the ship across the endless sea gradually with few indications that anything is changing at all – you won’t realize just how far you’ve come personally or how much you’ve actually learned during your time on Argo. Everything you’ve accomplished and all the ways you have changed aren’t always in the forefront of your mind. Sometimes it takes big landmarks or crossings for it all to come rushing back.

On this journey, you’ll hit a number of waypoints as you discover and develop your passions. Notably, you’ll make the transition from Pollywog to Shellback as you and your crew bring Argo across the equator from one hemisphere to another.

  • Get Our Free Online Brochure

    Full of detailed information about our voyages, staff, and FAQs for you to access anytime
Anchors Down -Tobago Cays & Bequia
(1-3 Days)

When you’re standing on the deck of Argo looking out on the uninhabited Tobago Cays, it’s easy to think that it looks like something out of the Pirates of the Caribbean… And that’s because it is. Acquaint yourself with distinctly Caribbean wildlife through night snorkels over shallow reefs and learn first hand about the bold conservation efforts of Bequia’s turtle rehabilitation sanctuary.

>Next stop: St. Lucia
St. Lucia
(1-3 Days)

Upon arrival you’ll set anchor in Soufriere in the shadow of the Petit Piton, one of the most iconic spots in all of the Caribbean. During our time in St. Lucia, you’ll work with the local marine park, SMMA, to spearfish the invasive Lionfish, take a mineral bath at the Diamond Botanical Gardens and have a chance at a well-deserved night out in Marigot Bay.

>Next stop: Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe & Les Saintes
(1-3 Days)

This small archipelago is considered a region of France, so the minute you step off the boat you’ll find yourself fully immersed in an enclave of European culture. Hike to Fort Napoleon, enjoy an espresso after siesta, or take out a Hobie Cat with one of your shipmates to live the lifestyle unique to this small corner of the world.

>Next stop: Dominica
Dominica
Port of Call (1-3 Days Each)

Although this island is close to its neighbors, the culture of Dominica might as well come from a different side of the planet. 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.

>Next stop: Antigua
Antigua
Port of Call (1-3 Days Each)

Directly after visiting two very French islands, you’ll arrive at the very British Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua. As one of the world’s only fully restored Victorian era dockyards, it provides an amazing backdrop to your time spent in Antigua. In your last port as a crewmember, 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: Real Life
Play
Video
 accredited-academics-seamester
Academics Aboard
12 USF Credits

Throughout the voyage, it’s easy to forget that this is college even though academics are an integral part of the experience. Our instructors schedule 3 or 4 lectures, discussions, or labs per class each week and each course includes quizzes, research projects, midterms, and finals.

Learning in an environment that combines academics with experience allows you to truly interact with your education. It brings academics to life, adding relevance and practical application to the material. Learning has never been this fun.

First Step to Becoming a Captain!
Academics

For those who have the prior requisite experience, a passion for sailing, and hope to work in the maritime industry, all our 80 & 90-day voyages aboard S/Y Argo offer the Professional Skipper and Crew Training course (PSCT).

Typically only 3 to 4 students will choose to take this course. Students are offered the opportunity to work towards their Master of Yachts 200 Ton Offshore License by completing the theory portion, which means passing a series of in-depth examinations covering subjects such as Meteorology, Navigation, Tides & Currents, and Collision Regulations.

Play
Video
 Seamester Scuba Diving
Exploring the Underwater Realm
10-15 Dives

As Argo sails north towards the warm waters of the Caribbean, scuba diving will not only become a more frequent experience but a more exhilarating one as well. Over the course of the 90-day voyage, you’ll become an experienced diver, completing between 10 and 15 dives yet the novelty of breathing underwater will not disappear. Whether working towards a new certification in 15 feet of water, chasing down invasive lionfish, or exploring a wreck at 100 ft. – you’ll gain a lifetime worth of stories from places few people get to see.

If you’re new to diving, you’ll earn the PADI Open Water Dive Certification as well as the Advanced Open Water Dive Certification. Depending on time, conditions and student interest, many groups also earn the PADI Rescue Diver certification. If you’re already an experienced diver, you can work all the way up to the professional Divemaster certification. If you feel that scuba diving is a passion, this is definitely the voyage to consider.
Time to Say Goodbye

The best way to explain what it means to say goodbye to your shipmates is to use the words of one of our past staff members themselves…

“It is our last day together on Argo and everyone has grown so much in the last three months. Learning how to connect with the ocean, losing your security blankets, immersing yourself with 25 random people, and surrendering to this social experiment called Argo has been life-changing. Everyone has gained so much knowledge, self-awareness, and self-love. Most of what we have gained is intangible, so when you see your kid for the first time in three months just listen to them and watch them. I promise you will be pleasantly surprised by the person you are meeting again.”
Rachel B.English Harbour, Antigua
Day 87
By Davis. R

The Argo Experience: An 87 day Compilation

Today was the last day of program before we start our final boat appreciation tomorrow. Everyone took some time this …

Read More
Day 78
By Ian. H

Hot Spring Waterfall

I want to start off this blog post by expressing how amazing today was, the beauty of Dominica blew my …

Read More
Day 77
By Robert. Z

Boiling Lake

6:45 wake-up this morning quickly rolled into a grab-and-go breakfast, and before you knew it lunches were packed, dinghies hit …

Read More
Day 75
By Caroline. P

Appreciating Argo

Our passage from St. Lucia to Dominica completed our night passages aboard Argo. It was our first and last student-lead …

Read More
Day 74
By Lindsay. M

Pigeon Island Isn’t an Island

Our unexpected stop in Rodney Bay turned out to be quite pleasant. Dominica is, unfortunately, still in the process of …

Read More

Trip Logs

Need More Information?

Contact Us Request A Viewbook

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
       Master of Yachts 200 Ton Offshore Theory
       Learn more about sailing

  • Seamester Safety Certifications

    Safety Certifications

       Emergency First Response - First Aid & CPR

Need To Know

What is the main focus of this voyage?

Our 90-day Global Sea|mester Voyages offer the most comprehensive experience in terms of the geographical area covered and both academic and vocational classes and certifications earned. During the program, up to 12 academic credits are offered for the Seamanship, Student Leadership, Oceanography, and Marine Biology classes taught aboard. In addition, there are several vocational courses offered for those looking to further their professional development in the maritime industry. For more information on our classes, please visit our academics page.

What Experience Do I Need?

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

Who will be my staff?

Six professional staff members live aboard full-time. There will be the Skipper, the First and Second Mate and two Marine Biologists (who are typically scuba diving instructors) and a sixth staff member who could also be an EMT or someone with other special skills. Take a look through our team page for more information.

Meet our team

What's the weather like?

The weather in South Africa, at the beginning of the trip, should be mild with some cooler sailing conditions as we begin heading north and west in the Southern Atlantic. It is likely that we will see varying tropical weather conditions during our westbound crossings from St. Helena to Brazil. Once in South America, we will sail north in increasingly hot tropical weather as we transit the equator and into the refreshing Caribbean trade winds.

How do I communicate with home?

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.

What is the food like?

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 starting in Africa, students will get to sample some decidedly African fare such as Biltong (jerky). For the culinary risk takers of the crew, the continent of Africa does have some traditional meals that contain millipedes! Once across the Atlantic Ocean, the South American and West Indian influence will take over and by the end of the trip, most of the crew will have hopefully tried a Chicken Roti in Antigua.

What's the typical age of the students?

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

Flights
As our students fly from all points of the compass, the Sea|mester tuition does not include the cost of travel to and from the program.

This voyage will begin in Cape Town, South Africa (airport code CPT) and end on the island of Antigua (airport code ANU) in the West Indies. Cape Town is usually reached via a European connection although there are direct US flights. Antigua is served by a number of US carriers from their east coast hubs.

Booking Travel

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.

For specific information on travel itineraries and costs, we suggest that you contact our travel coordinator, Leah Hernandez from TRC Travel Center. Leah has helped us organize our global travel for years. She can be reached on 1.800.329.9000 (Texas 281.528.7727) or by email at leahctn68@hotmail.com

Travel Docs & Vaccinations
Travel Docs & Visas

Sea|mester cannot apply for passports or visas on a student’s behalf, but we can provide the information you need to do so yourself. All US and Canadian students traveling on this voyage need to have a passport which is valid for a minimum of six months after the date of departure from the Program. Visitors from certain countries other than the US, UK and Canada may require visas. To confirm whether or not a visa is required for any part of this voyage, please call us on +1.941.924.2900

Vaccinations

Sea|mester understands that families have varying opinions on vaccinations. Some greatly desire the precaution; others prefer to avoid possible side effects of certain medications. Coupled with the fact that each student has unique medical considerations known best by his or her doctor, Sea|mester does not supply medical advice. We recommend that all families refer to the expertise of the CDC (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel), their health care providers, and/or a travel clinic. We do ask that all students check that their Tetanus and Hepatitis B inoculations are up-to-date.

Tuition

We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more.

Sea|mester tuition covers 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 fees are personal expenses such as the cost of obtaining passports, visas, vaccinations, airport taxes, extra baggage fees, health and travel insurance, medical and evacuation expenses, personal spending money, e-mail, phone calls, souvenirs, etc. As students come from all over the world, air transportation, including in-country flights, are not included.

Travel Protection

We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more.

For more information on the available plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 09-6257.

Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within15 days (Travel Basic) or 21 days (Travel Select) from the time you make your initial trip deposit. However, the plan can be purchased any time prior to departure.

The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company), 1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N

Voyage Itinerary

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!

  • Flights
  • Travel Docs & Vaccinations
  • Tuition
  • Voyage Itinerary
  • As our students fly from all points of the compass, the Sea|mester tuition does not include the cost of travel to and from the program.

    This voyage will begin in Cape Town, South Africa (airport code CPT) and end on the island of Antigua (airport code ANU) in the West Indies. Cape Town is usually reached via a European connection although there are direct US flights. Antigua is served by a number of US carriers from their east coast hubs.

    Booking Travel

    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.

    For specific information on travel itineraries and costs, we suggest that you contact our travel coordinator, Leah Hernandez from TRC Travel Center. Leah has helped us organize our global travel for years. She can be reached on 1.800.329.9000 (Texas 281.528.7727) or by email at leahctn68@hotmail.com

  • Travel Docs & Visas

    Sea|mester cannot apply for passports or visas on a student’s behalf, but we can provide the information you need to do so yourself. All US and Canadian students traveling on this voyage need to have a passport which is valid for a minimum of six months after the date of departure from the Program. Visitors from certain countries other than the US, UK and Canada may require visas. To confirm whether or not a visa is required for any part of this voyage, please call us on +1.941.924.2900

    Vaccinations

    Sea|mester understands that families have varying opinions on vaccinations. Some greatly desire the precaution; others prefer to avoid possible side effects of certain medications. Coupled with the fact that each student has unique medical considerations known best by his or her doctor, Sea|mester does not supply medical advice. We recommend that all families refer to the expertise of the CDC (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel), their health care providers, and/or a travel clinic. We do ask that all students check that their Tetanus and Hepatitis B inoculations are up-to-date.

  • We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more.

    Sea|mester tuition covers 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 fees are personal expenses such as the cost of obtaining passports, visas, vaccinations, airport taxes, extra baggage fees, health and travel insurance, medical and evacuation expenses, personal spending money, e-mail, phone calls, souvenirs, etc. As students come from all over the world, air transportation, including in-country flights, are not included.

    Travel Protection

    We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more.

    For more information on the available plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 09-6257.

    Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within15 days (Travel Basic) or 21 days (Travel Select) from the time you make your initial trip deposit. However, the plan can be purchased any time prior to departure.

    The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company), 1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N

  • 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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