Fall 2024: Family Port | Semester at Sea (2024)

Fall 2024 | European, African, and Asian Adventure

Your Virtual Destination for Resources and Tools for your students’s upcoming voyage. Regardless of language or geographic location, we knowSemester at Sea Familiesare partners in this amazing experience ofgrowing global citizens.

Familie, família, family, أسرة, familia, obitelj, οικογένεια, aile, familia, family, परिवार, ಕುಟುಂಬದ, കുടുംബം, कुटुंब, परिवार, ପରିବାର, ਪਰਿਵਾਰ, குடும்ப, కుటుంబం, خاندان

Communicate, Celebrate, Let Go

Plan to have a discussion with your voyager before they leave regarding communication and DO NOT expect or encourage them to communicate with you a lot. The students will be very busy! In addition to their studies and their in-country travel, they will be very involved with a whole new community onboard with many opportunities to get involved and meet new people. The experience while away from home has lots to offer your voyager. Let them go!”

– Teresa, SAS Parent Council President 2022

Strategize Communication

Communicating with loved ones across oceans and time zones brings additional challenges. Your voyager will also be very busy with travel, classes, field programs, and working to form new friendships and relationships through the Semester at Sea community. Here are some tips and common strategies for communicating.

• Timing:TheAcademic Calendaroutlines which days the students are on the ship and which days they are in port.
• Sending Mail to the Ship:Mailing information can be found here.
• Calling the Ship:Family members and friends can call the ship 24-hours a day by dialing the toll-free number: 800-305-9203. The caller will be asked to provide a credit card that will be charged approximately $3.95 per minute. Your call will then be connected directly to your voyager’s cabin. Voyagers can purchase phone cards on the ship to place outgoing phone calls.
• Email Communications:The best way to reach a voyager is via their SAS email address which is firstname.lastname.FA24@semesteratsea.org (i.e. jane.doe.FA24@semesteratsea.org).

Celebrations

You can still celebrate birthdays, admissions acceptance, moments of self-advocacy, and other milestones with cakes, massages, nail services, and much more. Please visitour shipboard services pageto learn more about options and deadlines. We do not recommend placing any orders until after embarkation.

24-Hour Emergency Crisis Number

If you have a crisis related to your voyager, please call1-602-693-0839. This is our 24-hour emergency crisis answering service staffed by our team in the U.S. who will work to relay messages and information to our colleagues abroad. This number should be used if your student is in crisis and unable the advocate for themselves.

Contact us with a Concern

A lost passport, an ER visit, or being a victim of theft are all difficult experiences, but not an instance where ISE will automatically notify an emergency contact. We understand families may be concerned and may want some extra care, so please feel free to reach out to connect with our U.S. team. Students are coached to reach out to their ship staculty (professional staff) who can help coordinate immediate support and longer-term academic, medical, and emotional care and resources.

If you need ISE staff assistance, emailfamilysupport@semesteratsea.org.We will respond within 24 hours during the week and 72 hours over the weekend.

Health & Safety

Over the course of our 60-year history, we’ve continuously refined our health and safety protocols, implemented progressive preventative measures, and developed vital partnerships that enable us to make informed decisions and take quick action when needed.

Medical Care

Medical Care for voyagers includes a combination of services and systems on-ship and within each country. Our ship sails with a medical team who can address urgent medical concerns, similar to a visit to urgent care in the United States. Health Care systems in-port will vary by country and are updated at each pre-port lecture with information about emergency care covered by theCISI travel insurance program.

COVID-19 Safety

The health and safety of our voyagers and crew are the most important considerations on any Semester at Sea voyage. We are continually monitoring and adjusting our protocols to comply with best practice guidelines and global recommendations set by theCenters for Disease Control,World Health Organization,U.S.State Department,European Medicines Agency,International Maritime Organizationand theCruise Line Industry Association.

Health Clearance

Each voyager completes a Health History Form which allows key medical determinations and information to be shared with providers on the ship and, when necessary, in-country providers. Please help us in ensuring all medical history information is shared so that your student voyager can receive accurate and timely care no matter the clinic, country, or condition. In addition to a completed Health History Form, there is also a mental health questionnaire and supplemental forms for any medical or mental health specialists.

Global Conflicts & Peace

Semester at Sea is a member of theOverseas Security Advisory Council(OSAC)and routinely communicates with U.S. State Department officials to avoid potential conflict areas. Global Studies courses, Seminars, In-Port Lectures, and other opportunities provide an opportunity to examine and better understand global conflict and the work many are doing to create peace and change throughout the world.

Family Events

We hope you’ll engage in one of our virtual events designed to reach families throughout the world. If you are looking to engage through social media, you can like and follow us at our links at the bottom of this page. Our active alumni community also organizes a number ofin-person and virtual eventswhich are open to families and future voyagers.

Upcoming Virtual Events

No upcoming events.

Finances & Money

Semester at Sea invoicing systems are individualized to each student and contain sensitive information. Each student can access their financial expenses, credits, and updated bills through the Student Portal. Questions about finances can be answered by a Student Services Advisor.

Program Costs & Budgeting Tools

The opportunity to experience college aboard a floating university is something most of our students and families must include in their financial planning well in advance. As questions arise, we encourage students and their families to connect with their Student Support Advisor for personalized guidance. For an estimated breakdown of costs, please download thevoyage budget sheet.

How to Make Payments

Family members or emergency contacts do not have access to directly make payments as accounts are linked to the online account each student creates to utilize the online portal. Payment options include:

• MonthlyPayment Plan: Students may break the program fee balance into chunks with more time to pay. Students will enroll in an interest-free payment plan by emailingsaspaymentplan@semesteratsea.org. The benefit includes having three additional months to make final payments. More information can be found on theSAS Payment PlanFAQ.The deadline to enroll is October 25, 2023.
• Managing Incidental Costs: During the voyage, students will bill expenses on the ship to an account. Students receive a monthly itemized statement and provide a credit card for mandatory expenses such as fuel surcharges along with incidental expenses like laundry and snacks. Families and voyagers will often need to establish mutual expectations and budgets to manage costs of these incidental expectations.
• 529 Plans: State 529 plans can generally be used, with approval of the 529 organization, for study abroad. However, they will only release the funds to a Title IV institution so the check has to be sent to our academic partner, Colorado State University (CSU). CSU cannot disburse funds directly to Semester at Sea (SAS), so the process is lengthy and goes like this:
  1. SAS sends an invoice to the 529 company
  2. 529 company sends a check to CSU
  3. CSU receives the check and direct deposits it into the student’s account (you will have to set up a direct deposit with CSU)
  4. The student then pays their bill to SAS directly.

Keep in mind this process can take weeks or months.Students should reach out tofinancialaid@isevoyages.orgas soon as possible when hoping to use 529 funding towards the voyage.

Increasing Access Regardless of Income

Semester at Sea is committed to increasing access to our program to all students regardless of income. Students should work with their advisor to understand their expenses and need, how and when aid like loans and grant transfers, and what opportunities unique to Semester at Sea for which they would qualify.

Additional links which may be helpful:

• ISE Scholarships
• Pell Grant Match
• Monthly Payment Plan
• Additional Funding Options

Parents of Gap Year Students

We know that Gap Year students experience the voyage a little differently and Semester at Sea is here to support them from deposit to final disembarkation.

Questions? We are here to help!

Get in touch to learn more about how you can support your student on the voyage of a lifetime.