We offer unique educational adventures where our students live full-time aboard our vessels while spending a semester of their gap year sailing from island to island, country to country, or continent to continent in any number of global locations.
Learning, at its best, should be an active process, one in which the students are challenged on a daily basis with responsibilities that play a large part in the outcome of the voyage. Our gap year and study abroad semester at sea programs are designed to do just that - learn by doing, while seeing and experiencing those things that most students only read about in books.
The shipboard education programs that we offer are highly experiential, yet college-level academics are a strong component of each voyage. In this respect, students further their own knowledge as well as build their college transcripts while sailing aboard with us.
You will learn marine biology and oceanography as you conduct research diving on the reefs; geology as you trek through mountainous terrain; meteorology and navigation as you plot your course among the islands; leadership skills as you work within a close team. Our Global voyages also offer advanced level sail training, professional development, and even the opportunity for more advanced students to design and implement their own personal educational project.
The learning is multifaceted. Thus the curriculum, as well as the day-to-day itinerary and schedule, come to life. The experiences onboard are life-defining and rewarding, not simply as an adjunct part, but rather as a benchmark of your education.
We run multiple voyages throughout the year. Please visit the voyages page of our website for accurate information on the dates, destinations, and tuitions for our upcoming programs.
This trip was truly life-changing. The friends I met, the places I visited, and the experiences of living aboard a ship have forever changed what I want my future to look like and the path I am going down. From the minute I stepped on board S/Y Vela I felt welcomed and encouraged to be myself and learn as much as I could. From living in a small bunk in the fo'c'sle to the oceanography lectures, raising sails, and coming into port, I will remember every day as one of the best days of my life. To anyone who wants a program to challenge themselves, create lasting memories with lifelong friends, and in search of adventure, I cannot recommend this program enough.