The Semester at Sea study abroad program lasts 60 to 100 days. Some of these will be at sea and others in different countries. Depending on where the voyage goes, the travelers may need clothing to withstand freezing mountain tops, scorching beaches, and tropical rainforests. With limited space, it can be difficult to find the balance between taking too much stuff and have too many things.
There are several things that need to be taken into consideration to have a perfectly packed suitcase that will suit all of the travelers needs. The voyager needs enough to last the trip, but also has to remember to leave room for souvenirs on the journey home. It all starts with a suitcase, preferably a soft-sided one with wheels.
Packing Clothes for Semester at Sea
The first thing to remember is that there is a laundry service aboard the ship. It will be possible to get clothing cleaned, but there is a schedule. It’s also a good idea to not bring clothing that doesn’t have sentimental value. The voyager's room number is often written on the tags when washed. but like with any vacation, clothing can be forgotten or damaged. When packing, the voyagers must first consider the climates of the countries they will visit. Long sleeves, sweaters, and pants are a must for cold countries. There could also be cold, rainy days on the ship that will require warmer clothing.
The traveler must also remember that he will most likely be buying clothes during the trip. The ship has a campus store with Semester at Sea shirts and other gear and each country will also have clothing. Packing too many clothes at the start and not leaving room for more will weigh down bags at the end of the trip. The traveler will also need to make space for at least one nice outfit for meeting host-families or fine dinners. Every voyage also has a ball, so girls will need a gown and boys will need a suit.
Packing Toiletries for Semester at Sea
The key words to remember for toiletries are travel size. Each room on the ship has shampoo, conditioner, and soap. And even though there may be different brands, soaps and shampoos can be bought in port as well. It will be too much trouble to stuff a bag with heavy, full sized shampoos. There are also plenty of sheets and towels as well. While it is a good idea to have a single town just in case, it isn’t the end of the world to not pack one. A thin, micro fiber towel is a great thing to have. It’s light, dries quickly, and can be packed easily.
It is also important to not have too much leftover at the end of the trip. Most people ruthlessly throw out leftovers when the voyage ends to make their bags lighter and to make room for their souvenirs. A half-empty travel-sized bottle of shampoo will be much easier to part with than a full-sized bottle that was hardly used.
Necessities to Pack on Semester at Sea
- Backpacks or small duffle bags: A lot of trips into the countries will be overnight. Nobody wants to end up without a bag for their clothing and shampoo. Be sure to have a bag large enough for all of the clothing needed in a country with room for souvenirs.
- Snacks: If it isn’t a designated meal time and a voyager is hungry, he’ll be happy if he packed some snacks. It’s best to get crackers or something from in port and, making sure they stay sealed, bring them aboard. These will also be great during late-night study sessions.
- Silk Sleep Sack: A tiny sleeping bag that can be rolled up to just about four inches long and two inches in diameter. It won’t add extra warmth, but when visiting other countries it can be an invaluable thing to wrap up in while in bed. If the sheets look dirty or a traveler ends up on a couch, he will be glad that he has a sleep sack with him.
- Camera Memory Cards or Flash Drives: If a person only brings one memory card for his camera, he risks it filling up before the voyage ends. There is also the risk of theft, damage, or loss. Stolen cameras are nobody’s fault, but theft is a risk anywhere a person goes. It can be devastating to lose a camera full of pictures, no matter how it winds up missing. Having a way to dump the pictures regularly will be invaluable. One method is to bring a memory card for each country. Each card can be kept safely on the ship once it is full of pictures. Another way is to have a flash drive that pictures can be frequently transferred on to.
Semester at Sea is an incredible experience and nobody should have their trip ruined because they didn’t pack correctly. Packing lists should be checked and double-checked. If there is any question about if something is really necessary then it isn’t. As long as voyagers leave room for things they pick up along the way and don’t bring anything they can’t part with, then their Semester at Sea experience will be a wonderful one.
Luggage Packed for Semester at Sea
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Back of MV Explorer
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