1. Never pass up a sunrise or sunset

 

… no explanation needed.

 

 

 

2. Partake in fine dining at the Four Seasons at least once

 

It’s always fun to dress up and celebrate a birthday or a special occasion. The chef prepares a new 5 course menu every week or so. I went about 3 times during my 3.5 month voyage.

 

 

3. Kiss a fish on Neptune Day!! 

 

About halfway through the voyage we crossed the equator. In order to go from a pollywog to a shellback you get soaked with “fish slime”, jump into the pool, kiss a dead fish, and then meet King Neptune (a professor dressed in a costume), kiss his/her ring, and are officially a shellback. And then you dance the rest of the day away on the top deck of the ship.

 

 

4. Become a Sea Captain and/or participate in the Sea Olympics

 

Every section or floor of the ship is split into different seas- I was the Baltic Sea. And every sea competes in different competitions: group dance, chess, rap-off, tug of war, water balloon toss, ect. As one of 5 sea captains, I was responsible for making sure there were events catered to everyone’s different abilities and getting people in my sea to participate.

 

5. Never say no to game nights in the lido terrace!! 

 

People usually gather in the lido deck to play games every night. GO! It’s a great way to make friends.

 

 

 

6. Dress up for every holiday

 Head to the top deck for dances and music!! My voyage fell over Halloween and it was a blast. 

 

7. Make the very important decision of Berlin vs. Lido

 

SASers love to argue about which dining hall is the better meal spot. It will always be Lido for me because of the option to eat outside.

 

 

8. Actually go to global studies

 

Global studies is the required course that everyone must take in order to sail on the ship; it teaches you important information about each port as well as the world. I know some days it’s tough to drag yourself out of bed and actually go… but trust me there’s so much useful information to learn. 

 

 

9. Always find an excuse to order a cake 

 

The ship sells specialty cakes for birthdays or celebrations… gather a group of friends outside and eat some!! (cake not pictured)

 

10. Spend your “study days” tanning by the pool

 

Every so often we got the day off from classes to “study”. I spent my days by the pool with friends.

 

11. Sleep outside under the stars

 

Once on the ship gather your closest friends and pick a night to sleep on the front of deck 9. Find the clearest night with the brightest stars, gather around and sing or tell stories. This will be a memory that you will remember forever. 

 

12. Sign up for a tour of the bridge

 

It’s fun to be on a ship for over 3 months, but it’s also fun to learn how the ship is operated and how the crew navigates the different parts of the voyage. 

 

 

 

 

13. Paint the voyage countries on your back and take an epic pic with your friends!

 

I gathered a few of my friends at 3 am and we all painted the voyage countries on our backs and took an epic topless pic!

 

 

 

14. Buy something at the school store

 

Buy just one thing whether it’s a shirt or a world map.. You’ll thank me later & don’t wait until the last minute either, everything will be gone! 

15. Take a pic with the giant World Odyssey logo

 

 

 

16. See how much peanut butter you and your shipmates can eat

 

On my voyage we ate 25,000 pounds of peanut butter!!

 

17. Get your nails painted in the salon with all of the countries!

 

Do this for the alumni ball… trust me you won’t regret it. Plus it gives you an excuse to try out the salon/spa if you haven’t yet!

 

18. Put on your fanciest clothes, wave your napkin in the air, and attend the Alumni Ball

 

Some of my shipmates got custom suits in Vietnam for very cheap or went shopping in Japan for a beautiful dress to wear to the Ball. This is the event that everyone looks forward to the entire voyage where you celebrate that you are graduating from the voyage. 

 

 

19. Have your map signed

 

At the end of the voyage everyone buys a map from the school store and has their friends sign it and write little notes.

 

 

20. BBQ days after ports

 

I’m not going to lie, this was some of my favorite food I had on the ship. After a few of the ports the crew would hold an American style BBQ night with all kinds of grilled food on the top deck by the pool. It was so fun to gather around with friends and reminisce about each individuals experience. 

 

21. Find the best roommate and make your tiny cabin feel like home

 

I found Hana on facebook before the voyage. We couldn’t have turned out to be more opposite but she is one of my closest friends till this day and has become family. 

 

 

22. Join a club

 

I joined this club where you could have an adopted ship family. Life-long learners (older people who paid and joined the voyage) or professors and their families took you under their wing for the duration of the voyage. Anna Beth and John were my ship parents, they were an older couple around my grandparents age, traveling on the ship. Our group would meet once for dinner between ports; we played games, talked about life, and just hung out. When my phone got pick pocketed John gave me his extra to borrow for the rest of the voyage. 

 

23. Attend any event held in the Kaisersaal 

 

Aka the main room on the ship (believe it’s been renamed now). There are ship talent shows, crew talent shows, a ship auction, open mic nights, and more. 

 

 

 

 

24. Get in your voyage picture!

 

 

25. Come up with a ship motto 

Every morning of our 125th Semester at Sea voyage we would hear Matt Parisi (assistant executive dean) over the loudspeaker say… LOOK ALIVE 125!!