Field Programs FAQ

Are homestay Field Programs available?

Yes, in certain countries.

Are meals included in the cost of Field Programs?

Most meals are included. If a meal is included in a trip it will say so in the Final Field Program. For overnight trips this information can be found at the end of each day's description in parentheses. The meals are indicated by B, L, D (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Can students still sign up for Faculty-Directed Practica (FDPs) if they don’t have that professor?

Yes, you may sign-up for FDPs that are not led by your professor. However, if the trip is oversubscribed, then those who are in that professor's class will receive priority.

Do I have to participate in all of the Faculty-Directed Practica (FDPs) that my professors suggest?

No, you do not have to do all of the FDPs suggested by your professors. You are usually required to do 2-3 field activities, which may include FDPs for each of your classes.

Do I have to sign up for Field Programs? If I choose not to, what is there to do while in port?

Once the ship arrives in port you are free to travel about the country as you wish. There are many resources onboard such as guidebooks and a collection of independent travel recommendations for each port. Students and faculty also post travel suggestions. There is never a lack of things to do in port, whether you're on a Semester at Sea trip or traveling independently. However, when traveling independently we suggest you do so in a group to reduce safety concerns.

Does financial aid cover any Field Programs?

First and foremost, financial aid will be applied to your tuition balance. Once your bill is paid, you can usually request that excess financial aid be transferred to your field trips. We must have confirmation in our financial aid office that these funds are approved.

How and when do I sign up for Field Programs?

After you have been admitted, you will receive a packet containing the Final Field Program which will list all the field programs available for your voyage. Read through this booklet carefully, select the trips that you are interested in for the ports on the first half of your itinerary, and send it back to us before the indicated deadline. For field programs in later ports you will repeat the same process while you are aboard the ship.

How many Field Programs does the typical student sign up for?

The number of trips a participant takes depends on the travel preferences of each individual. There are extremes that go both ways; some students take an overnight trip in every port, while others take only day trips. Students must take into consideration how much money they have available, what trips truly interest them, how much independent travel they would like to do, as well as many other factors. Basically, it is up to you. It is your voyage and your decision. The average number of trips (day and overnight combined) over the course of the entire voyage taken by participants is between 10 and 15.

How much money do most students spend on Field Programs?

Once again, there are extremes. Some students spend thousands, while others spend a few hundred dollars or less. Over the past several years, the average has been around $2,500 per student.

If I decide not to go on a trip can I sell it to someone else?

You may sell your tickets for most day trips to other students on the ship. Overnight trips have arrangements such as hotel accommodations and airline reservations made in your name. For these reasons, as well as other administrative issues, you cannot sell overnight trips.

If I didn’t get a pre-sale trip that I requested, why was I still charged for the trip? How will I be reimbursed?

If you charged a trip and did not get a space, the money will be credited toward your field account on the ship. If you want the funds back prior to boarding you must call our office in Charlottesville, VA (800-854-0195) to make this request.

If I have two trips on the same day, how far apart should I space them?

The times a trip departs and returns to the ship are approximate and there is no guarantee that you will get back at the scheduled time. Therefore, it is wise to leave at least an hour between trips.

If my classes are not yet finalized, how will I know what Faculty-Directed Practica (FDPs) to sign up for?

All FDPs are day trips. The first port of call is generally the only port for which Semester at Sea sells day trips on pre-sale. You will have your classes finalized on the ship before the day trips for all other ports are sold.

Is it possible to cancel trips? Will I still be charged?

All field programs are considered final sale and cancellation may result in a full or partial penalty. If you wish to cancel a day trip, you will not receive any refund. However, you may sell your ticket for that trip to a fellow shipmate. In the case of pre-sale and overnight trips, you may receive a partial refund if you cancel your trip well in advance of its departure. The minimum penalty for cancellation is as follows: If 30-44 days prior to arrival in that port the cancellation fee is 50% of the price of the trip, if 15-29 days prior to arrival the fee is 75%, if 14 or fewer days prior to arrival the fee is 100%.

Is sign-up for the trips first-come, first-serve?

Only trip request forms received after the deadline are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. For those trips that fill up, SAS runs a computer-generated lottery for all those who submitted their forms on time. This same sign-up system will also be used on the ship.

Might new Field Programs be added while I am on the ship? How do I pay for these?

The trips listed in the Final Field Program are the trips scheduled for the entire voyage. Occasionally a trip will be added during the voyage, but this is not a frequent occurrence. If a trip is added during the voyage, information will appear in the Field Program Addendum or in the onboard Dean's Memo.

My friend/family member is meeting me in one of the ports. Can they go on a field excursion with me?

Yes. Friends and family that are meeting you in port are welcome to join any Semester at Sea field trip on a space-available basis. However, Semester at Sea students are given first preference. Therefore, if a trip is oversold, your friends and family will be the first ones bumped. Also, you must purchase any additional trips at the time you are purchasing trips for yourself, whether pre-sale or during one of the sales on the ship.

What are Faculty Directed Practica (FDPs)?

What are Field Programs?

Field Programs are Semester at Sea organized trips that are structured to help you fulfill academic requirements while satisfying your specific travel interests. They compose an integral part of the Semester at Sea experience by offering students the opportunity to become actively involved in the countries visited.

What are Service Visits? Are they different than Service Projects?

Service Visits and Projects are trips that encourage involvement with local people and their community. They are hands-on, interactive experiences that allow you to give back to the local community. Past Service Visits have typically included visits to orphanages, schools or hospitals. Service Projects make direct contributions to the community such as building a Habitat for Humanity house in Cape Town or cleaning and repairing school grounds in Chennai.

What happens if I miss my trip? Can I get a refund?

No. Unfortunately, if you miss your trip you will not receive a refund.

When and how do I sign up for trips in the later ports?

You will be given the opportunity to sign up for trips in later ports while you are on the ship. The sign-up system will be very similar to the pre-sale process. However, all trips that you register for will be billed to your shipboard account.

Why are some trips pre-sale only? I noticed that only the first few ports are offered during pre-sale. Can I sign up for these when I am on the ship?

The field programs that are pre-sale only are those that require more planning and usually involve overnight accommodations, travel within or outside of the port country, and tickets purchased in the name of the student. For these reasons, overnight trips for the first half of the itinerary are always pre-sale and you may only sign up for them in advance via the Final Field Program booklet.