Watch Semester at Sea fall participants volunteer with Habitat for Humanity as part of a service project in South Africa. This audio slideshow captures images from Khayelitsha, a large township outside of Cape Town, where many new schools and homes are being built. Listen to participants remark on the opportunity to participate in service projects and cross-cultural engagements on Semester at Sea.

Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu paid an unexpected visit to the Fall 2008 voyage on Wednesday while the ship was docked in Cape Town, South Africa. The 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient addressed the community on topics including global climate change, war, and U.S. politics. The Archbishop has been a friend of the Semester at Sea program since 1992, sailing on the entire Spring 2007 voyage as Distinguished Lecturer in Residence.

Celebrate the first-annual SAS Founder's Day on Wednesday, October 22, 2008. The event will mark the 45th anniversary of the first voyage of Semester at Sea (then called the University of the Seven Seas) sailing out of New York City in 1963. Be part of the special day by wearing your Semester at Sea gear. Learn more about SAS Founder's Day.

This audio slideshow depicts Semester at Sea's historic first visit to the nation of Namibia. Students participated in a natural history trip to Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. Located in Namib Naukluft Park, a center for wilderness and environmental conservation, Sossusvlei is home to the highest sand dunes on the planet. Watch as participants hike, camp, and interact with local guides in a fascinating landscape.

Thinking of spending a term abroad with Semeter at Sea? You may want to check out www.studentsabroad.state.gov, a new website launched by the U.S. State Department as a "one-stop" reference for international travel. The site provides information on countries, tips for safe travel, and other important information about traveling overseas.

Enjoy an audio slideshow about Salvador—a city of 2.5 million on the coast of Brazil. Watch as participants experience the local culture through service visits to the Arte Consciente project and the Beu Machado kindergarten. Service work in the countries that Semester at Sea visits range from homebuilding to volunteering at orphanges to assisting with humanitarian efforts.

An article about educational travel opportunities for adventurous adults was published in Saturday's Wall Street Journal. The article highlights the benefits of Semester at Sea's Lifelong Learning Program and features interview comments from enthusiastic LLL alumnus Marty Zafman. Read the WSJ article online.

Be a part of the life-changing Semester at Sea experience as undergraduates, lifelong learners, parents, and friends arrive to the ship in Nassau and prepare to set sail for a 108-day academic journey around the world. View this slideshow with audio of embarkation day to hear comments from those who are about to set sail and see the emotional goodbyes with loved ones.

August 30, 2008: Semester at Sea continues to monitor the projected paths of tropical storms in the Caribbean and none are expected to impact the program at this time. The MV Explorer Captain has reported that the route of the ship is in a direction away from the tropical storms and we continue to maintain a safe distance from them. In the unlikely event that conditions change in a way that impacts the itinerary, additional updates will be provided on this site.

The MV Explorer departed Nassau, Bahamas as scheduled yesterday with 672 undergraduates representing 245 colleges and universities; 15 lifelong learners; 31 faculty; and 34 staff. The around-the-world voyage will last 108 days and explore 10 countries. Watch the voyage's progress on the current voyage website.