See the best of what Semester at Sea has to offer—including videos, audio slideshows, testimonials, and more—on the SAS microsite. Completely integrated with the official SAS Facebook page, YouTube Channel, and Twitter account, the site is a great way to kick off an application process, chat with Institute for Shipboard Education personnel, and find all the information you're looking for with just the click of a button. Get Started by clicking here or on Set Sail above.

August 27, 2009: As the Institute for Shipboard Education prepares to send off the 100th Voyage of Semester at Sea, worldwide concerns over the spread of the H1N1 (swine flu) have triggered the implementation of a specific contingency plan as part of an ISE/SAS H1N1 Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan. ISE officials, the captain and crew, medical staff, and experts are working closely with international and local public health offices to prepare for any potential outbreak. Read the ISE/SAS Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan for the Fall 2009 voyage.

August 22, 2009: The Summer 2009 Voyage of Semester at Sea returned to the port of Norfolk, Va. this morning to a crowd of clapping and sign-waving parents, families, and friends. The harbor provides a unique opportunity for the ship to make a dramatic 180-degree turn and pull alongside the shore, allowing for students and families to wave to one another from the ship. The voyage visited 8 countries in 67 days during its travels to North Africa and the Mediterranean. See photos of the arrival.

Please be advised that the Institute for Shipboard Education and the captain and senior officers of the MV Explorer are closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Bill in the Atlantic Ocean. At this time, the hurricane is not expected to impact the upcoming Fall 2009 voyage. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and will keep you informed of any changes.

From the SAS Voyage Blog: Many students would love to be a part of the Semester at Sea experience, but often do not think it is possible because of their financial constraints. Quite the contrary. Lots of students get financial assistance. In fact, nearly half of the students on the Summer 2009 voyage received financial aid from the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE). For the past several years, ISE has been working diligently to build the SAS Annual Fund to support scholarships and aid to make voyages accessible for all interested students. Read more on the SAS Voyage Blog.

Semester at Sea's annual shipboard drive got off to a strong start thanks to the $25,695 raised in a recent one-day shipboard auction. Students, staff and faculty bid in both silent and live auctions organized throughout the day and evening. Many in the shipboard community—including the captain and crew—as well as parents of students donated each of the 127 items that were up for bid. All funds raised go to the Semester at Sea Annual Fund, which supports student scholarships, faculty/staff initiatives, and on-ship programs. Read more on the SAS Voyage Blog.

The sites, sounds, and international opportunities that are part of every Semester at Sea voyage come to life in slideshows with audio on Turkey and Bulgaria. Watch as the shipboard community learns with local scholars in Istanbul and explores the unique geological region of Cappadocia. The port of Varna, Bulgaria provides students with a facinating look at the art of interactive puppetry.

Cairo, Egypt: Current voyagers were given a surprise tour of Pharaoh Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, a site not open to the public, by Dr. Zahi Hawass, one of the world's leading archeologists. Hawass, who has been featured in numerous documentaries about the Pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings, recently gave a tour of the pyramids to President Obama. Read more.

This slideshow with audio on Greece provides a detailed look at the ancient wonders and surroundings of Athens. From the Acropolis to the Parthenon to the National Museum of Archeology, students explored the art, history, and legacy of this 2,500 year-old region. In addition, many voyagers traveled 120 miles to visit Delphi, the sacred site of the oracle of Apollo.

This slideshow with audio on Croatia depicts field program activities and professor-led excursions during the voyage community's call on Dubrovnik. Participants explored the unique protective walls of the ancient Adriatic city and also traveled to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Academic Dean Michael Smith. Listen to participant reflections on the lasting reminders of the Balkan War.