On Semester at Sea, the majority of students on board the ship are from the U.S., so it’s very common to hear English as the primary language. However, there are many international students. My friend Lazar is from Serbia, and my other friend Dan is from Hong Kong, so it’s also common to hear people speaking other languages. In Brazil, where the ship will arrive in two days, the most common language spoken is Portuguese! Olá!
On board the boat, everyone uses a shipboard account. This is a personal account under your name where all of your onboard charges are processed. For example, laundry costs $8 per load, and the snack bar near the pool—where you can buy burgers, pizza, smoothies, coffee, and snacks—will all be charged directly to this account. However, once you step off the ship in Brazil, the official currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL). Currently, 1 BRL is worth approximately $0.20 USD.
Semester at Sea doesn’t sell bottled water on board, but staying hydrated is easy! The ship features water refill stations throughout the decks, as well as ice water stations during all meal times. If you need a reusable bottle, you can grab one—along with plenty of other merch—at the student store.
