To prospective Golden Bear Cadets,

Taking advantage of this incredible opportunity can be one of the best decisions of your life. This adventure is an experience I will always remember and wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who is interested. The ports we travel to are awesome and the time spend on the ship is an experience all its own. Besides bestowing travel to intriguing foreign countries, this trip gives you a chance to make new friendships. I know that some of the people I have met on this trip are friends that I will have forever.

So this trip sounds great, but there are also some realities one has to understand. This is not a pleasure cruise. Every student on the ship is considered a cadet and we do have responsibilities. Some classes may be a little less demanding, but for the most part the workload is fairly similar to a quarter at Cal Poly. Your day at sea is a lot more structured than regular. In port we are set free all day. However, at night we are expected to return to the ship by a certain time. The snug room situation may not sound very appealing, but in reality it does not cause any problems. Anything else you may be questioning is nothing to worry about.

Basically, the downsides to living on a ship for two months are far outweighed by the positive aspects. The time spent in port is full of exploring new places and their culture. The days spent are sea are a great time for developing new friendships. I do not hesitate in urging you to embark upon this amazing voyage.