Dear prospective Golden Bear Cadet,

If I were contemplating going on Cal Poly Quarter at Sea for the second time, I would have to say that without a doubt I would do it again. Before I even came to Cal Poly I heard about the program and I knew I wanted to do it, so I was an easy sell. But for someone who is unsure, this was an experience like nothing else.

The ocean is amazing; I loved being out on the ocean. You are out for days at a time with no land in sight. So either you really need to like the ocean, or hopefully you will gain a new appreciation for it. The CMA system is very different from Cal Poly and it takes a few days to get adjusted to the daily schedule of the ship. But it is fun to be in a setting, similar to the dorms, where you spend all of your time with the people on the ship. If you can deal with being told where to be, what to wear, and having the occasional cleaning duty, then you should be able to adjust easily. nothing is set in stone on the ship, not even the port schedules. Rules and people may all change. So you learn to be flexible. But overall this is the best way to travel by far. not only do you get to experience life on a training ship, but there are also some incredible destinations. You will see amazing sights and cultures wherever you visit.

If you are uncertain about going, I would say take this unique opportunity. Cal Poly is lucky that they have the privilege to participate in this program. Not every college has this program, unless you would like to spend close to $20,000 for the Semester at Sea program. Even though there were a few bumps along the way, I enjoyed the cruise so much that words really cannot explain it. I would do this again, and I hope that I do.