If I had any one suggestion to anyone thinking about going to Cal Poly at Sea, it would be go. I debated going up until the last minute. I finally decided to go, and I have not a single regret. I literally met dozens and dozens of new friends that I definitely plan on keeping in touch with for my remaining years at Cal Poly. You will rarely, if ever, have the chance to get this close to this many people this quickly. Now you are stuck on a ship with these people for two months, so you do need to be able to get along with people somewhat well. There will undoubtedly be some people who you just can't stand, however, you are able, for the most part, to avoid people if need be, and it is a good way to force yourself to learn to deal with people if nothing else.

Classes are not that bad at all, but you do need to stay up on studying because tests are pretty close together and you won't get any studying done while at ports. The ports are incredibly fun, and there wasn't a night where I didn't want to stay out past curfew just because I was having so much fun. However, during the day in ports I strongly suggest trying to do as much as you can. Get up and go, don't just sit around. There really are some cool things to do, especially if you try to experience the "native" culture of a land, but it does take time and effort to get to these places usually. Try to talk to as many of the locals as you can for there is a lot to learn about how they view both our culture and theirs. The food is actually quite good on the ship, and many of us saved a lot of money by eating on the ship for dinner at ports. I will agree it is good to try some authentic foods from any given place, but make that lunch or something.

Basically, Cal Poly at Sea is what you make of it. I have never had more fun in two months, especially in a quarter at Cal Poly, as I did not this trip. There are more stories and memories to ever be able to retell fully, and more fun to be had than anyone should have in a college quarter. In other words, just go, you won't regret it at all.