Semester at Sea: Exploration and Education in Porto, Portugal
Photos by Maddie Neely
From exploring Porto’s historic streets to studying healthcare access firsthand, Semester at Sea brings the classroom into the world
After arriving in Amsterdam, boarding the MV World Odyssey and meeting nearly 500 new peers, I have officially begun my study abroad journey with Semester at Sea.
The first days aboard the ship were filled with orientation sessions, faculty introductions, community-building activities, and conversations about what we hoped to gain from the four-month voyage. Despite being told repeatedly that the semester would go by quickly, I was still surprised by how quickly the first port arrived.
Before I knew it, we had reached Porto, Portugal, our first port of call.
Portugal greeted us with beautiful weather and four days of exploration. One of the unique aspects of Semester at Sea is the independence students have while in port. Outside of required academic activities and organized field trips, students are encouraged to explore each destination for themselves, providing an opportunity to experience each country authentically.
My friends and I began our time in Porto with a free walking tour through the city. Led by a local guide, we learned about Porto’s history, architecture and culture while also receiving recommendations for restaurants and places to visit. Fun Fact - Porto is one of Portugal’s oldest cities, and its historic center has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996!
From there, we made our way toward the Douro River, which runs through the heart of Porto. The river is one of the defining features of the city, and six bridges connect Porto with the neighboring city of Vila Nova de Gaia. Along the waterfront, we watched people fish, perform live music, and sell local crafts. Of course, no trip to Portugal would be complete without trying the local cuisine. We stopped at a restaurant to try bacalhau, a traditional salted cod dish that is famously said to have 365 different preparations, one for every day of the year. We finished the meal with pastel de nata, Portugal’s famous custard tart.
The following day, we traveled outside Porto to explore the coastal cities of Aveiro and Costa Nova. Aveiro is often called the “Venice of Portugal” because of its network of canals and colorful boats. There, we tried ovos moles, a traditional sweet made with egg yolks and sugar and wrapped in a thin communion wafer. After exploring Aveiro, we traveled to Costa Nova, a coastal town known for its colorful striped houses. Originally used by fishermen to store equipment and later as summer residences, the brightly painted buildings have become one of the area's most recognizable views. We also tried tripas de Aveiro, a local sweet that resembles a thicker crepe and is typically filled with chocolate. Finally, we then ended the excursion at the Chapel of Senhor da Pedra, a small chapel situated on rocks along the Atlantic coastline.
Our last day in Porto gave us another chance to explore the vibrant city. We tried more seafood, including octopus, and visited a large, intricately decorated sardine shop that quickly became one of my favorite stops. We also spent time wandering through local markets and taking in the casual pace of the city.
But our time in Porto was not just about sightseeing. Semester at Sea incorporates academics into every port through Comparative Experiential Projects, or CEPs. For these projects, students gather observations and experiences in different countries that they later use to develop final papers and projects for their classes.
For my Biomedical Ethics course, I am examining justice and access to healthcare across different healthcare systems. In Porto, I visited Hospital de Santo António, where I spoke with staff about waiting times for urgent and emergency care. One physician also generously gave me a brief tour of the hospital and introduced me to additional staff members who could provide insight into the Portuguese healthcare system.
My friends were working on CEPs of their own. One friend, who is taking an entrepreneurship course, was required to interview entrepreneurs in five different ports. While exploring Porto, we stopped at a local bookstore so he could speak with the owner. This quickly became one of my favorite interactions of the trip. The owner spent nearly 30 minutes showing us some of his favorite books and talking with us about his store.
In the end, Porto welcomed us warmly. I loved the busy moments of running through the city, trying new foods, and exploring unfamiliar streets, but I equally valued the quieter moments spent along the river, reflecting on the experience and the people around me.
On to our next destination: Morocco!