“This year has by far been the best year so far in my life. Even with its ups and downs it has been an amazing experience. My favorite port was definetly Jamaica. I had so much fun during that port and got to experience a totally different culture than anything I had ever experienced before. Apart from all the cool ports we traveled to, I would say that being part of the deckcrew has been, in some cases, more fun than being in port.

Right now, we are lucky enough to stay at an AirBNB in quarantine, instead of staying on the ship. This has been a really great solution considering the circumstances. A+ has had to make some tough decisions and they have handled this situation very well. When we sailed in they helped us contact our parents and made every decision based on our safety.”

“I think everyone around me knew that I was very excited and had a lot of expectations when it came to this year. When we started the year in Kristiansand I thought I had it all figured out. In reality, I knew nothing. I have learned so much from the ship, the ports and the cultural experiences we have had this year. And I have met people I now consider family, and created connections that I didn’t know could be so strong. When I look back at the past months, they have truly been the best days of my life. The things we experience brings us closer together, and we share memories we couldn’t have made without the ship. Everything from setting sails, crossing the equator and even running around on deck during squalls, is what makes this year an unforgettable adventure. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.”

“This year has by far been the best year so far in my life. Even with its ups and downs it has been an amazing experience. My favorite port was definetly Jamaica. I had so much fun during that port and got to experience a totally different culture than anything I had ever experienced before. Apart from all the cool ports we traveled to, I would say that being part of the deckcrew has been, in some cases, more fun than being in port.

Right now, we are lucky enough to stay at an AirBNB in quarantine, instead of staying on the ship. This has been a really great solution considering the circumstances. A+ has had to make some tough decisions and they have handled this situation very well. When we sailed in they helped us contact our parents and made every decision based on our safety.”

“This year has been everything. There is no other way to explain it. It has been the year where I’ve felt the most down but also the most up. It has been the year where I’ve cried the most, but also had the most convulsive laughter. It has been the year where I’ve experienced life. All this has made me grow close to people in a way I never thought was possible for a human-being.

I’m actually impressed in how A+ have dealt with this crisis. First, they cancelled parent-port which in itself was bad news, but they made the best out of the situation by renting beautiful beach houses for us here on Bermuda where we are able to be together, but also have some much needed space. We have access to a beach and a huge garden. We are also able to order food when it’s needed, ontop of all the food in the fridge. All this happens in a safe way, so we are not taking any risks to be infected. So, I want to say thank you A+ for everything you are giving us, now and before.”

“This year gave me a lesson, actually, many. When I first came and we had 4 hour watches it seemed to be a nightmare. It was hard and it was difficult to be far from home, but it made me realise so many things that cannot be explained in a piece of paper.

I am so very happy with the overall experience. There are so many things that I have earned while here. I have a new family and all the things I went through with these people. Every day here is a story to tell and there is not a moment you are bored. Yes, there are bad days and good days but every day matters here.”

“This year has been the greatest year of my life. With the bag full of experiences, it’s soon time for it to end. Thank you, A+ Academy for giving me this opportunity. At the start of the year, I met a lot of strangers on the dock in Kristiansand. Our adventure will end on the same dock. However, I will not leave strangers, I will leave family.

With the corona virus out there, our adventure took an unexpected turn. The school has a lot of responsibility, and in my opinion, they have made hard and good decisions. Thanks again for giving me this opportunity. I wouldn’t trade this year for anything.”

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