FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A six-month journey across the Atlantic is a significant decision – for teenagers as well as their parents. Therefore, we want to keep you as informed as possible from the very beginning.

Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about participation, school, life on board, support, safety, communication, land projects, costs and preparation.

If your question isn't answered here, please feel free to contact us personally. We'll take the time to answer your questions.

Participation & Application

Who can participate in Nautic Horizons?

Nautic Horizons is aimed at young people aged 14 to 17 from secondary school levels I and II.

No sailing experience is necessary. Far more important are openness, curiosity, and a willingness to immerse oneself in a new environment, community life, and many new experiences for six months.

How long is the voyage?

The journey lasts six months and takes place from October to April. It starts and returns in Amsterdam.

During this time, the young people live, learn and travel together on board the Regina Maris.

Do I need to already know how to sail?

No. Sailing experience is not a requirement.

On board, the young people are gradually introduced to their tasks and guided by the nautical crew. Over time, they take on increasing responsibility and are actively involved in daily life on board.

How does the application process work?

After receiving the application, we would like to get to know the young people and their families personally.

In a joint discussion, we will present Nautic Horizons in detail, talk about expectations and open questions, and jointly determine whether the project is suitable for the respective young person.

Since our participants are minors, we also require the consent of their legal guardians.

School & Lessons

How does school work on board?

School lessons continue throughout the entire journey and are fully integrated into daily life on board.

Our teachers teach the students in small groups and, wherever possible, take into account the relevant curriculum content and requirements of each student’s home school.

Before departure, we coordinate important academic topics together with the families and home schools.

Will I miss important schoolwork during the journey?

Our goal is to ensure that students maintain their academic progress as effectively as possible throughout the six months. To achieve this, lessons continue consistently on board.

In consultation with the home school, students can also take exams and other assessments on board.

As educational requirements may vary depending on the school, federal state or country of origin, we recommend discussing participation in Nautic Horizons with the respective home school well in advance.

Which subjects are taught on board?

Lessons are based on the subjects relevant to the participating students. These include, in particular, German, Mathematics, English, Spanish, Science, Geography, History and Physical Education.

The journey also provides many opportunities to connect classroom subjects directly with experiences on board and during our land-based projects.

Can exams and assessments be taken on board?

Yes. Following prior consultation with the home school, exams and other assessments can be completed during the journey on board.

The specific requirements and content are coordinated individually with each student’s home school.

Is internet access available for schoolwork?

Yes. There are dedicated internet times for educational purposes, separate from the students’ personal phone days.

Students can use these times to download learning materials from their home schools, submit assignments or access necessary academic information.

If additional materials or information are needed during the journey, we can get in touch with the respective home school. This allows missing content to be provided and academic requirements to be coordinated throughout the journey.

Life on board

What does a typical day at sea look like?

The daily routine combines lessons, watches, shared meals, onboard tasks, and leisure time.

Since life on a sailing ship is shaped by wind, weather, and the watch system, no two days are the same. This is precisely what makes life on board such a unique learning and experiential environment.

What tasks do the young people take on?

The young people are not just passengers on board, but are actively involved in daily life on board.

Under the guidance of the nautical crew, they learn, among other things, how to set sails, steer the ship, and apply the basics of navigation and meteorology. Tasks on deck, in the galley, and within the ship's community are also part of the program.

Do the teenagers have to stand guard at night?

Yes. Night watches are part of life on a sailing ship and are part of everyday life on board.

The young people take on these duties in fixed watch groups and together with the responsible crew. In doing so, they learn navigation, weather observation, and safe ship operation, including at night.

Where are the young people housed?

The teenagers are staying in four-person cabins on board the Regina Maris. The cabins are separated by gender, so girls and boys are accommodated in separate cabins.

Living together in a confined space is an important part of daily life on board. In this way, the young people learn to be considerate of one another, to take responsibility, and to organize their daily lives as a community.

Is there any leisure time on board?

Yes. Besides lessons, guard duty and shared tasks, there is also free time.

These can be used for reading, sports, listening to music, playing games, conversations, or simply relaxing. Especially on longer sea voyages, a unique shared daily routine develops on board.

Mobile Phones, Internet & Contact with Home

How often can the students use their mobile phones?

Mobile phone use is deliberately limited during the journey. The students’ phones are kept safely on board and are generally returned to them at scheduled times every two to three weeks.

These intentional breaks from smartphones are an important part of our concept. They give the students the opportunity to fully engage with life on board, build strong relationships within the group and experience the journey and shared moments more consciously.

Is Wi-Fi available on board?

The Regina Maris has an internet connection for essential communication, organisation and educational purposes.

However, students do not have unrestricted or permanent private internet access. Separate internet times are provided for school-related purposes.

How are parents kept informed during the journey?

Although students have limited access to their smartphones, parents are kept regularly informed throughout the entire journey.

Rona Duba from the project management team keeps families updated on life and developments on board. Parents generally receive an email two to three times per week with updates about the journey, everyday life on board and how the students and the group are doing.

These updates are complemented by travel blogs, photos and reports from life on board and the land-based projects. Important organisational information or changes are, of course, also communicated directly.

This means that families continue to receive regular insights into life on board, even between the scheduled phone days.

How can students stay in touch with their families?

On the scheduled phone days, students have the opportunity to contact their families and friends.

In urgent or important situations, we are of course available regardless of these scheduled times. If direct contact between parents and their child is necessary, we will make sure this can be arranged.

What happens if a student feels homesick?

Homesickness can occur, particularly at the beginning of a six-month journey. Our educational and pastoral team is there to support the students, talk with them and help them adjust to their new environment.

Together, we look at what each individual student needs to feel comfortable within the group and settle into their new everyday life on board.

Care & Community

Who accompanies the young people during the six months?

The young people will be accompanied during the trip by a team of teachers, educational support staff and professional nautical crew.

Responsibilities are clearly defined: The nautical crew is responsible for the ship, navigation, and safety at sea. Teachers and educational staff take care of lessons, community building, and the personal support of the young people.

On selected longer sea passages, the team will be supplemented with additional medical personnel.

How are conflicts resolved on board?

Where people live together for six months, conflicts can arise. These are a part of living together and are not ignored by us, but rather addressed with educational support and resolved together.

The young people learn to perceive different perspectives, address conflicts, and develop solutions together. If needed, our educational mentors provide support through individual or group discussions.

What happens if a teenager is unwell for an extended period of time?

Our educational chaperones are dedicated contacts for the young people and also support them through personal challenges during the trip.

Should it become apparent that an issue cannot be resolved in the short term or that further support is needed, the next steps will be discussed together with the young person and – depending on the situation – the parents.

Safety & Medical Care

How is medical care organised on board?

Throughout the entire six-month journey, a qualified emergency paramedic accompanies the Regina Maris. This ensures that the students have access to a medically trained professional on board, including during longer passages at sea.

During the Atlantic crossings, the team is additionally supported by a doctor.

The Regina Maris also carries a comprehensive on-board medical kit and medical equipment, specifically prepared for the sailing area and the particular requirements of a multi-month voyage at sea.

Should an illness or injury require further medical treatment, the necessary course of action will be determined based on the individual situation. This may include seeking medical assistance ashore or, if necessary, calling at a suitable port.

Which vaccinations are required for the journey?

Due to the different sailing areas and countries along our route, early travel health preparation is important.

The following vaccinations are required or recommended for our journey:

Tetanus, diphtheria and polio
Hepatitis A and B
Measles, mumps and rubella
Rabies
Yellow fever
Typhoid

Specific requirements and recommendations may change depending on the final route and the applicable entry and health regulations. All families therefore receive our current medical information and vaccination recommendations before departure. We also recommend seeking individual advice from a travel medicine specialist.

What happens in bad weather or during a storm?

Wind and changing weather conditions are a natural part of sailing. Weather conditions and forecasts are continuously monitored and taken into account when planning the journey.

Decisions regarding the ship’s course, speed, port stays or any necessary changes to the route are made by the responsible ship’s command. If conditions require it, the itinerary will be adjusted accordingly.

What happens in a medical emergency?

Medical equipment and appropriately trained personnel are available on board. During selected longer passages at sea, the medical support on board is additionally strengthened.

Depending on the situation, the necessary medical care will be assessed and appropriate action taken. This may include seeking external medical assistance or calling at a suitable port if required.

What happens if a student gets seasick?

Seasickness can occur, particularly at the beginning of a voyage or in rougher sea conditions, and affects everyone differently.

Our crew is experienced in dealing with seasickness and supports the students accordingly. If necessary, suitable medication is available as part of the medical care on board.

Which insurance is required?

All participants are required to have international health insurance that covers the entire duration of the journey and all regions visited.

Before departure, families will receive information about the required proof of insurance.

Route & Land-Based Projects

Which countries will we visit?

The six-month journey starts in Amsterdam and crosses the Atlantic towards the Caribbean and Central America, before returning to Europe via the North Atlantic.

Possible destinations include the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, various Caribbean islands, Panama, Costa Rica, Bermuda and the Azores.

As we are travelling on a sailing ship, the exact route is influenced by wind, weather, safety and local conditions. This means that individual destinations may vary from year to year.

Why isn’t the entire route fixed in advance?

An Atlantic journey on a sailing ship cannot be compared to travelling according to a fixed timetable.

Wind and weather determine part of our route. At the same time, we continuously take into account current conditions and the safety situation at our planned destinations.

This flexibility is an essential part of a genuine sailing journey and allows us to make decisions with safety and the best possible travel experience in mind at all times.

How are the land-based projects selected?

Our land-based projects are designed to give students the opportunity to experience the countries they visit beyond traditional tourism.

These may include school visits, nature and environmental projects, cultural encounters, stays with local communities and practical hands-on projects.

We make sure that each project reflects our educational approach and creates opportunities for genuine exchange with local people, cultures and ways of life.

Are the land-based projects checked for safety in advance?

Yes. Our land-based projects are planned together with local partners and contacts.

Before each project takes place, the local conditions are reviewed again to ensure that it can be carried out safely. If circumstances change, the programme will be adjusted accordingly.

Are the students allowed to go ashore on their own?

No. When ashore, students are always required to travel in groups of at least three and are supported by a member of our educational team during the land-based projects.

At the same time, we want to give students increasing levels of responsibility as the journey progresses. This always takes place within a clearly defined and supervised framework.

Costs & Services

How much does it cost to participate in Nautic Horizons?

The participation fee for the six-month trip is €27,000.

This includes, among other things, accommodation and meals, school lessons, educational and nautical support, the organized land projects, and the essential costs for operating the Regina Maris during the voyage.

You can find a complete overview on our Participation & Costs page.

What additional costs will be incurred?

The following are specifically not included in the participation fee:

personal pocket money
Vaccinations and medical check-ups
mandatory international health insurance
Arrival and departure to and from Amsterdam
personal equipment, unless provided by Nautic Horizons
possible costs of an individual early return trip

Is there an installment payment option?

Yes. We offer the option of paying part of the participation fee in installments.

You can find the current payment deadlines and conditions on our Participation & Costs page.

Is there any support available for financing?

With our sponsorship training, we support young people in independently searching for potential sponsors and supporters.

Among other things, they learn how to research suitable companies, develop a personal sponsorship request, and approach potential supporters professionally.

The sponsorship training provides support in finding sponsors, but cannot guarantee funding.

Preparing for the trip

Will we receive a packing list?

Yes. Well in advance of departure, all families receive a detailed packing list with the required clothing, personal items, and equipment.

Since storage space on board is limited, we also provide information on which types and sizes of luggage are suitable for life on board.

What travel documents are required?

Before the trip begins, we inform the families about which travel documents and paperwork are needed for the planned route.

This includes, among other things, a valid passport and the necessary insurance and medical documents.

How much pocket money is recommended?

We recommend approximately €500 in spending money for personal expenses during the six-month trip.

Accommodation, meals, and the land-based projects organized by Nautic Horizons are already included in the participation fee. Pocket money is therefore primarily intended for personal wishes and individual expenses.

How are the young people prepared for the trip?

Preparations begin long before departure. Families receive detailed information about equipment, insurance, medical preparation, school, and organizational procedures.

The young people also get to know each other before the journey begins and are prepared step by step for living together and their tasks on board.

Still questions?

It is important to us that both the young people and their parents embark on this special journey with a good feeling.

Should you have any further questions after reading our FAQs, or if you would like to discuss a topic with us personally, please feel free to contact us. We will take the time to answer your questions and are happy to tell you more about life, learning, and travel aboard the Regina Maris.