Peace Boat US

Peace Boat

Why choose Peace Boat?

Travel, learn and experience the world with us!

Peace Boat is an International NGO working to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment through the organization of global educational programmes, responsible travel, cooperative projects and advocacy activities.
Our global voyages are a unique environment for people to live and learn together while undertaking socially responsible travel to some of the most fascinating regions on earth. Peace Boat has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and is a dedicated campaigner for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome young people to apply for our "Youth for the SDGs" scholarships, internships at the Peace Boat offices in Tokyo and New York, and our volunteer positions onboard the ship. In 2020, the world's first eco-friendly cruise ship, Peace Boat Ecoship will be sailing for sustainability.

Founded
1983

Reviews

Default avatar
Ashoke
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great opportunity for cultural exchanges and intergenerational sharing

Peace Boat offers an extraordinary opportunity to bring together individuals who might never cross paths otherwise. Whether it's youth from Grenada or Hibakusha survivors, the experience is rich with chances to learn from a diverse array of voices. The people aboard are vibrant, passionate, and always eager to exchange knowledge. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime journey where you can explore the world while immersing yourself in stories and wisdom from across the globe. Overall I would definitely recommend being on the boat!

Default avatar
Francisco
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing learning and cultural immersion program

I was with Peace Boat during the global voyages 114th and 116th in 2023 and 2024, sailing through the Panama Canal to Guatemala and Mexico. And then, from Punta Arenas in Chile to Ushuaia and Buenos Aires in Argentina, through the Strait of Magellan.

During this programs, I learned about marine conservation, indigenous communities, different ways of living and also opened the door for a lot of opportunities that without this program couldn't be done.
I highly recommend it for young professionals!

Mina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Latin America - Summer 2017

The Latin American voyage from Panama to El Salvador in the summer of 2017 was an incredible experience for me. The program helped me gain an understanding of several cultures very different from my own. We had the opportunity to eat the local cuisine, explore the area, and interact with the people while learning about the efforts of these regions to achieve the United Nation’s 17 sustainable development goals. Getting to see and speak to the people was what I found most meaningful. You get the opportunity to hear their stories as they impart their wisdom to you. It can be rather eye-opening at times to talk to people my age who have a very different life. This program gives you the chance to get to talk and get to know some of the locals. It was a great opportunity and all the participants were wonderful people to spend time with as well.

Javier
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

5 reasons why I loved Peace Boat

1) I travelled with a purpose: discovering places, meeting new people from different backgrounds, in places that just being tourist would not happen.

2) In this world, every world fits: our travel was in Latin America, but onboard you meet many different cultures from many different countries.

3) My "country" doesn't define me: I had my culture, but after meeting other places on Peace Boat, I took and learned other people's great characteristic and make it mine, to be able to build my own personality, you also discover that onboard we are all seeking the same "peace and understanding"

4) You have fun in an academical programme: this programme is supported by an academical background, which after having so much fun you realise that it looks great on your CV.

5) PEOPLE AND SEA!

Default avatar
Avinash
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sailing for Sustainability

I had an opportunity to be part of the Peace Boat Global Voyages to travel to Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. I loved every bit of my time on the boat where I was exposed to lectures by accomplished professionals from different field. More ever, what was more important to me was to get to know these activists and professional personally and discuss my opinions and concerns off the stage.

During the port calls, I had an opportunity to learn more about different approaches to solve social problems by visiting NGOs, citizen's groups and hearing the testimony of locals.
Overall, it was a trip for a lifetime where I made friends, learnt about the world, its problems and people who are trying to make a change and contribute in some way! All of it, while travelling across countries on a very comfortable boat.

Programs

Displaying 1 - 3 of 3

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Aki Latvanlehto

Mr. Aki Latvanlehto is an engineer originally from Finland, where he also got his education and graduated from the University of Oulu in 2001. He has been living in Asia since 2007, mostly in Japan, and shortly also in China. He was traveling on the Peace Boat's 68th global voyage, Dec 28th 2009-Apr 9th 2010, and at the time he was 33 years old.
Thumbnail

What made this abroad experience unique and special?

There are other boats that sail around the world and in my understanding, all the others are just very common tourist ones. In Peace Boat there is a huge amount of different activities where everybody can participate, including lectures and workshops related to peace awareness and similar topics, participating in volunteer work to help running the everyday life on the boat, and participating in exchange programs in the cities where the boat stops.

Also, most of the daily activities are actually filled by the other participant, as anybody is encouraged to teach or share any special knowledge or skills that they have. Then, totally depending on the participants and what is shared, every voyage end up being very different from each other. I think all this make it a very unique program.

Describe your favorite must-have food abroad.

The Brazilian meat buffet is simply amazing, with so many different meat options and various flavors, and they all are delicious. And of course not only meat but also a wide variety of side-dishes.

What is one piece of advice you'd give future passengers on Peace Boat's Global Voyages.

As I mentioned, I wasn't any kind of student during the voyage, but just a common tourist, although participating in many activities and also some volunteer work. Anyway, as there are so many things that can be done, or at least tried out, due to the sharing of so many people, I would recommend to start participating in anything you might be interested, from the very beginning. In Japan it is possible to start participating already long before the actual voyage. You might regret later some missed opportunities if you leave them behind, or even to a later time.

If you could do-over one thing, what would it be?

I made few extremely good friends during the voyage that I spent most of the time with and have been regularly meeting ever since, however, I still would have liked to have met more people and shared experiences and knowledge with them on-board. Fortunately, the networking between the participants have been efficient, and I have been able to make new friends among the participants even after the voyage.