SUNY
My ds did his set-back semester at SUNY Maritime and really liked it. The professors were great (you get to choose - see Rate My Professor.com) and the school did everything it could do help my ds, who eventually went back to KP. The regiment is not as strict (good/bad?), but I have heard great things about the summer sea semester and the school is also now offering a sea term similar to KP's. Bottom line - if you want this life, you can get it.
Also, they have some majors not offered at KP and the academic pace is a little slower than KP. Also, I have heard of some people transferring from SUNY to KP after doing well at SUNY. Good luck!!