Semester at Sea Opens Applications for Fall 2027 Voyage

Posted on 14 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Semester at Sea Opens Applications for Fall 2027 Voyage

Semester at Sea recently opened applications for its Fall 2027 World Voyage, which will take place onboard the World Odyssey.

According to an update shared by the company, the 104-day itinerary will sail to four continents and two oceans starting on September 9, 2027.

Departing from Ijmuiden in the Netherlands, the 140th voyage will be highlighted by visits to destinations in Portugal, Morocco, Brazil, St. Helena and South Africa.

Before ending in Thailand in late December, the cruise is also scheduled to sail to additional ports in Southeast Asia and the Far East, including Sri Lanka, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

Semester at Sea noted that the voyage will feature six days in most ports, allowing for deeper immersion in destinations.

The company said passengers will move “beyond tourism to engage with local community leaders, environmental experts and historic heritage sites.”

A seven-day visit to Cape Town is returning by popular demand, the brand continued, noting that the South African city has been consistently ranked as a favorite destination by its alumni and guests.

For the first time in recent years, the voyage will feature a visit to Singapore, which Semester at Sea said offers a unique opportunity to experience one of the world’s most sophisticated green cities.

The company also highlighted days at sea, noting that the World Odyssey is transformed into a “floating campus” for its voyages.

“Students will take comparative coursework that brings the world outside their cabin window into the classroom, led by a world-class faculty dedicated to global perspectives,” it added.

Applications for the Fall 2027 Voyage for both students and Lifelong Learners opened on July 1, 2026.

Operating for Semester at Sea as part of a charter deal, the World Odyssey usually spends summer seasons sailing for Phoenix Reisen as the Deutschland.

With Phoenix Reisen deciding not to renew its contract beyond 2026, plans for the ship’s 2027 summer season are unclear.

Originally built for Peter Deilmann in Germany, the World Odyssey entered service in 1998 before making its debut for Semester at Sea in late 2015

Deutschland Starts Farewell Season for Phoenix Reisen

Posted on 24 May, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Deutschland Starts Farewell Season for Phoenix Reisen

The Deutschland recently sailed from Bremerhaven to kick off its farewell season for German cruise operator Phoenix Reisen.

After undergoing a drydock at the same port in April, the 1998-built vessel started the deployment on May 12, 2026.

The final season includes a series of eight cruises departing from three homeports: Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven and Kiel.

Visiting destinations in Northern Europe, Iceland, the Baltic, and the British Isles, the 520-passenger ship will operate eight- to 22-night cruises.

For the first cruise of the season, the Deutschland offers a 16-night voyage to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The itinerary is highlighted by visits to 13 destinations, including Belfast, Edinburgh, Douglas, Dover and Portland.

Before ending its summer season for the German brand in early September, the ship also offers a three-week cruise to the Portuguese archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira.

The voyage features calls to Ponta Delgada and Funchal, as well as stops in lesser-visited destinations such as Praia da Vitória and Velas.

Sailing round trip from Cuxhaven, the cruise is also set to visit other destinations in Northern Europe, including Glengariff and Honfleur.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, Phoenix Reisen decided not to renew the charter contract of the Deutschland.

Sailing seasonally for the brand since 2015, the vessel will not return to the company’s fleet for the 2027 summer season.

In addition to the ship, the German brand operates the Artania, the Amera and the Amadea on a year-round basis.

After completing its farewell deployment for Phoenix Reisen, the Deutschland is set to be renamed World Odyssey before embarking on another season for Semester at Sea.

As part of the company’s educational cruising platform, the vessel offers two world cruises during the 2026-27 winter season. Further plans for the future of the 22,400-ton ship are still to be announced.

AIDAdiva Returns to Germany Following World Cruise

Posted on 26 March, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

AIDAdiva Returns to Germany Following World Cruise

The AIDAdiva has recently returned to the port of Hamburg in Germany following AIDA’s 2025-26 world cruise.

After undergoing a major refurbishment as part of AIDA’s Evolution refit program, the vessel embarked on the voyage in early November 2025.

The AIDAdiva then visited 53 destinations in 27 countries before arriving back at its homeport on March 23, 2026.

Covering 35,000 nautical miles, the itinerary was highlighted by milestones for AIDA Cruises, including the company’s return to New York City following a six-year hiatus.

The cruise also marked the brand’s first visits to ports on the West Coast of North America, as well as in Japan and Hawaii.

The 2,030-passenger ship also spent New Year’s Eve docked in Honolulu during its first visit to the Aloha State.

Other highlights of the itinerary included AIDA’s first-ever transit of the Panama Canal, which took place on December 6, 2025.

Following the completion of its world cruise, the AIDAdiva is now set to offer summer cruises out of ports in Germany.

The ship’s schedule includes a series of four- to 14-night cruises to destinations in Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea.

Ports of call set to be visited include Vik in Norway, Visby in Sweden, Gdynia in Poland and Aarhus in Denmark.

In late August, the 2007-built ship is scheduled to reposition to North America for fall cruises departing from New York City.

The 12-night itineraries are highlighted by visits to destinations in Canada and New England, as well as Florida and the Bahamas, including Portland, Boston, Miami and Nassau.

In late October, the AIDAdiva sets sail to La Romana in the Dominican Republic ahead of a winter season offering cruises to the Southern and Eastern Caribbean.

AIDA’s next world voyage is scheduled to depart from Hamburg in mid-October 2026 onboard the AIDAsol.

The 126-night cruise will follow a different itinerary that will include stops in South America, the South Pacific, Australia, Africa and the Indian Ocean.