Semester at Sea Opens Applications for Fall 2027 Voyage

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

Zuiderdam Embarks on Holland America’s Grand World Voyage

The Zuiderdam is sailing from Port Everglades on Saturday for Holland America Line’s 2025 Grand World Voyage.

According to Holland America Line, the 124-night itinerary is highlighted by bucket-list destinations, including Machu Picchu, Easter Island and the Great Barrier Reef. The full itinerary includes ports in 34 different countries.

The cruise also features six overnight stays across the globe, including extended visits to Tahiti, Sydney, Cape Town and Barcelona.

After departing from Port Everglades, the Zuiderdam heads south for visits to destinations in the Caribbean before crossing the Panama Canal.

The 2,000-guest ship then heads to South America and the South Pacific, visiting destinations in Ecuador, Peru, Chile and French Polynesia.

Ports of call set to be visited during this segment include Manta, Easter Island, Callao, Moorea, and Raiatea.

The cruise continues with visits to additional island destinations in Polynesia and Melanesia, such as Tonga and New Caledonia, before arriving in Australia.

In late February, the Zuiderdam arrives in Southeast Asia for calls in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and more.

On its way back to the United States, the itinerary includes destinations in the Indian Ocean, such as the Maldives, the Seychelles and Mauritius.

The ship will also visit South Africa, Cape Verde, Namibia, and the Canaries before entering the Mediterranean.

After sailing to destinations in the United Kingdom, Spain, Malta, Egypt, Italy, Portugal and Morocco, the Zuiderdam finally crosses the Atlantic Ocean.

The vessel will return to Fort Lauderdale on May 9, 2025, after a visit to San Juan in Puerto Rico.

In addition to its Grand World Voyage onboard the Zuiderdam, Holland America is set to offer a second world cruise in 2025.

Sailing onboard the Volendam, the Pole to Pole Grand Voyage departs from Port Everglades on Jan. 25, 2025.

AIDAsol Arrives in Mauritius; Begins Last Leg of World Tour

AIDA Cruises’ AIDAsol arrived in Port Louis, Mauritius on Friday, Jan.19, starting the last leg of its world cruise.

Having sailed on October 2023 when it departed from Hamburg, the AIDAsol has so far crossed each of the major oceans once during this world voyage.

Mauritius serves as the last port of transfer for guests on the 2023-24 world cruise.

After leaving Port Louis, the ship will head for Saint-Denis, Reunion, before exploring several ports in South Africa including Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. Other ports of call on the last leg of the journey are Walvis Bay, Namibia; Praia, Cape Verde Islands; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; Lisbon, Portugal; Porto, Portugal; and Portland, England. The ship is scheduled to arrive back in Hamburg on Feb. 21.

In October 2024, the AIDAsol will again embark on a world tour with some destinations in New Zealand that have not previously been visited by AIDA Cruises.