Semester at Sea recently announced changes for the itineraries of its Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 voyages.

Marking the program’s return to South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and other destinations, the new itineraries will introduce passengers to more than ten countries across the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Sailing onboard the World Odyssey, the Fall 2023 Voyage is set to depart from Belgium, on Sep. 9.

Following the revised 105-day itinerary, the vessel will offer six-day visits to Morocco, India, and Vietnam; five-day stays in Malta, Greece, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia; and a four-day visit to Spain.

According to Semester at Sea, students will spend a total of 56 days at sea and in classes before disembarking in Thailand on Dec. 22.

A few days later, on Jan. 5, the World Odyssey starts its Spring 2024 Voyage at the same port.

The revised itinerary for the 107-day cruise includes eight ports around the world, with six-day stays in Malaysia, India, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and Morocco. Passengers will also call Mauritius and Portugal during four-day visits in both countries.

The complete voyage features 61 days at sea and in class and 46 days in port.

“Thailand, South Africa, Malaysia, and Vietnam are countries Semester at Sea alumni have long said were among the most impactful of those they visited,” said Scott Marshall, president and CEO of the Institute for Shipboard Education, which operates the Semester at Sea program.

“I’m excited to return to those countries, but also to offer students such an amazing and enriching overall itinerary. Like all of our voyages, these promise to be life- and world-changing experiences for our voyagers and the people they’ll meet across the 17 countries we’ll see.”

According to Semester at Sea, previously announced itineraries for these voyages were set in early 2022 and included destinations in the East Asia region, such as Tokyo, Japan, and Hong Kong, China.

Ongoing tensions in the region, the program continued, and the need to solidify plans in time to plan courses and in-country class sessions, led its staff to investigate alternative options.