Inside the World Odyssey; Floating Campus in Mombasa Port with 677 Students

The MV World Odyssey, famously known as Semester at Sea, has docked at the Port of Mombasa for the fourth time, bringing with it a wave of international students and crew members.

The vessel, which serves as a floating university, arrived from Cochin, India, carrying 677 students and 178 crew members.

According to the Kenya Ports Authority, the ship will be stationed in Mombasa for six days, offering students an immersive learning experience in Kenya.

Known as a “campus on water,” the World Odyssey offers a unique study-abroad program where students from across the world travel while taking academic courses.

“The Semester at Sea Lifelong Learning Program provides adult learners, who are 30 years of age or older, with an opportunity to join the SAS academic community.”

“Lifelong learners add a valuable generational element to the shipboard community. They are retirees, professionals on leave, or simply adventurous travellers who desire to study with bright, enthusiastic undergraduate students from around the world,” notes the Semester at Sea.

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Inside the World Odyssey

With a tuition fee averaging $30,000 per semester, the program allows students to explore multiple countries while earning credits.

On board, the ship has lecture halls, a library, and state-of-the-art study spaces, creating a classroom with ever-changing scenery.

The programs offered onboard blend academics with real-world experiences, allowing students to deepen their understanding of global cultures through high-impact cultural engagement across more than ten countries.

Whether through guided field excursions or self-planned travel, students interact with diverse communities, making their education truly experiential.

Life on board looks like that of a close-knit college community. There is communal dining which helps the students build friendships, while extracurricular activities such as theatre, dance, and music showcase the students’ talents.

A fully equipped gym, swimming facilities, and group fitness classes ensure a balanced lifestyle.

Mental health support is also prioritized, with counsellors and self-help groups available to guide students through their unique journey.

“Our ship environment is similar to a small liberal arts campus, the ideal place where students and professors live, work, and socialize together. Semester at Sea’s living-learning community provides a platform for education, discussion, and deep connections all while travelling to new locations,” the ship’s website indicates.

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Extracurricular Activities for Students

Semester at Sea offers a variety of extracurricular activities for students to get involved in including Sports: Intramural tournaments like basketball, ping pong, volleyball, and soccer.

Also, students engage in fitness activities like group exercise classes including dance, yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, and martial arts. There are clubs for chess, scrabble, Apples to Apples, and more.

Music including acapella, bands, and orchestra groups, dance like Salsa, tap, merengue, step, and capoeira and Performances and play productions for the community are also included.

The voyage has a coffee house for talents like singing and poetry, support groups including self-help, and spiritual services, LGBTQIA+ groups and cultural Clubs for students of color, an Environmental Club, an International Student Association, a Muslim Student Group, and an Asian Students Club.

What the Students do At Land

Each Semester at Sea course, except for Global Studies, includes a required, specially designed day-long field trip in one of the countries visited during the voyage.

These Field Classes are curated by professors to connect course concepts with real-world scenarios, featuring interactions with local experts and organizations.

Furthermore, students spend a day in the field with their professors and peers, experiencing course content firsthand.

When not at sea, voyagers typically spend around 45 days exploring the diverse cultures and environments of more than 10 port countries. 

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