When 19-year-old Ali Johnson boarded the MV World Odyssey in Bangkok, she expected a long, perhaps monotonous, journey across the Indian Ocean.
Instead, the American university student found herself in the middle of a floating campus, a 175-meter vessel where classrooms have ocean views and the syllabus changes with every port of call.
American university student Ali Johnson after MV World Odyssey that she and other foreign students boarded in Bangkok docked at the Port of Mombasa on February 18, 2026.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
Ms Johnson, an Elementary Education major from Washington D.C, is one of 609 passengers including 484 students and three Kenyans who docked at the Port of Mombasa on February 18, 2026 morning.
For these voyagers, part of the Semester at Sea program, the arrival in Kenya isn't just a holiday; it is a live laboratory for their Global Studies curriculum.
For the aspiring teacher, the voyage has provided a unique perspective on global education systems. While sailing between India and Kenya, her coursework dove deep into the host country's ongoing educational reforms.
“In my education class, we’ve been studying how Kenya is switching from the 8-4-4 system to competency-based education (CBE). I’ve learned that CBE is a skill-based curriculum, which is so crucial for learners today compared to the exam-oriented nature of 8-4-4,” she explained, her excitement evident as she prepared to explore Mombasa.
Students and other fellow voyagers disembark from MV World Odyssey, when the cruise ship commonly known as the 'Floating Campus' docked at the Port of Mombasa on February 18, 2026.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
The ship offers 52 different classes ranging from Business and Economics to Psychology, all accredited by Colorado State University.
Academic discipline and cultural immersion
Life on the World Odyssey is a rigorous blend of academic discipline and cultural immersion. Natasha Libombo, a 21-year-old Mozambican studying on a full scholarship, describes a schedule that ignores the traditional calendar.
Kenyan student Sarah Mbugua (left) and Jasmine Janet (centre) with Mombasa County Executive for Climate Change Resilience Emily Achieng (background) and Rose Mosero address the media after MV World Odyssey docked at the Port of Mombasa on February 18, 2026.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
“We don’t have weekends or weekdays; it’s all studying. We have at least three classes daily while at sea. But the moment we dock, the world becomes our classroom, we go out to explore,” she said.
Before reaching Kenya, the 137th SAS voyage had already made stops in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and India. After their six-day stay in Kenya, which will include city tours of Mombasa and safaris in the Maasai Mara and Amboseli, the ship will head to South Africa, Ghana, and Morocco, finally disembarking in Germany this April.
For the students, the presence of local inter-port lecturers and students like Jasmine Janet, a fourth-year Law student from the University of Nairobi, is vital. Jasmine’s role on the ship was to prepare the international students for the Kenyan experience.
“I taught them about our heritage, our 42 plus cultures, the Swahili language, and even the etiquette for Ramadhan. My job was to ensure that when they stepped off this ship, they weren't just tourists, but informed visitors,” Janet noted.
MV World Odyssey 'Semester at Sea' cruise ship arrives at the port of Mombasa on February 9, 2024 with 763 passengers on board, including 585 students.
Photo credit: Wachira Mwangi | Nation Media Group
The arrival of the World Odyssey is a significant boost for Kenya's rebounding cruise tourism sector.
According to the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), cruise tourism saw a 140 per cent growth in 2025, with 2026 projected to be even stronger. Traders at Fort Jesus and the Old Town reported a surge in activity as the students disembarked.
As the MV World Odyssey sits majestically at the Mombasa Cruise ship Terminal, the students say it serves as a reminder that education is no longer confined to four walls.
