Semester at Sea has locked in a 10-year charter for the Ambella — the former Oceania Sirena that Ambassador Cruise Line bought from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — with an option to extend, and will relocate its turnaround operations from Bremerhaven to IJmuiden, near Amsterdam, starting with the fall 2028 voyage.

Scott Marshall, president and CEO of the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), laid out the details during a "State of the Institute" webinar for alumni, days after Ambassador announced the Sirena acquisition.

The transaction structure keeps the ship earning for its previous owner in the near term. The Sirena remains with Oceania Cruises under a leaseback through spring 2028, then becomes the Ambella and sails summers for Ambassador's new German brand, Ambassador Kreuzfahrten. Semester at Sea fills the remaining roughly eight months a year.

Marshall said the structure mirrors the program's current arrangement for the World Odyssey, which stays its campus through the spring 2028 voyage. That ship currently picks up and drops off students in Bremerhaven each fall and spring.

Why Amsterdam Works

Under the Ambassador deal, the exchange moves to IJmuiden. Marshall framed the shift as an operational upgrade rather than a concession.

"Amsterdam is really the major city with a great airport and a very short trip up to IJmuiden, so it's actually a win for us," he said.

Crew Continuity

ISE told Ambassador early in the talks that it wanted the World Odyssey's crew to move to the new ship. Marshall said Ambassador was receptive because it does not have crew for the additional vessel.

"We want as many as possible to continue with us beyond spring 2028 and into fall 2028," he said.

The agreement also gives ISE a major voice in choosing the ship's captains. The program plans to retain its current fall and spring masters, who are employed by the vessel's technical management company.

Refit Plans

A small ISE team walked the ship over two days in February. A larger group meets Ambassador onboard this week to plan classrooms and allocate cabins among students, faculty and lifelong learners.

"These are cruise ships; they're not built for the academic experience," Marshall said, adding that not every ship can accommodate that kind of renovation.

The vessel is slightly larger than the World Odyssey, with more cabins, more balconies, a wider selection of cabins for lifelong learners and a fitness center with a running track. Starlink internet service will continue.

A Future Ship Task Force chaired by ISE trustee Marisa Huber led the two-and-a-half-year search for the ship.

No More Full Circumnavigations

Single-voyage world circumnavigations are unlikely to return, Marshall said, citing the higher speeds they require, greater fuel costs and the risk of arriving late to ports, alongside the program's commitment to longer port stays. Each voyage will continue to visit at least three continents and up to 11 countries.

Fuel economics shaped that decision. Marshall said fuel currently sits above $100 a barrel; ISE hedges through a broker, charges voyagers an upfront fuel fee and occasionally adds a surcharge.

ISE has told Ambassador it would like occasional U.S. port calls, and tentative plans exist for alumni voyages, but neither is confirmed. The fall 2028 itinerary is expected in March or April 2027.