Spring 2024 Voyagers,
We’re now just two months away from embarking on the Spring 2024 voyage of Semester at Sea. As a part of our ongoing preparations, we have a small itinerary adjustment to share with you.
We have decided to keep Morocco on our Spring 2024 itinerary but move our port 210 miles north, from Casablanca to Tangier, putting us well outside the areas impacted by the September 8 earthquake.
As you may know, we had to cancel a planned port stay this fall in Casablanca, Morocco, following the earthquake that was recorded southwest of the city of Marrakesh. In the weeks since that tragedy, we have been in regular contact with our partners in the country, our ship management team, and others about our Spring 2024 visit. Based on these conversations, media reports, our long history in the country, and even our home office team’s connections to Morocco, we determined that we could return to the country as planned on April 2-7, 2024.
We will restrict travel to ensure that our voyagers do not visit Marrakesh and the High Atlas Mountains, 360 miles to the south, so as not to interfere with reconstruction and aid efforts in those regions. However, we are excited to return to this country, particularly at a time when tourism is helping support the country’s recovery from this humanitarian and economic crisis.
While I have you, I also want to share an update on our Fall 2023 voyage. The MV World Odyssey just departed Grand Canary Island and is heading toward a new port stay in South Africa. As you’ll notice in our adjusted itinerary for this voyage, while the fall voyage initially looked quite different from your own, students are now excitedly preparing for ports also on the Spring 2024 itinerary.
Should you have any questions about this adjustment, please contact our Student Services team.
I was glad to have a reason to write–particularly given my enthusiasm for our return to Morocco. I hope you’re enjoying your fall. We will see you soon.
Sincerely,
Scott Marshall
President and CEO of the Institute for Shipboard Education | Semester at Sea
