MS Deutschland-World Odyssey

The 1998-built MS Deutschland cruise ship (MV World Odyssey) is owned by Absolute Nevada LLC (Las Vegas USA-based shipping company). Since May 2015, each year between September and April, the boat is also chartered (as "World Odyssey") by Semester At Sea (1963-founded abroad study program/for foreign students) managed by Fort Collins Colorado's Institute for Shipboard Education. During the rest of the year (since 2016), the boat (as "Deutschland") is operated under charter by the Germany-based cruise line Phoenix Reisen Gmbh.

Deutschland/World Odyssey ship's hotel and catering services are provided by CMI Leisure Management (Miami USA-based marine hospitality company).

The vessel (IMO number 9141807) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000410) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

The 500-passenger ship is well known for the fact that the German TV show "Das Traumschiff" (The Dream Ship) was set aboard MS Deutschland. Another curious fact about this vessel provided accommodations to the German Olympic Committee when it served as a hotel ship during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London UK.

During most of its service history (1998 through 2015), the ship was owned and operated by Peter Deilmann Cruises (Reederei Peter Deilmann GmbH/1968-founded-2015-defunct). After the shipowner's bankruptcy in 2015, the vessel became the property of IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft GmbH (German investment company). Following another insolvency proceeding, in March 2015 it was sold to its current owner - the US company Absolute Nevada LLC (major shareholder is Donald Hoffman). This company also owns the small ship Americana/fka Yorktown.

MS Deutschland was handed over to Absolute Nevada LLC on May 19, 2015, after being purchased from Beteiligungsgesellschaft for USD 21 million.

For the first time (2015-2016) MS Deutschland served as a floating university for the "Semester at Sea" program managed by ISE (Institute for Shipboard Education, Charlottesville Virginia, USA). After an extensive refurbishment, the vessel was renamed "World Odyssey". In early November 2015, Phoenix Reisen revealed the arrangement of a 5-year "time charter" with the shipowner, starting in 2016 Spring. MS Deutschland underwent a drydock refit and refurbishment in April 2016. The upgrades included French balconies (added to cabins on decks 7 and 8), as well as hull repainting with the Phoenix Reisen's colors and company logo.

The ship's last drydock renovation was conducted in 2021, with the next drydock being scheduled for 2024.

Most of the 290 crew/staff are European and Filipino, with most of the officers being German.

German is the only language that is officially used onboard MS Deutschland. This is why almost all Phoenix Reisen customers are from German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland). There is personnel speaking English, but no services in English are provided.

Decks and Cabins

MS Deutschland/World Odyssey staterooms (332 total available for booking) are in three general types - "Student Cabins", "Lifelong Learner Cabins" (suites, deluxe and family accommodations) and "Faculty and Staff Cabins". Regardless of type/category, all staterooms provide as standard/complimentary amenities beds with nightstands, mirrored writing desk/vanity table+chair, side table+chair, LCDTV/CCTV (closed-circuit television/video surveillance), mini-fridge/refrigerator, wardrobes (closets with hangers, drawers, electronic safe box), en suite bathroom (WC toilet, mirrored sink, shower, shelf space), air conditioning.

MS Deutschland staterooms (288 total, in 27 grades) are in four main types/categories - suite, comfort, classic, and standard, coming in both Inside and Outside categories. One cabin is wheelchair-accessible and 44 are "single cabins". All suites are on Admirals Deck (deck 8) and suite passengers dine in Vierjahreszeiten/Four Seasons restaurant.

Each year, Phoenix Reisen promotes several voyages targeting solo travelers who can book double cabins without a single supplement.

The boat has 10 decks, of which 8 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

MV World Odyssey (Semester at Sea) cost

Semester at Sea's student fees include tuition, travel health insurance, shipboard accommodation and all meals, all academically required field classes, full-time residential service staff, fuel fee (subject to change depending on oil price fluctuations).

(Tuition + Travel) With the Semester at Sea's program, students can earn up to 15 credits (by Colorado State University, transferrable to their institutions) and visit 10-12 cruise destinations.

(Meals) All shipboard meals are included in the fares, including on sea days and port days. Onboard dining is buffet-style and three times a day. Vegetarian dishes are available at every meal. Late-night snacks are also complimentary.

(Staterooms and Amenities) Included in the fares/fees are onboard housing, access to wellness facilities (gym, swimming pool, spa, sauna), crew gratuities (US$2 per person per day). Additional expenses are charged to the onboard accounts.

(Travel Health Insurance) for the voyage includes access to the Infirmary/ship's medical clinic, mental health center, and medeevacs/emergencies.

(Full-time Residential Student-service Staff) includes Medical Team, Resident Directors, Academic Dean, Executive Dean, Field Office Director.

ISE Program Administration provides pre-cruise assistance to all students to complete all pre-voyage requirements.

Student fees (including the cost of cabins) in Fall 2022 ("European, African, and Asian Adventure Cruise" itinerary/Sept 9th thru Dec 22nd) were U$26874 (Adventure Double Bunk and Discovery Triple Inside/including cabin cost $4045), US$29874 (Discovery Double Inside and Ocean Triple Outside/including cabin cost $7045) and US$32874 (Ocean Double Outside/including cabin cost $10045). These prices were also inclusive of tuition ($21280) and fuel fee ($1550).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Cruise ship passengers can choose from among 3 choices of venues for dinner. Every guest is assigned a seat for dinner in the MDR/main dining room (Berlin Restaurant) which has windows on two sides and is paneled in white painted wood. Fresh flowers are found on every table. Normally, there are two seatings for dinner. In addition to the main restaurant, there is the a-la-carte-priced/dinner-only Four Seasons Restaurant (Vierjahreszeiten). Its menu changes nightly and reservations are required.

The Lido Restaurant is an informal/buffet-type venue that groups Bar-Cafe-Grill. The menu is different from the menu in the main dining room, giving another choice of food and experiences. Formal, white-gloved Afternoon Tea is served in the forward-facing Lido Terrasse (doubles as Classroom/Lounge).

Late-night snacks are offered at 10:45 pm in the classrooms/bars Alten Fritz and Lili Marlene.

The indoor decoration is in the Art Deco style used by many ocean liners, also including traditional craft motifs with Machine Age imagery and materials. The main entertainment venue is the Kaisersaal (Emperor's Saloon/Ballroom) - a 2-story lounge with balcony seating. The Ballroom's ceiling is a painted mural of sky and clouds with a huge crystal chandelier. Seating is organized in small groupings around tables with parchment-shaded lamps.

Other entertainment options include Aldon library, Cinema/Conference Room/Theater/Classroom, Lili Marleen Salon, Wellness Area/Sauna, Spa, Gym/Fitness Center, Beauty Parlor/Hair Salon, Sports Deck, two Sundecks, shuffleboard, spa pool/whirlpool, swimming pool, Photo Gallery.

On Deck 5 is the Lobby Hall with the Reception Desk.

On Deck 4 midship is the Counseling Center (for Semester At Sea students) while forward there is a Kids' Room.

Midship on Deck 3 are the SPA facilities (with an indoor swimming pool, Thalasso Pool, Rasul Room, Ayurveda Room, Treatment Rooms/for massages, hot therapies, cosmetics) and the Infirmary/Medical Clinic with resident physicians and nurses.

On Golf Deck/deck 10 aft are stored 4x Zodiacs (large-capacity, motorized RIBs/Rigid Inflatable Boats) used for near-shore and inland cruising, as well as for passenger transportation in destinations without proper port infrastructure suitable for the ship's docking/mooring. Forward on Deck 10 are positioned two Putting Greens/Mini-Golf Courses (portside and starboard) and the Golf Teeing Ground (Golfabschlagplatz).

Semester at Sea itineraries (MV World Odyssey)

In Fall 2021 (Sept 9 thru Dec 22), the chartered by Semester at Sea ship (World Odyssey) had scheduled a unique itinerary program starting in Amsterdam and ending in Dubai. The itinerary visited ports in Iceland (Reykjavik), Poland (Gdansk), Sweden (Stockholm), Ireland (Dublin), Portugal (Leixoes-Oporto), Morocco (Casablanca), Spain (Barcelona), Croatia (Dubrovnik), Greece (Piraeus-Athens), Israel (Haifa), India (Mumbai). The program featured two transition voyages (RepositionCruises.com) - through Kiel Canal Germany and Suez Canal Egypt.

Note: Semester at Sea's World Odyssey itinerary program includes "world voyages" and homeports in Europe (Bremerhaven Germany, Amsterdam Netherlands) and Asia (Dubai UAE, Tokyo Japan).

Semester at Sea cruise ship schedule 2024

(Spring 2024/Jan 5 - Apr 20) The 107-day "Asia, Africa, and Europe Exploration Cruise" visits 12x countries (on 3x continents) and 13x port cities with overnight stays. The voyage starts in Tokyo Japan and ends in Bremerhaven Germany. Countries/call ports include Busan South Korea (Jan 11-14), Hong Kong China (Jan 18-21), Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon Vietnam (Jan 25-30), Port Klang-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia (Feb 3-6), Mumbai India (Feb 13-18), Port Louis Mauritius (Feb 26-28), Cape Town South Africa (Mar 7-12), two ports in Ghana (Tema Harbour/Mar 20-22, and Takoradi/Mar 23-24), Casablanca Morocco (Apr 2-6), Dublin Ireland (Apr 11-14), Bremerhaven (debarkation on Apr 20).

As "Diversion Ports" (Spring 2024) were listed Shanghai China, Singapore, Surabaya Indonesia, Cochin India, Male Maldives, Victoria Seychelles, Walvis Bay Namibia, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria/Canary Islands Spain, Cadiz Spain, and Southampton England UK.

Semester at Sea cruise ship schedule 2023

(Spring 2023/Jan 5 - Apr 20) The 106-day "Asian, African, and European Exploration Cruise" visits 11x countries (on 3x continents) and 11x port cities with overnight stays. The voyage starts in Dubai UAE and ends in Bremerhaven Germany. Countries/call ports include Mumbai India (Jan 12-17), Mombasa Kenya (Jan 26-31), Aqaba-Petra Jordan (Feb 12-16), Suez Canal transit (Feb 18), Limassol Cyprus Greece (Feb 21-24), Piraeus-Athens Greece (Mar 2-6), Dubrovnik Croatia (Mar 11-15), Barcelona Spain (Mar 22-26), Casablanca Morocco (Apr 1-6), Lisbon Portugal (Apr 9-13), Bremerhaven (debarkation on Apr 20).

As "Diversion Ports" (Spring 2023) were listed Muscat Oman, Seychelles, Safaga Egypt, Thessaloniki Greece, Civitavecchia-Rome Italy, Marseille France, Valencia Spain, Funchal Madeira Portugal, Bordeaux France, and Brest France.

(Fall 2023/Sept 10 - Dec 22) The 105-day "European and Asian Adventure Cruise" visits 12x countries (on 3x continents) and 12x port cities with overnight stays. The voyage starts in Amsterdam Netherlands and ends in Tokyo Japan. Countries/call ports include Barcelona Spain (Sept 17-21), Piraeus-Athens Greece (Sept 27-30), Suez Canal transit (Oct 3), Aqaba-Petra Jordan (Oct 5-8), Muscat Oman (Oct 16-19), Mumbai India (Oct 24-29), Port Klang-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia (Nov 6-9), Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon Vietnam (Nov 13-17), Shanghai China (Nov 24-29), Feb 18), Osaka Japan (Dec 4-8), Busan South Korea (Dec 13-16), Tokyo (debarkation on Dec 22).

As "Diversion Ports" (Fall 2023) were listed Hong Kong China, Singapore, Surabaya Indonesia, Cochin India, Colombo Sri Lanka, Dubai UAE, Palermo Sicily Italy, Marseilles France, and Male Kaafu Atoll Maldives.

Semester at Sea cruise ship schedule 2022

(Spring 2022/Jan 5 - Apr 20) The 106-day "Mediterranean Exploration Cruise" itinerary (Naples to Bremerhaven) visited 13x port cities (13 countries) - Piraeus-Athens Greece (Jan 12-15), Limassol Cyprus Greece (Jan 21-24), Dubrovnik Croatia (Feb 1-4), Valletta Malta (Feb 8-11), Barcelona Spain (Feb 17-24), Gibraltar UK (Feb 28), Lisbon Portugal (Mar 5-10), Brest France (Mar 16-19), Greenock-Glasgow Scotland UK (Mar 23-26), Copenhagen Denmark (Apr 2-6), Stockholm Sweden (Apr 10-13).

As "Diversion Ports" (Spring 2022) were listed Palermo Sicily Italy, Marseille France, Civitavecchia-Rome Italy, Valencia Spain, Cadiz Spain, Funchal Madeira Portugal, Southampton England UK, Amsterdam Holland, Hamburg Germany, Edinburgh Scotland UK, Copenhagen Denmark, and Tallin Estonia.

(Fall 2022/Sept 9 - Dec 22) The 105-day "European, African, and Asian Adventure Cruise" itinerary (Amsterdam to Dubai) visits 11x port cities (11 countries) - Lisbon Portugal (Sept 16-20), Casablanca Morocco (Sept 23-28), Valencia Spain (Oct 4-9), Dubrovnik Croatia (Oct 16-20), Piraeus-Athens Greece (Oct 25-29), Limassol Cyprus Greece (Nov 4-7), Aqaba-Petra Jordan (Nov 12-16), Mombasa Kenya (Nov 20-Dec 2), Mumbai India (Dec 10-15), Dubai (debarkation on Dec 22).

As "Diversion Ports" (Fall 2022) were listed Bordeaux France, Brest France, Funchal Madeira Portugal, Valencia Spain, Marseille France, Civitavecchia-Rome Italy, Thessaloniki Greece, Seychelles, and Muscat Oman.

Phoenix Reisen itineraries (MS Deutschland)

MS Deutschland itinerary program is based on voyages in Northern Europe, including to Iceland, Greenland, Norwegian Fjords, Norway Arctic (with sailings to Spitsbergen/Svalbard and Nordkapp/North Cape), as well as to ports in the UK.

Phoenix Reisen's boat operates roundtrips leaving from homeport Bremerhaven Germany. Departures are at 6 pm, and the arrivals back in port are at 9 am. The themed itineraries include 7-day Norwegian Fjords, Norway (Fjords and Nordkapp/North Cape), Baltic Sea (Scandinavia and Russia), Norway (Fjords, North Cape and Spitzbergen), Norway and Iceland, Around Britain (British Isles), Iceland and Greenland, Canary Islands, Mini Cruise (Germany and Denmark).

From June 20 to August 10, 2015, MS Deutschland offered roundtrips from Germany (Kiel and Hamburg) being chartered to PLANTOURS Kreuzfahrten. The summer itineraries visited ports in Northern Europe exclusively (Norway, Greenland, the Faroes and British islands).

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, Phoenix Reisen paused MS Deutschland for 2 years (March 2020 thru April 2022), and planned to restart operations on April 22nd. Summer season 2022 was based on homeporting in Bremerhaven for roundtrips to Baltic port cities in Poland (Gdansk, Szczecin), Sweden (Stockholm, Visby, Karlskrona), Latvia (Riga, Ventspils), Estonia (Tallinn, Kuressaare), Finland (Helsinki, Turku). The Northern European deployment also included destinations in the Norwegian Fjords, Svalbard (Spitsbergen, Nordkapp), Iceland.

MS Deutschland cruise ship was built in Kiel Germany. This is a privately owned vessel (asset of Absolute Nevada LLC), currently operated under time charter by Phoenix Reisen GmbH (major German travel agency and tour operator company). Until 2015, the vessel was owned by the company Reederei Peter Deilmann GmbH. After Peter Deilmann company's bankruptcy, it was sold to the US investment company Absolute Nevada LLC.

In 2012, the vessel was used as hospitality ship for DOSB (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund, German Olympic Committee) during "2012 Summer Olympics" (aka London 2012).

Under the new ownership, in May 2015, the vessel’s flag state/registry was changed from Germany (Neustadt in Holstein) to Bahamas (Nassau). Under the new flag, it was chartered for 10 months to Semester at Sea (USA-based organization/abroad study program) operating under the name “MV World Odyssey”.

During the first winter charter (2015-2016), World Odyssey was carrying around 600 students on educational voyages around the world.

In the period 1999-2015, the ship was used for filming the series of the ZDF’s TV show “Das Traumschiff” (translated as “The Dream Ship”). The show was similar to ABC’s TV series “The Love Boat” (1977-1987). Debuting in 1981, all series featured a cruise ship traveling around the world and was among Germany’s most-watched TV shows.

In November 2015, Phoenix Reisen announced it will charter the ship for the summers of 2016 and 2017. During the drydock refurbishment, staterooms on decks 7 and 8 were upgraded with French balconies.

In January 2018, Phoenix Reisen announced an extension of the Deutschland ship charter until 2025, right after the vessel was sold by Absolute Nevada LLC (USA) to Delos Cruise. The time charter agreement with Phoenix Reisen (chartering the vessel for the summer) was extended at the time of the purchase. For the winter, it is chartered by Semester at Sea (study abroad program).

The powerplant is based on MAK diesel engines (2x 4790 hp plus 2x 3590 hp) with total power output of 16760 hp/12498 kW.

MS Deutschland's last drydocking for an extensive refurbishment was in 2024, conducted at Bredo Werft (shipyard owned by BREDO Dockgesellschaft mbH in Bremerhaven). The project (~EUR 10 million) included general machinery overhaul, hull and superstructure cleaning/repainting, outdoor decks/teak renovation, renovation of interior spaces (new carpeting, furnishings, upholstery, new beds and mattresses in all passenger staterooms.