Captain Kostas Siamantas will serve as captain of the World Odyssey for Semester at Sea’s Spring 2026 voyage.

According to a press release, Siamantas is a respected Greek mariner with nearly two decades of service to the program.

Semester at Sea said that the captain has a defining presence in the Semester at Sea community with his steady leadership and dedication to the voyager experience.

“Captain Kostas exemplifies the spirit of Semester at Sea,” said Scott Marshall, president and CEO of the Institute for Shipboard Education.

“His leadership, professionalism, and genuine care for our voyagers help make the ship not just a vessel, but a community. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the bridge,” he added.

Semester at Sea’s Spring 2026 voyage is set to visit 11 cities in ten countries after departing from Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 5, 2026.

The 106-day itinerary sails to destinations in Vietnam, Malaysia, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco and Spain before ending in Bremerhaven, Germany.

According to the company, the program is highlighted by opportunities to a wide range of cultures and histories, including a rural Indian village and the urban center of Ho Chi Minh City.

With Captain Siamantas’s return, Semester at Sea will move forward with a leadership rotation that also includes Captain Jan Christiansen.

While Siamantas will be at helm for spring voyages, Christiansen will command the World Odyssey during fall voyages.

The company said that Christiansen first took command in late 2023, quickly becoming a highly respected and valued leader within the Semester at Sea community.

Both captains provide Semester at Sea with exceptional leadership, the company said, “ensuring that every voyage continues to uphold the program’s longstanding standards of safety, excellence, and community.”

Originally built for Peter Deilmann in the 1990s, the World Odyssey also operates for Phoenix Reisen as Deutschland. The 520-guest ship is set to offer a farewell season for the German cruise operator in 2026.