Two Epic Ports. One Seamless Student Crew. Morocco & Sri Lanka
Skip rigid 50-person bus tours. Travel in private air-conditioned vans with vetted local guides, curated student itineraries, transparent group pricing, and a plan that gets you back to the ship well before all-aboard time.
Port Call 1 · Mediterranean Gateway
Tangier Ville Port Excursions
Direct quayside pickup at Tangier Port. Seamless travel across Chefchaouen, the imperial medinas, and the golden dunes of the Sahara.
⚓ Tangier Port Meeting Protocol & Frictionless Arrival
When the MV World Odyssey docks at Tangier Ville Port, you step off the gangway directly into the harbor terminal. Ayoub and his team meet your group right at the passenger exit holding a dedicated sign with your cohort leader's name.
- Direct Quayside Boarding: Your private Mercedes vehicle is legally staged in the port transport zone for an immediate departure.
- Zero Haggling: All parking tariffs, tolls, and licensed local guide arrangements are fully prepaid.
- Strict Return SLA: On your final port day, your van arrives back at Tangier Ville Port gates at least 3 hours before gangway curfew.
Fleet & Capacity
Choose Your Transport Fleet
Tailored private transport for solo travelers, cabin crews, or entire student clubs & faculty delegations.
Private: 1 to 6 People
Between 1 and 6 People
Perfect for solo travelers, close cabin mates, or small friend groups seeking flexible, nimble transport through medina gates and mountain roads.
- Mercedes Vito / modern minivan with full AC
- Dedicated English-speaking professional chauffeur
- Flexible photo stops, scenic detours & dining choices
- Planned 3-hour pre-curfew port return buffer
Van: 7 to 17 People
From 7 to 17 People
The sweet spot for Semester at Sea friend groups and cabin cohorts: good value per person, with seats and luggage space confirmed for your group.
- Mercedes Sprinter (Morocco) / Toyota HiAce KDH (Sri Lanka)
- Luggage space checked against your group size before you book
- Air conditioning and an English-speaking driver
- Price per student drops as your group grows
Big Bus: up to 40 People
Up to 40 People (Full Touring Coach)
Engineered for large student groups, Greek life cohorts, academic course field programs, and student government or faculty delegations.
- Full-size 40-seat luxury air-conditioned motorcoach
- Panoramic touring windows & PA microphone audio system
- Two-person crew: licensed senior driver + dedicated tour guide
- Curfew-synchronized priority terminal drop-off
Spring 2027 Departures
Pick Your Departure
One 4-day Sahara route, three start dates. Pick the one that leaves your field classes free.
Wed Mar 31 – Sat Apr 3
4 days / 3 nights · starts the day the ship docks
We pick you up at Tangier Ville Port once you're off the ship. Semester at Sea says getting off can take 1 to 4 hours.
Thu Apr 1 – Sun Apr 4
4 days / 3 nights
We pick you up at Tangier Ville Port on April 1, like the other departures.
Fri Apr 2 – Mon Apr 5
4 days / 3 nights · ends on the last port day
We plan to have you back at Tangier Ville Port by 15:00 on April 5, three hours before on-ship time (18:00).
Dates follow the published Semester at Sea schedule and may change.
The 4-Day Sahara Route
Tangier → Chefchaouen → Middle Atlas → Sahara → Fes → Tangier
- Day 1: Tangier → Chefchaouen → Middle Atlas Drive to Chefchaouen and walk its blue medina, then continue into the Middle Atlas mountains for the night.
- Day 2: Middle Atlas → Sahara Cross the Middle Atlas to the edge of the Sahara. Camel ride into the dunes and a night in a desert camp.
- Day 3: Sahara → Fes A morning in the dunes (sandboarding included, quads an optional extra), then the drive to Fes for the night.
- Day 4: Fes → Tangier Explore Fes in the morning, then head back to Tangier. On Options A and B you travel back by train.
Included: camel ride, a night in a desert camp and sandboarding. Optional extras: quad (ATV), buggy and hot-air balloon rides. Your written quote lists everything that is included.
Deposit & Refunds for the Tangier Departures
- A 20% deposit confirms your seats.
- Your deposit is refunded in full if Semester at Sea changes or cancels the Tangier stop.
- Your deposit is refunded in full if you cancel at least 10 days before your departure.
- If you cancel less than 10 days before your departure, the deposit is not refunded.
- If you postpone, your deposit moves to your new dates.
Sleeping on Board?
Prefer shorter trips from Tangier? Book day trips with your own van and driver.
Northern Coastal & Chefchaouen Day Loops
Custom 2 to 4 Days · Private Mercedes on Standby
Prefer sleeping on board or doing shorter day runs? Have your dedicated private van and driver on standby for day trips to Chefchaouen, the artistic coastal village of Asilah, Cap Spartel, and the Caves of Hercules.
Port Call 2 · Indian Ocean Expedition
Colombo Port Excursions: The South Coast Loop
Explore Sri Lanka's south coast surf towns, the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort and a wildlife safari, travelling on the Southern Expressway.
⚓ Colombo Port: Meeting Point & Return Plan
Semester at Sea docks at the Passenger Terminal, Port of Colombo. It is a working container port, so the exit and the pickup point depend on arrangements on the day. We confirm them with you before you arrive.
- Meeting point in writing: Once your booking is confirmed, we send you the meeting point, your driver's name and the vehicle details on WhatsApp or by email, and update them on the day if port arrangements change.
- Allow time to get off the ship: Semester at Sea says disembarking can take 1 to 4 hours, so the first day starts when your group is ready.
- Avoid street touts: Go straight to the confirmed meeting point and only get into the vehicle whose details we sent you.
- Timely Return Plan: On Nov 23, we plan your return to reach the port at least 3 hours before your on-ship time.
- Emergency numbers in Sri Lanka: tourist assistance 1912 · ambulance 1990.
Flagship Expedition: South Coast Surf, Safari & Fortress Loop
Sample 6-day plan · Private van and driver; rooms, surf lessons and safari added to your quote as you choose.
Expressway Sprint, Galle Fort & Weligama Surf
Nov 18 – 19 · Colombo Port → Galle → Weligama Bay
Bypass inner-city traffic via the E01 Southern Expressway directly to Galle Fort. Walk the 17th-century Dutch ramparts and the lighthouse at sunset before checking in near Weligama Beach. On Day 2, take a morning surf lesson on gentle sandy breaks and spend the afternoon on the beach.
Coconut Tree Hill & Yala Leopard 4x4 Safari
Nov 20 – 21 · Mirissa → Secret Beach → Yala National Park
Climb Mirissa's Coconut Tree Hill for ocean views and swim at Secret Beach. On Day 4, take a 4x4 safari jeep into Yala National Park, known for leopards, Asian elephants, sloth bears and crocodiles. Which animals you see depends on the day.
Bentota River Mangroves & Curfew-Safe Port Return
Nov 22 – 23 · Bentota → Colombo Fort → Port of Colombo
Cruise through the mangrove tunnels of the Bentota river. On Nov 23, have a street food lunch at the Old Dutch Hospital in Colombo Fort; your return is planned to reach the port at least 3 hours before your on-ship time.
How Sri Lanka Pricing Works
Sri Lanka Tour: Priced for Your Group
We quote once we know your group size, your free days and the rooms and activities you want. Every quote lists what is included and what is not.
Safety & Punctuality
On-Time Port Return Planning
We plan every port day to get you back to the ship well before all-aboard time. Our operational model is built around safety buffers, reliable routes, and punctuality.
3-Hour Safety Buffer
We never cut it close. All final day return itineraries schedule arrival at the port gates a minimum of 180 minutes prior to MV World Odyssey boarding curfew.
Expressway Priority Routes
In Sri Lanka, we use the E01/E02 expressways wherever the route allows, which keeps driving times more predictable than on coastal and mountain roads.
Live Location on WhatsApp
Your group leader can ask the driver to share live location on WhatsApp during the trip, so friends on the ship and family at home can follow along.
Backup Plan
Your written quote says what happens if a vehicle breaks down.
Hold Your Van With Zero Obligation
Check Group Availability & Get Custom Quote
Tell us your port, group size and free days. We reply with a written quote, and nothing is booked until you confirm.
Got Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Semester at Sea independent port travel.
We provide three transport categories based on your group size: Private: between 1 and 6 people (Mercedes Vito or modern minivan for cabin mates and small friend groups), Van: from 7 to 17 people (Mercedes Sprinter in Morocco or a Toyota KDH van in Sri Lanka, with seats and luggage space confirmed in your quote), and Big bus: up to 40 people (full-size touring coaches for large student clubs, academic delegations, or multi-cabin groups; in Sri Lanka on request).
Tangier Ville Port allows passengers to walk off the ship directly into the terminal plaza. Ayoub or our designated licensed chauffeur stands right outside the customs exit holding a sign with your lead passenger's name. Our private Mercedes van is parked in the designated tourist vehicle staging zone for an effortless departure.
Semester at Sea docks at the Passenger Terminal, Port of Colombo, a working container port. The exit and pickup point depend on port arrangements on the day, so we confirm the meeting point, your driver's name and the vehicle details with you before you arrive. Semester at Sea says getting off the ship can take 1 to 4 hours, so we plan the first day around that.
We follow the ship's published schedule. If docking is delayed by weather or sea conditions, we work with you to move the plan. Whether a date change costs anything depends on the hotels and activities already booked, and your written quote explains this.
Late November is a changeable time of year in Sri Lanka, and rain is possible anywhere on the island. The south coast (Weligama, Galle, Mirissa) is reached quickly on the E01 Southern Expressway, so driving times stay shorter than on mountain roads. We check the forecast with you and adjust the plan if needed.
Check your field-class dates in the Semester at Sea schedule, then pick the option whose four days are free. Option A starts the day the ship docks; Option C ends on the last port day. Not sure? Choose “Not sure yet” in the form and we'll help you pick.
Yes. Send one form for the whole group and tell us how many you are. The bigger your group, the lower the price per student.
On Options A and B you travel back to Tangier by train. If you don't need to be back on the ship until the next day, we can drive you back by van instead, at an extra cost. Tell us when you ask for your quote. On Option C we plan to have you at Tangier Ville Port by 15:00 on April 5, three hours before on-ship time, and your written quote confirms how you travel back.
Student groups pay the same way as on all our tours: a 20% deposit by PayPal, Remitly or Wise secures your private transport, and the balance is paid to your driver-guide when you meet (paying it by card adds a 5% bank fee). For the Tangier departures, the 10-day refund rule in the deposit box above applies. For Sri Lanka, payment and cancellation terms are set out in your written quote. We provide itemized receipts to facilitate Splitwise or Venmo expense sharing among your cabin mates.
Book Morocco Trips is an independent local operator and is not affiliated with Semester at Sea or the Institute for Shipboard Education.