S.S. Seawise University caught fire and sank in the Hong Kong Harbor on Jan 9, 1972. C.Y. Tung's commitment to the World Campus Afloat program did not vanish because of this catastrophic fire. In order to provide shipboard education to hundreds of students who had already signed up in the Seawise University program, he bought the former cruise ship, S.S. Atlantic from American Export Lines. The Atlantic was renamed S.S. Universe Campus and carried on the mission of S.S. Seawise University/RMS Queen Elizabeth in the shipboard education.

About 500 Students, 60 faculty and staff in addition to ship's officers and crew came on board the Universe Campus. Each semester was about 4 months. Students embarked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA and disembarked in the United States. They earned their university credits at sea while visiting various ports-of-call around the globe. C.Y. Tung had established the Seawise Foundation to support his educational and related projects. He founded the institute for Shipboard Education and arranged Semester-at-Sea Program for two world cruises a year on the Universe Campus. This was done in cooperation initially with Chapman College of Orange County, California (1965-1975) then with the University of Colorado (1977-1980) and later with the University of Pittsburgh (1980-2006). Today, the Semester-at-Sea program resides in the University of Virginia (2006 - present).

Between cruises the Universe Campus was used for various functions, such as the Annual Shipboard Conference on International Education (ICET), and the Consortium for International Cooperation in High Education (CICHE). Scholarships were also provided by the Seawise Foundation to students recommended by their universities and selected by committees. Applicants came from Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Brazil and Argentina.

The Atlantic ex- Badger Mariner C4 type cargo ship was built by Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Chester, Penn. USA in 1953. American Banner Lines purchased the Badger Mariner in 1957 and rebuilt into a passenger cargo ship renamed Atlantic. She was a 564 feet long, 76 feet wide, 28-foot draft, 14,138 gross tons and 880 passenger cruise ship. 1959-1960 sold to American Export Lines not renamed, 1968 laid up, 1971 sold to C.Y. Tung renamed Universe Campus, 1976 renamed Universe, 1996 scrapped.