MOL Cruises, the cruise subsidiary of Mitsui OSK Lines, presented its new Japanese-registered cruise ship, the Mitsui Ocean Sakura, to the media on September 16. The ship will enter service on September 19 as the successor to the Nippon Maru, which was retired from the fleet in May.
The Mitsui Ocean Sakura is 198.15 meters long and 26 meters wide, with a gross tonnage of 34,138 tons. Due to its dimensions, the vessel is expected to be able to call more easily at smaller regional ports and remote island ports.
The ship has 229 cabins and a capacity for 458 passengers. Approximately 90% of the cabins have balconies. The roast beef and curry served aboard the Nippon Maru will continue to be part of the culinary offerings as traditional flavors. The ship also features a renovated sushi bar and a new traditional Japanese foot bath.
"The market for cruises departing from and returning to Japan is growing, and demand could outstrip supply at any time. We will continue to assess the right moment and move forward with the development of our fleet," said Tsunemichi Mukai, president of MOL Cruises, during a business presentation held that same day.
MOL Cruises' fleet will consist of two ships, along with the Mitsui Ocean Fuji, which entered service in December 2024 as the company's first new cruise ship in 34 years.
The Signature Suite, the largest accommodation on board the Mitsui Ocean Sakura, is located in the bow area of the ship.
The Japanese government has set a goal of increasing the number of Japanese cruise passengers to one million by 2030. In 2025, the number of Japanese passengers traveling on domestic and international cruises stood at 243,000. This figure is still below the 356,000 passengers recorded in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, although the number of foreign cruise ship calls in Japan continues to rise.
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