Luxury Cruise Liner ‘Spectrum of the Seas’ Makes Inaugural Visit to Sasebo

The colossal cruise ship, ‘Spectrum of the Seas’, operated by the American-based company Royal Caribbean Cruises, made its maiden call to the port of Sasebo this morning. The vessel, carrying a total of 6,943 passengers and crew from Shanghai, docked at the Miura Wharf in the city centre at approximately 7:00 AM.

Measuring an impressive 347 metres in length and with a gross tonnage of around 170,000 tons, the ship’s arrival marks a significant event for the city’s tourism industry. To commemorate the inaugural visit, a welcoming ceremony was held, featuring an exchange of plaques between ship officials and local dignitaries, alongside a traditional ‘Kagami-biraki’ sake barrel breaking ceremony.

Mr. Hiroyuki Shimada, head of Sasebo’s Port Promotion and Management Division, commented on the steady increase in cruise traffic. “We are experiencing a consistent and welcome number of cruise ship visits to Sasebo,” he stated. “Although their time here is brief, we hope the passengers thoroughly enjoy the delicious local cuisine, rich culture, and the many other attractions our city has to offer.” This visit marks the 73rd cruise ship to call at Sasebo this fiscal year. Following a successful previous year with 89 ships, the city anticipates welcoming a total of 150 vessels by the end of the current fiscal year.

‘MITSUI OCEAN FUJI’ Arrives in Takamatsu on Domestic Tour

In other maritime news, the ‘MITSUI OCEAN FUJI’, a cruise ship operated by Tokyo-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) Cruises, also made its first-ever port of call in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, this morning. The vessel, which has a gross tonnage of 32,477 tons and a length of 198 metres, arrived at the 50,000-ton class wharf in Takamatsu Port after departing from Yokohama on the 24th of August.

Launched in December 2024, the ‘MITSUI OCEAN FUJI’ boasts all-suite, sea-view cabins. According to the Kagawa Prefectural Government, passengers are scheduled to spend the day exploring local tourist destinations, including the scenic Yashima plateau and the historic Ritsurin Garden. The ship is set to depart this evening, seen off by a special calligraphy performance by students from Takamatsu Commercial High School. Its journey will continue to Shodoshima Island and Nagasaki, before heading to Jeju Island in South Korea, and is scheduled to return to Yokohama on the 2nd of September.

MOL Cruises Announces Name of New Vessel

Looking to the future, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Cruises has officially named its next-generation cruise ship, scheduled to enter service in the latter half of 2026. The new vessel will be christened ‘MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA’. This Japanese-flagged ship, with a gross tonnage of approximately 32,000 tons, is set to replace the current ‘Nippon Maru’, which will be retired in May of the same year. The ‘MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA’ will primarily operate short to medium-duration cruises, focusing on Japanese ports. Bookings for its inaugural voyages are expected to open in the winter of 2025.