NYK Cruises’ new large cruise ship “Asuka III” set sail on July 20. This article introduces the interior with 36 photos.
For NYK Cruises, this is the first newly built ship in about 34 years since the inaugural “Asuka” was completed on October 28, 1991. It boasts a gross tonnage of 52,200 tons, a length of 230 meters, a width of 29.8 meters, 13 decks, and a draft of 6.7 meters. There are 385 guest rooms with a passenger capacity of 744 and approximately 470 crew members. The port of registry is Yokohama. The gross tonnage surpasses “Asuka II” (50,444 tons), making it the largest under the Japanese flag. As a new Japanese-flagged cruise ship, this is the first in about 27 years since Japan Cruise Line’s “Pacific Venus,” which operated until 2022 and was completed in 1998.
Passenger areas are on decks 5 to 13. From deck 5, they are named “Main Deck,” “Promenade Deck,” “Plaza Deck,” “Horizon Deck,” “Seabreeze Deck,” “Asuka Deck,” “Lido Deck,” “Sky Deck,” and “Starlight Deck.”
Upon boarding, guests first step into deck 5, which features the atrium lobby “Asuka Plaza,” a reception, “Anchor Bar” that offers a selection of fine Japanese liquors, a medical clinic, and at the stern, the all-day dining “Four Seasons Dining Room.”
▲Reception (Deck 5)
▲Lobby “Asuka Plaza” (Deck 5)
▲”Anchor Bar” (Deck 5)
Deck 6 features the main bar “Mariners Club,” the casino “Anty” with roulette and slot machines, “Gallery Cafe,” and more. The “Lumiere Theater” offers immersive performances integrating digital art visuals and dance. Furthermore, the rear includes three restaurants: French “Noblesse,” Italian “Almare,” and Japanese “Umihiko.”
▲”Lumiere Theater” (Deck 6)
▲French “Noblesse” (Deck 6)
▲Japanese “Umihiko” (Deck 6)
▲Shop “Asuka Collection” (Deck 6)
▲”Promenade Deck” (Deck 6)
Decks 7 through 10 are guest room areas (partly on Deck 11). There are three classes of rooms: penthouse, suite, and balcony, all equipped with private balconies facing the sea, kitchen sinks, and bathtubs.
The penthouse offers two types: the Royal Penthouse (114.8 square meters) with 2 rooms, and the Grand Penthouse (93 square meters) with 4 rooms, totaling 6 rooms. Each includes a living/dining room, bedroom, sea-view bathroom, and study. Both types come with butler service, including free shore tours and activities.
▲Passage on Deck 9
▲”Royal Penthouse” (Deck 9)
▲”Royal Penthouse” (Deck 9)
▲”Royal Penthouse” (Deck 9)
▲”Royal Penthouse” (Deck 9)
The suite consists of five types totaling 82 rooms: 4 Captain Suites (87.1 square meters) located on both sides of the bow, 8 Panorama Suites (67.3 square meters) located on both sides of the stern, 8 Asuka Suites (48.5 square meters), 54 Midship Suites (44.3 square meters), and 8 Junior Suites (33 square meters). Among these, 2 Asuka Suites and 2 Midship Suites have a universal design, with room sizes slightly different.
Out of the 54 Midship Suites, 47 feature decor themed on Japan’s 47 prefectures. Each room is assigned a prefecture, offering welcome sweets made with the region’s traditional crafts and specialties.
▲”Midship Suite”
▲”Midship Suite”
The balcony type includes 297 rooms, with 271 Asuka Balconies (22 square meters) and 26 solo balconies (19.4 square meters) for single occupants.
Deck 11 houses the “Vista Lounge” at the bow, an atrium-style “Albatross Pool” with a jacuzzi in the center, “Studio A3” hosting yoga programs, the buffet restaurant “Ems Garden,” and grill restaurant “Papenburg” at the stern.
▲”Vista Lounge” (Deck 11)
▲”Vista Lounge” (Deck 11)
▲”Albatross Pool” (Deck 11)
▲”Albatross Pool” (Deck 11)
▲”Albatross Pool” (Deck 11)
▲Grilled “Papenburg” (Deck 11)
Highlighting Deck 12 is the “Grand Spa,” an open-air bath with a panoramic bathhouse. Located at the bow, it offers scenic views while enjoying bathing and sauna. Additionally, it features the 24-hour “Asuka Wellness Club” fitness center, “Asuka Salon & Spa,” and “Asuka Field” with courts for paddle tennis and 3-on-3 basketball.
▲”Grand Spa” (Deck 12)
▲”Grand Spa” (Deck 12)
▲”Grand Spa” (Deck 12)
▲”Grand Spa” (Deck 12)
▲”Grand Spa” (Deck 12)
▲”Grand Spa” (Deck 12)
▲”Asuka Wellness Club” (Deck 12)
The top floor, Deck 13, is the outdoor “Starlight Beach” deck.
The first voyage on July 20 departs and arrives at Yokohama Port, touring Hakodate and Otaru over seven days. Sixteen cruises are scheduled for the opening season until October. The Asuka cruise brand color ships will operate with “Asuka II,” totaling over 100,000 gross tons and a passenger capacity of approximately 1,600, marking the largest cruise operation among Japan’s international cruise ship companies.
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This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
