MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA Unveiled Ahead of September 19 Debut

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Mitsui O.S.K. Cruises unveiled its new cruise ship, MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA, to the media at the Yokohama Shinko Pier Cruise Terminal on September 16. It is the second vessel in the MITSUI OCEAN CRUISES brand, following MITSUI OCEAN FUJI, which entered service in December 2024, and will begin service on September 19.

The vessel has a gross tonnage of 34,138 tons, an overall length of 198.15 meters, and a beam of 26 meters, with capacity for 458 passengers. All 229 guest rooms are ocean-view suites, and approximately 90% have balconies.

▲Hokusai Fine Dining

The ship features five restaurants, including Restaurant Sakura, the main dining venue serving Japanese and Western cuisine; Hokusai Fine Dining, supervised by French chef Kiyomi Mikuni; and Sushi Bar Shiosai, where guests can enjoy sushi and Japanese sake. Sushi Bar Shiosai was inherited from Nippon Maru, which retired in May this year, and has “reopened” aboard MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA. It carries on the traditional flavors cultivated aboard Nippon Maru. In addition to three bars, including Bar Umi, which offers views from the bow, the ship has lounges, a spa, and a fitness center. A new footbath overlooking the sea has also been installed at the Grand Pool.

Fares are all-inclusive, covering basic onboard meals and drinks, activities, shore excursions at ports of call, and more. Some dining venues and menu items are available at an additional charge.

▲MITSUI OCEAN FUJI, which entered service on December 1, 2024

MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA was formerly operated by U.S.-based Seabourn as Seabourn Sojourn. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines acquired the vessel in March 2025. It is a sister ship of Seabourn Odyssey, the former name of MITSUI OCEAN FUJI.

While MITSUI OCEAN FUJI is registered in the Bahamas, MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA is Japanese-flagged, allowing it to operate cruises exclusively within Japan. Focusing on short- to medium-length cruises in waters around Japan, the relatively compact vessel—under 200 meters in length—will also call at small ports, remote islands, and bays that are difficult for larger ships to visit. Cruises scheduled through the end of the year average around three nights, with many short cruises of one to three nights available.

The maiden voyage, “MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA Debut Cruise I – Toba and Hidaka,” will be a four-night, five-day round trip from Yokohama from September 19 to 23. The ship will depart Yokohama at 5 p.m. on September 19, call at Toba in Mie Prefecture and Hidaka in Wakayama Prefecture, and return to Yokohama at 9 a.m. on September 23. Fares start from 372,000 yen to 1,241,000 yen per person, based on double occupancy.

▲Nippon Maru, which retired on May 10, 2026

At Mitsui O.S.K. Cruises, Nippon Maru, which entered service in 1990, completed its final voyage on May 10 this year, bringing its approximately 35-year history to a close. Following SAKURA’s entry into service, the company will operate a two-ship fleet with MITSUI OCEAN FUJI. FUJI will focus on medium- and long-term cruises, while SAKURA will enhance its short-cruise offerings in an effort to broaden the appeal of cruise travel.

A naming ceremony was held aboard the ship in conjunction with the media unveiling. Following a naming declaration by the crew, the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony took place at the bow. In his remarks, the ship’s first captain, Satoshi Ninomiya, referred to the more than 140-year history of the Mitsui O.S.K. Group’s passenger ship business, saying: “What our company has inherited throughout its long history is heartfelt service. We are determined to carry this spirit and tradition forward aboard MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA.”