NYK’s Asuka Cruise brand will pull in its deployment for 2017, staying a bit closer to home aboard the luxury 50,142-ton, 872-passenger Asuka II as there was no world cruise planned at press time. This follows in the footsteps of other Japanese brands and guest preferences.

The line’s six-week 2017 Asia and Pacfic cruise left in late January sailing round-trip from Yokohama with planned calls to Guam, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia and other ports in Southeast Asia.

Also on the schedule is a month-long sailing from Kobe with visits to a host of Japanese ports, as well as Russia and Taiwan.

Otherwise, spring and summer see the Asuka II staying in Japan, with cruises as short as one-night and extending to a week with heavy port content in Japan. Embarkation points include Yokohama, Kobe and Nagoya.