The Nippon Maru will stay close to home in 2018, with one- to eight-night cruises offered to its Japanese passenger base.

“Next spring (2018) we will sail in the islands of Okinawa and also visit Taiwan for the seventh season. The program includes flights to and from major cities,” said Naohiko Yamaguchi, president, Mitsui O.S.K. Passenger Line.

The company plans itineraries combining domestic and international cruises, considering seasonality as well as local events and festivities in the region, said Yamaguchi.

Longer sailings will also visit Guam and Saipan.

“We are also considering adding one or two cities in Southeast Asia as homeports,” said Yamaguchi. The fly cruise program is doing well, he added, and the small ship can call at some 150 different ports in Japan.

Read the full interview with Naohiko Yamaguchi in the Cruise Industry News Fall 2017 Quarterly Magazine.

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For insight and in-depth analysis of the Asia-Pacific and Japanese cruise market, download the 2018 China Market Report.

About the 2018 China Market Report

The 2018 China Market Report by Cruise Industry News is the only resource covering the future trajectory of the Chinese and Asia-Pacific cruise industry, presenting the past, present and future in a concise 95-plus page PDF download.

It is the only forward looking and independently-researched data available on the Chinese cruise market.

Cruise Industry News profiles all the major cruise lines operating in Asia, from Carnival Corporation to Royal Caribbean and local operators.

In addition, there are discussions with leading Chinese travel agents about the charter model and pricing trends, port news and updates from across the region, and a look at the fleet of ships in Asia through 2027.

There is also exclusive analysis and statistics of the Asia-Pacific market going back to 1998 and supply projections through 2027, in addition to a break-down of Asia-Pacific and China by operator and market capacity. Click here to learn more.