The Mitsui Ocean Sakura is now in service for Mitsui Ocean Cruises, having kicked off its maiden season on September 19, 2026.

Originally built for Seabourn, the 450-passenger ship spent the past few months being prepared for this new chapter of its career in Japan.

As reported by Cruise Industry News, the Sakura joined the Mitsui OSK fleet in late May before entering drydock in Nagasaki.

The 2010-built ship was then christened in Yokohama ahead of welcoming its first guests over the weekend.

Held at the Yokohama Hammerhead Cruise Terminal, the ceremony not only celebrated the debut of the Sakura but also what the company called a new era for its fleet.

With the new-to-the-brand ship joining the Mitsui Ocean Fuji, Mitsui now operates two modern luxury cruise vessels.

For its maiden voyage, the Sakura offered a five-night cruise that featured visits to two additional destinations in Japan: Toba and Hidaka.

During its inaugural season, the vessel will focus on short cruises with 29 sailings scheduled to take place through December.

The itineraries will visit a range of Japanese ports of call, including Tokyo, Kobe, Hakata, Kanazawa, Niigata, Nagoya and Hiroshima.

A similar deployment is scheduled for next year, with the Sakura offering 61 additional cruises through September 2027.

Built at the T. Mariotti Shipyard in Italy, the 32,000-ton vessel originally debuted as the Seabourn Sojourn.

The ship joins the Mitsui Ocean Fuji, which was also built for Seabourn before being acquired by Mitsui in late 2024.

Before welcoming the Sakura, the Japan-based company also retired the 1990-built Nippon Maru from its fleet.

The traditional Japanese-flagged vessel was withdrawn from service in late May before being sent to a scrapyard in India.