Eastern Cruise introduces its new brand, featuring the refurbished Eastern Venus, previously known as the Pacific Venus, set to begin operations in August 2024.

Eastern Cruise, a South Korean company, is preparing to debut a new cruise line in Asia utilizing the former Pacific Venus. The vessel, now renamed Eastern Venus, will accommodate 720 passengers and is scheduled to commence operations in August 2024.

The cruise line’s itinerary includes voyages in Northeast Asia from April to October, with South Korean ports serving as the primary bases. From October to March, the ship will operate in Southeast Asia, using Taiwan as its turnaround hub.

“This development marks a significant milestone for South Korea’s growing cruise industry and represents an important expansion of cruise offerings in Northeast Asia,” the company’s Public Relations and Marketing General Manager, Un Song Kim, told Cruise Industry News.

Eastern’s launch is aligned with projections of a 5.17 percent annual growth in South Korea’s cruise market between 2024 and 2028, Kim added.

Originally constructed for Japan’s Venus Cruises in 1998, the Eastern Venus is currently being refurbished in preparation for its upcoming debut.

Eastern Cruise, the latest entrant in the Asian cruise industry, is set to offer a range of three- to five-night cruises. These voyages will depart from ports in South Korea and Taiwan, catering to a diverse array of travelers in the region.

According to Kim, the company’s new cruise offerings will cater to both domestic and international travelers.

The new cruise brand is associated with Duwon Shipping, a ro-ro operator serving routes between South Korea, Japan, Russia, and Southeast Asia. Duwon Shipping also provides ferry services for passengers and vehicles on the 1993-built Eastern Dream.

The Pacific Venus, after concluding a 25-year operational stint in Japan, was taken out of service in January 2023 as Venus Cruise decided to shut down its cruise business. The 26,500-gross ton ship then went into an extended layup before being sold to new owners in late 2023.

Source: Travel and Tour World