Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, announced that MOL Cruises, , which operates its cruise brand Mitsui Ocean Cruises, will retire its cruise ship Nippon Maru on May 10, 2026, with a cruise returning to Yokohama.

Since entering service in 1990, the Nippon Maru has sailed 5,332,383.964 km, or about 133 times around the globe, on over 2,000 cruises, calling at over 400 ports in Japan and other countries, and welcoming more than 600,000 guests aboard. As a pioneer in Japan’s leisure cruise industry, it has been active for 35 years, undergoing two refurbishments and renewals in 2010 and 2020, and has created a variety of experiences and memories for its guests.

Taking advantage of its compact size, the Nippon Maru has called at various ports, both large and small, served meals showcasing local specialties, hosted extraordinary events created in conjunction with local communities, and received tremendous support from local governments, tourist associations, and residents of its ports of call. Thanks to those priceless relationships, the Nippon Maru has been able to offer an amazing array of cruises to its guests over the past 35 years.

The itineraries and events after February 2026 will be announced as soon as they are finalized. During the last cruise, the Nippon Maru will offer special dinners featuring seasonal ingredients from the ports of call associated with the cruise, as well as small gifts as a token of the company’s appreciation.