Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that MOL Group company MOL Cruises, Ltd. has named its new cruise ship, scheduled to enter service in late 2026, the MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA. Satoshi Ninomiya, who previously commanded the Nippon Maru, will serve as one of the captains for the ship’s debut season. Katsutoshi Nakayama, who also has experience aboard the Nippon Maru, will be an executive chef.

The MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA will enter service as a Japanese-flagged ship in late 2026, offering a wide range of itineraries centered on short- to medium-term cruises departing from and arriving at various ports in Japan. Taking advantage of its compact size, with a gross tonnage of approximately 32,000 tons and a length of less than 200 meters, the new cruise ship can call at ports in various regions, from remote islands in Okinawa and Hokkaido, which were popular destinations for the “Fly&Cruise” series on the Nippon Maru, to ports located within walking distance of urban areas. The company also plans to offer one-night cruises, which have gained wide popularity among guests, as well as cruises themed on festivals, fireworks, music and food.

While preserving the “Omotenashi” cultivated through previous cruise ships operated by MOL Cruises, including the Nippon Maru, the connections with ports of call and people throughout Japan, one-of-a kind experiences in each region, and meals that carry on tradition while inspiring passion, the new cruise ship will offer guests a new kind of cruise experience with our sense of Japanese beauty unique to MOL Cruises.

The details of MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA inaugural cruises will be announced, and sales will start after the winter of 2025. For more information, please refer to the MOL Cruises press release.

The MOL Group’s BLUE ACTION 2035 management plan calls for a reform of its business portfolio to ensure profitability even during downturns in the shipping industry and positions the cruise business as one of its non-shipping, stable-profit businesses that can offset the volatility of the shipping market. The group will strive to enhance the corporate value of the group and realize the Group Vision, along with its sister ship MITSUI OCEAN FUJI, which entered service in 2024.