Maritime shipper Nippon Yusen will order a second cruise ship, with luxury travel demand growing among affluent seniors in Japan. Plans are on to put it in service in the mid-2020s.
Construction costs are expected to be around 60 billion Yen ($541 million). Nippon Yusen’s well-known cruise ship, the Asuka II, will be taken out of service temporarily for repairs. However, it will continue to operate after the new vessel sets sail.
The number of Japanese guests on overnight cruises jumped 27% in 2017 to a record 315,000, as per tourism ministry figures. Foreign players like Princess Cruises of the U.S. operate megaships out of the country.
An increase in affluent visitors is brightening the market outlook.
Railways are also adding more luxury sleeper trains. Hence, Nippon Yusen decided to expand its cruise fleet. The Asuka II was built in 1990 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Nippon Yusen is now thinking of foreign builders too.
Tags: cruise ship, Nippon Yusen
