Cruise ship Seabourn Odyssey
Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), a Japan-based company, is launching a cruise line to diversify its operations. This new venture will be known as “Mitsui Ocean Cruises” and is scheduled to begin operations in December 2024.
The inaugural vessel for this new cruise brand is the “SEABOURN ODYSSEY,” a 23,477 gross-ton, 458-passenger capacity ship that MOL is set to acquire from Carnival’s Seabourn Cruise line in August 2024. While MOL initially acquired the SEABOURN ODYSSEY from Carnival in March 2023, they have chartered it back to Carnival to fulfill their existing cruise itineraries.
Upon acquisition by MOL, the SEABOURN ODYSSEY will be rebranded as the “Mitsui Ocean Fuji.” The ship will introduce innovative features to the Japanese market, such as a deployable marina. MOL has committed to blending Japanese hospitality with European luxuries and amenities. MOL has also stated that they plan to refit the ship to better suit Japanese culture.
MOL aims to promote the new cruise line internationally by 2025. Currently, MOL operates a cruise ship that is exclusively marketed within Japan.
Initial offerings from the new cruise brand will include 2- and 3-night cruises primarily targeted at the Japanese market. On April 12, 2025, the Mitsui Ocean Fuji will embark on a 100-day voyage, making stops in 16 countries and 24 ports before returning to Japan on July 20, 2025.
In November 2022, MOL disclosed plans to get two new cruise ships, each with a gross tonnage of 35,000 and a capacity for 600 passengers. Although specific details have yet to be revealed, they have indicated that the first of these ships is expected to debut around 2027.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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