MOL Cruises Ltd., the operator of Mitsui Ocean Cruises, has announced that its flagship vessel Nippon Maru will be retired from service on May 10th, 2026.
Nippon Maru's final voyage will conclude in Yokohama, marking the end of a distinguished 35-year operational history.
The 1990-built Nippon Maru has completed 2,000+ cruises, covering approximately 5.33 million kilometers/3.31 million miles (equivalent to circumnavigating the globe 133 times) and has welcomed 600,000+ tourists aboard. The vessel has called at 400+ ports (Japanese and foreign), leveraging its compact size to access both major cities and remote coastal destinations.
Over its service life, the ship underwent two major refurbishments, in 2010 and 2020, ensuring it remained aligned with passenger expectations and the company's operational standards.
Nippon Maru became known not only for its technical capability but also for the onboard and portside experiences it curated. These included regional culinary offerings, cultural events, and close collaboration with local communities, earning longstanding support from local governments, tourism organizations, and residents.
The vessel’s retirement is a significant moment for the Japanese cruise sector, where Nippon Maru has held a pioneering role in the development of domestic leisure cruising. Final
itineraries and commemorative programming for early 2026 are currently under development. During the concluding voyage, special dining menus featuring seasonal ingredients from the final ports of call will be offered, along with commemorative gifts for guests in recognition of their loyalty and the vessel’s long-standing service.