NYK Cruises has published the full schedule for the summer and autumn 2026 deployment of Asuka III, outlining a total of 31 cruises planned for the period. The program features a broad range of domestic and regional itineraries designed around seasonal events and regional cruising in Japanese waters.
The schedule includes several sailings timed to coincide with major summer festivals in Japan. Selected itineraries are structured to allow passengers to view events such as the Tateyama Bay Fireworks Festival, the Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival, and the Kumano Grand Fireworks Festival directly from the vessel. In addition, a “Summer Hakata and Busan Cruise” has been positioned to align with the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival in Fukuoka.
In northern Japan, multiple itineraries will focus on Hokkaido, combining ports across the eastern, western, southern, and northern parts of the island to provide broader regional coverage. For western Japan, a series of autumn sailings through the Seto Inland Sea is planned, including round-trip cruises from Hakata and Kobe as well as itineraries linking ports such as Wakayama, Shodoshima, Beppu, Hyuga, and Matsuyama. These voyages are designed to take advantage of the region’s sheltered waterways, island-dotted seascapes, and prominent bridge crossings during the autumn season.
The program also expands Asuka III’s reach to more remote Japanese islands. In addition to calls at Amami Oshima and Tanegashima, the vessel is scheduled to operate its first cruise to the Ogasawara Islands. Six one-way sailings with differing embarkation and disembarkation ports are also included, offering greater flexibility for passengers planning extended travel. Examples include early summer and mid-summer itineraries linking Yokkaichi, Yokohama, Kobe, and Toba, structured to facilitate pre- and post-cruise stays using Yokohama, Kobe, and Hakata as gateway ports.
For voyages departing between June 15th and July 18th, NYK Cruises plans to offer a commemorative menu in selected onboard restaurants to mark the start of the ship’s service. Reservations for the 2026 summer and autumn program are scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m. on December 12th, 2025 through the company’s cruise desk, official website, and authorized travel agencies handling Asuka III sailings.