The Japanese vessel Nippon Maru returned to homeport Yokohama on Sunday, May 10th, following its final voyage, concluding a 35-year career during which it carried ~600,000 passengers and completed numerous global voyages.
Nippon Maru, operated by Mitsui Ocean Cruises, a subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, arrived at the Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal at ~8 AM, after completing a 3-day Pacific cruise off eastern Japan. Families of crew members, maritime enthusiasts, and long-time passengers gathered along the terminal to mark the ship’s retirement and bid farewell to one of the pioneers of Japan’s modern luxury cruise sector.
During a retirement ceremony held at the cruise terminal, Captain Koichi Uchida reflected on the vessel’s long operational history, noting that the ship had undertaken voyages ranging from short coastal sailings to global circumnavigations while sharing memorable experiences with guests over several decades.
Passengers attending the farewell also recalled the vessel’s service standards and onboard atmosphere, with many describing the ship as an important part of Japan’s cruise heritage.
Since entering service in 1990, Nippon Maru sailed 5.3+ million km, equivalent to circling the globe ~133 times. Over the course of 2,000+ voyages, the ship called at 400+ ports both within Japan and internationally.
Refurbishment programs carried out in 2010 and 2020 extended the vessel's lifespan and modernized its facilities. Its relatively compact dimensions also enabled access to a wider range of ports compared with larger ships.
The Nippon Maru was officially retired from Mitsui Ocean's service on May 10. Its final fate - whether scrapping or sale for further use - has not been officially confirmed, though scrapping is considered a possibility.
Although Nippon Maru has now concluded service, the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (shipowner) continues to expand its cruise shipping operations through the introduction of newbuild vessels, amid expectations of continued growth in Japan’s market.