Disney Will Bring Year-round Cruise Vacations to Japan

Sep 03, 2024 | News On Japan

Sep 03, 2024 (News On Japan) - Disney and Oriental Land Co., the company that owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort, have announced that they have reached an agreement to bring year-round Disney-themed cruise vacations to Japan.

According to the agreement, OLC will build and operate a Disney-branded cruise business in Japan, with the first ship scheduled to be commissioned in 2029.

This is great news for the cruise industry. Disney already has plans to add 3 ships to its current fleet, and this Tokyo-based one will increase its passenger capacity even more.

"We are thrilled to continue the success of this expansion as we collaborate with Oriental Land Co. to introduce another distinctly Disney vacation experience to families and fans in Japan," said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences.

The most interesting aspect of this announcement is that the ship will be registered and based in Japan year-round, making it exclusive to the Japanese public and tourists who want to visit Japan on a cruise.

The ship will be a sister ship to Disney Wish, so we already know that it will be around 140,000 tons and will accommodate about 4,000 guests.
It will be constructed at Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, following the design created by Walt Disney Imagineering, the research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company.

It is a bit early to make revenue forecasts, but according to preliminary estimates, the ship could generate ¥100 billion in annual sales within several years of launch.

"I am sincerely proud that Disney and Oriental Land will be able to work together to create a world-class cruise business in Japan. Oriental Land will use their knowhow from the theme park business to continue pushing boundaries and provide family entertainment cruise experiences filled with inspiration and surprise," said Yumiko Takano, CEO of Oriental Land.

It’s important to note that the cruise industry continues to grow year after year and demand continues to be very strong.

For this reason, many cruise lines are also rapidly expanding in Asia. Before Japan, Disney also has plans for a cruise ship that will set sail from Singapore in 2025.

Typhoon No. 15 Disrupts Obon Travel as ANA Cancels 58 Flights

Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) began causing significant disruption to Japan's Obon holiday travel on August 11, with ANA canceling 58 flights serving Haneda and Narita airports, JAL canceling four flights, and JR East suspending some services on the Joban Line as the storm approached eastern Japan.

Typhoon No. 15 Set to Make Landfall in Kanto Tonight

Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) is expected to make landfall near Ibaraki Prefecture between around 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on August 11, bringing rapidly strengthening winds, high waves and heavy rain to parts of Kanto and southern Tohoku, with unsettled weather potentially continuing even after the storm moves inland.

H3 Rocket No. 9 Successfully Launches Japan GPS Satellite

Japan's H3 Rocket No. 9 successfully placed the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite into its planned orbit after lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 4:23 a.m. on August 11, marking the country's second consecutive successful H3 launch.

Tokaido Shinkansen Runs First Overnight Service

The Tokaido Shinkansen operated its first overnight service ahead of the Obon holiday period, offering travelers a 15,000 yen trip from the Tokyo area to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka while allowing them to save on hotel costs and arrive earlier than the first regular morning trains.

Typhoon No. 15 to Disrupt Travel on August 11

Typhoon No. 15 is expected to approach and likely make landfall somewhere in the Kanto region on August 11, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that could disrupt conventional rail services, expressways and flights while also affecting a wider area extending into Tohoku.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Tokaido Shinkansen Runs First Overnight Service

Lake Biwa Fireworks Event Abruptly Canceled Over Missing Permits

A fireworks festival that had been promoted as a simultaneous display of more than 10,000 fireworks across three cities on Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture was abruptly canceled on August 9, with organizers having failed to submit applications for permits required to hold the event.

Nara's Deer Population Hits Record High

Nara Park's famous deer are increasingly spilling into residential areas and farmland as their population reaches a record high, creating new problems for residents even as the animals remain a major attraction for visitors to the ancient capital.

Inside Universe Club: Japan's Best-Known Sugar Dating Club

Japan's dating scene has its own vocabulary, its own etiquette, and — for the arrangement style commonly known abroad as sugar dating — its own dedicated clubs.

Akihabara Maids Join Traditional Water-Sprinkling Event

Maids from Akihabara maid cafes joined shrine maidens from Kanda Myojin and members of the public on August 8 to sprinkle water across the shrine grounds in Tokyo, calling out "Cool down!" as they took part in a summer tradition aimed at easing the midsummer heat.