By
Michele Witthaus |
Carnival Corporation has announced the formation of a Japan subsidiary and the introduction by Princess Cruises of what it says is the largest deployment ever by a global cruise line in the Japanese market.
Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess will implement a spring to summer season of cruising in the country in April 2013, with passenger figures expected to be around 18,000 during the first season of cruising. The 87-day programme will feature a total of nine cruises (running for 9-12 days each) on seven different itineraries, departing from Yokohama and Kobe between April and July.
In keeping with a stated commitment to customise the itineraries for the Japanese market, the programme will launch on an important national holiday in Golden Week on 27 April and will include two days in Hakata during the Dontaku Festival.
Carnival Japan, which has been formed to sell the Princess Cruises brand and certain other Carnival brands in Japan, will be based in Tokyo and overseen by Eiko Kijima, who will be on the board of directors of Carnival Japan.
“Our new Japan deployment is three times larger than that of any competitive international cruise programme, with superior itineraries specifically designed for the Japanese market,” said Alan Buckelew, Princess Cruises president and chief executive officer. “It’s the very first time a global cruise line is offering a full season of cruises from April to July designed specifically for passengers from Japan. We believe that our unique itineraries and onboard experience will prove extremely popular and will help to introduce cruise vacations to a growing number of Japanese vacationers.”