97 Finally, from Ishigaki Island’s port, visitors can experience Ishigaki, the southernmost city in Japan, by taking part in Ishigaki-yaki pottery classes. They can also visit Iriomote Island, which has been registered as a World Natural Heritage Site. Cruise lines are continuing to discover the beauty of Okinawa by bringing expedition cruising to the region and designing itineraries that explore the islands. For example, luxury cruise line Ponant held its first Okinawa expedition cruise in March 2023. The cruise line will return to Okinawa in 2024 with six cruises and new islands added to the itinerary. The eight-day ‘Japanese Subtropical Islands’ expedition cruise will depart from Naha and call at the islands of Iheyajima, Zamami, Kumejima, Ishigaki, Taketomijima, Iriomotejima and Yonagunijima, before disembarking at Keelung, Taiwan. Okinawa is not just available for port calls, with cruise ships homeporting at the islands too. The island will be serving as a homeport for MSC Cruises’ ship MSC Bellissima from January to March 2024, and the cruise line will offer a range of three, four and five-day itineraries, including roundtrip cruises departing from Naha that call at Miyako Island and Ishigaki. Also in 2024, the islands will be visited by cruise lines such as Resorts World Cruises, Costa Cruises and Holland America Line. To learn more about the ports and attractions of Okinawa, visit cruise.visitokinawa.jp/en/ Okinawa, once called the Ryukyu Kingdom, has formed its own unique culture
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