Japan’s largest cruise ship, the Asuka III was officially delivered to its owner NYK Cruises, a subsidiary of Japanese shipping group NYK in a ceremony held in Emden, Germany on April 10, 2025.

The cruise ship is LNG-powered and underwent sea trials in the North Sea on March 18, 2025.

The Asuka III has a gross tonnage of 51,950 tonnes with a passenger capacity of 740. She is also one of the most energy-efficient ships built by Meyer Werft.

After being delivered, the ship will go to its homeport in Yokohama, Japan where final outfitting will be done.

In its inaugural season, the ship would sail to more than 30 destinations across the country including Muroran, Moji, Hakodate, Otaru and Takamatsu.

The highlight would be the 12-night Japan Circumnavigation Cruise which would leave from Yokohama in August.

NYK booked the vessel in 2021 and the German Shipbuilder customised several systems for the cruise ship, such as the hydrodynamics which were optimised as per the planned routes and contactless controls.

Work began in 2023 and was completed in January 2025 when the cruise ship was floated out of the building dock. It will soon join its sister vessel, the 241 m long Asuka II.

It was designed for the Japanese market and features traditional aesthetics, open spaces, and works by several famous Japanese artists, such as a fresco in the Gallery by Hiroshi Senju and paintings in the Noblesse Restaurant by Reiji Hiramatsu.

The shipbuilder said that it represents an important milestone in the way to reduce emissions.

Bernd Eikens, CEO of Meyer Weft Group said that their entire team and partners worked hard to bring the ship to life and hoped that the Japanese public would like it.

Both Meyer Werft and NYK said that the ship would reduce particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and sulphur oxide emissions.

References: Cruise Industry News, Portnews

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