Why Cruise Lines Are Betting Big On Japan

Royal Caribbean Group and MSC Cruises have broken ground on a new cruise terminal at Naha Port in Okinawa, Japan, with operations scheduled to begin in March 2028. The project is designed as more than an additional stop: Naha’s position at Japan’s southern end places it within relatively easy reach of Taiwan, South Korea and other parts of East Asia, supporting both destination demand and regional cruise connectivity. Royal Caribbean CEO Jason Liberty called Japan one of the company’s most important markets in Asia, while MSC said the terminal will strengthen routes across the region. The move comes as Japan’s inbound cruise traffic grows, with 1.77 million passengers in 2025 and 3,117 ship calls. Princess plans 78 Japan departures in 2027 and 85 in 2028.