Princess Cruises has released for sale its 2025 Japan cruise season
offering 35 cruises ranging in length from seven- to 22-days.
The March through August season features Japan-built Diamond Princess
sailing from Tokyo (Yokohama) to 36 destinations in three countries.
Highlights include 10-day and new 11-day Spring Flowers cruises in
March and April, cruising to all four main islands and following the
blooming season as it moves from south to north; and 10-day Japan
Explorer voyages that call to some of the country’s most iconic
destinations, including Shimizu (for Mt. Fuji), Osaka or Kobe (for
Kyoto) and Hiroshima.
Cruise guests will also have an opportunity to enjoy traditional
summer festivals with late night and overnight stays allowing more time
in port to experience Japan’s culture and lifestyle.
Guests will have the chance to visit four of these unique festivals:
- Aomori Nebuta Festival (August 2 and 7)
- Kochi Yosakoi Dance Festival (August 12)
- Tokushima Awa Dance Festival (August 13)
- Kumano Fireworks Festival (August 17)
There are also options to combine a cruise and land tour for a deeper look at Kyoto and Tokyo.
Built in Japan, the 2,670-guest Diamond Princess offers guests
authentic cuisine at Kai Sushi, Japanese-inspired cocktails, folkloric
shows, regional entertainment and Japanese holiday celebrations.
Izumi is the largest Japanese bath complex at sea at 820 sqm, offering guests both outdoor and indoor bathing experiences.
Separately, Princess Cruises says it will no longer discount cruises
booked close to departure, saying that customers who book the earliest
will get the best deals.
Princess called it a "dramatic shift in its pricing strategy”.
"A Princess cruise vacation is the best value in travel, but with
continuing increases in consumer demand, our new pricing approach will
always reward guests who lock in their Princess vacations well in
advance," said Princess chief commercial officer Terry Thornton.
"Gone are the days of last-minute deep discounts close to departure
dates. The best time to secure a spot on a 2024 or 2025 Princess cruise
is right now."