Princess Cruises Returning to Japan With MedallionClass Service

Princess Cruises will be returning to sailing the isles of Japan beginning March 15, 2023, with MedallionClass service coming to the destination’s itineraries for the first time, following the decision by the Japanese government to let cruises return to the country.

The cruise line’s Japanese-built Diamond Princess ship will celebrate its 10th anniversary of sailing in Japanese waters with a roundtrip nine-day sailing from Tokyo. The line’s 43 Japanese itineraries visit a selection of 38 destinations across four countries during sailings five to 19 days long. A longer option is the 13- or 14-day Highlights of Japan sailings, which includes several days of a land tour combined with a cruise.

A Japanese cruise with Princess could include visits to temples, shrines and castles like Osaka Castle or Seiryu-ji Temple, the opportunity to enjoy annual festivals like the Kyoto Gion Festival or the Kumano Fireworks Festival. Travelers can also experience the glories of spring in Japan, its onsens and gardens, plus access to seven distinct UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a country that combines rich tradition with cutting-edge modernity.

“The reopening of Japanese ports to the international cruise industry is an important and welcome development that not only vastly expands the vacation opportunities available to guests but also helps to significantly strengthen the Japanese tourism economy,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “In addition, we know Japanese guests will appreciate the unmatched Princess MedallionClass experience offering unmatched personalization and hassle-free service.”