On February 4, 2025, Oriental Land Co., Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), and NYK Cruises Co., Ltd. announced the signing of a basic agreement to collaborate on Oriental Land’s cruise business, aiming to launch in 2028. This partnership will leverage Oriental Land’s expertise in creating exceptional experiences through theme park and hotel operations, combined with NYK Group’s extensive maritime experience and safety technologies, to develop a “Family Entertainment Cruise.”
The following is the actual text from the English language version of the press release issued on February 7th.
February 4, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oriental Land Co., Ltd.
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
Yusen Cruises Co., Ltd.Oriental Land, NYK Line, and NYK CRUISES Conclude Basic Business Partnership
Agreement concerning Oriental Land’s Cruise BusinessOriental Land Co., Ltd. (“Oriental Land” and “OLC”; headquarters: Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture; Representative Director, President and COO: Kenji Yoshida), Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (“NYK Line”; head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Takaya Soga), and NYK CRUISES CO., LTD. (head office: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Hiroyuki Endo) have concluded a basic business partnership agreement concerning Oriental Land’s Japan-based cruise services, which the company aims to launch in fiscal 2028. (NYK Line and NYK CRUISES CO., LTD. are hereinafter collectively referred to as “the NYK Group.”)
In line with the basic agreement, the three companies will discuss the following matters conducted by the NYK Group regarding Oriental Land’s development of a cruise business:
- Consulting for the cruise business
- Management of the cruise ships and their operations
Oriental Land and the NYK Group will work together toward Oriental Land’s goal of providing family entertainment cruise experiences by combining the OLC Group’s expertise in offering immersive settings and excellent hospitality, which has been developed through its well-established theme park and hotel operations, and the NYK Group’s proven cruise operations and outstanding safety technology fostered through its long-standing cargo transportation and Asuka cruise business.
■ Company profiles
Oriental Land Co., Ltd.
Outline: Founded in 1960 to contribute to the cultural life of the nation and the welfare of its citizens. In addition to its core business of managing and operating theme parks in pursuit of its corporate mission to provide “wonderful dreams, moving experiences, happiness and contentment,” the company is scheduled to launch its cruise business in fiscal 2028.
Website: https://www.olc.co.jp/en/
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
Outline: Founded in 1885, the largest shipping company in Japan operates 824 ships and employs approximately 35,000 people at more than 600 Group business sites (as of March 2024). It offers cruise services through its Group company NYK CRUISES CO., LTD.
Website: https://www.nyk.com/english/
NYK CRUISES CO., LTD.
Outline: The company operates Asuka cruise services, which cater to the lifestyles and preferences of Japanese passengers. Asuka II, currently the largest Japan-registered passenger ship, offers a diverse lineup of cruise services, including 100-day world cruises, extended cruises to the Asia and Oceania regions, cruises for visiting summer festivals across Japan, and many more. The Asuka III passenger ship will also start operating in the summer of 2025. Upholding the brand concept of “Delivering Encounters with the real thing and conveying the sense of excitement” Asuka cruises aim to create and offer unmatched experiences of the utmost quality, thereby contributing to the development of Japan’s cruise culture.
Website: https://www.asukacruise.co.jp/english/
Last July, Oriental Land Company, LTD announced the launch of a new business project, a licensing agreement for a cruise business with Disney Enterprises, Inc to bring Disney Cruise vacations to Japan with year-rounds service expected to start in fiscal year 2028.
Details about this new cruise business will be announced via the Oriental Land Company as soon as they are determined. What we do know at this time is Oriental Land Company will operate a new Disney cruise ship which will be registered and based in Japan year-round. The ship will be constructed at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, with imaginative designs created by Walt Disney Imagineering. A sister ship to the Disney Wish, it will feature many guest-favorite venues and experiences from that ship with select modifications specially designed with Japanese guests in mind. It is expected to be approximately 140,000 gross tons and powered by liquefied natural gas, with about 1,250 staterooms.
In November 2025, Oriental Land Co, Ltd announced an agreement with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for use of the Port of Tokyo as a homeport for the company’s new cruise business.
More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date.
UPDATE: On February 7th, 2025, OLC released the following English translation of the agreement in PDF format. The text from the official English language version replaces the previous Google Translated version presented above.