YOKOHAMA (Bernama-Kyodo): The Japanese cruise ship, Nippon Maru, returned Sunday to a port south of Tokyo after its final voyage to mark the end of its 35-year career, in which it carried a total of 600,000 passengers and sailed around the world, Kyodo News reported.
Fans and the families of crew members gathered at a terminal in Yokohama to bid farewell and showed gratitude to the retiring 22,472-tonne ship, once considered a pioneer of Japan's luxury cruise industry.
They waved flags and cheered as the Nippon Maru, operated by a subsidiary of Japanese shipping firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., berthed at around 8 am after having completed a three-day cruise in the Pacific off eastern Japan.
At a retirement ceremony held on the rooftop of the Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal, Captain Koichi Uchida expressed his appreciation to the ship.
"From one-night stays to round-the-world cruises, we set out on many voyages where we could share the excitement with our guests. Thank you and well done," he said.
Among the fans was 11-year-old Ayane Senoue from Tokyo, who recalled, "The hospitality and service were amazing, and the events were so much fun."
The Nippon Maru, which began service in 1990, has sailed over 5.3 million kilometres, equivalent to circling the globe about 133 times, on over 2,000 cruises, calling at over 400 ports in Japan and other countries, according to the ship operator.
Equipped with 190 guest cabins and a large hall that hosted numerous shows featuring singers and musicians, the 167-metre-long ship underwent refurbishments in 2010 and 2020. Taking advantage of its compact size, the Nippon Maru was able to call at a variety of ports, according to the ship operator.
While the Nippon Maru is retiring, the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines group has been working to expand its cruise business by introducing new ships amid expectations of growth in cruise demand in Japan. -- BERNAMA-KYODO
