China-Japan Cruise Travel Grinds to a Halt as Operators Exit Routes
Listen to the full version
Foreign-owned cruise operators are following the lead of their Chinese counterparts in slashing sailings to Japan from Chinese mainland ports, bringing maritime passenger traffic between the two countries to a near halt.
On Thursday, Geneva-based MSC Cruises said it would reroute six of its nine scheduled trips to Japan in the first quarter of 2026 to South Korea, retaining just three Japan-bound sailings. The announcement came two days after American cruise line Royal Caribbean revealed similar cuts, redirecting 13 of 20 planned Japan itineraries to South Korea for the same period. The remaining seven Japan-bound sailings are mainly scheduled for April. The wave of cancellations comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, which have strained cultural and economic exchanges.
The retention of a handful of Japan sailings is largely a logistical move to manage rebookings, a cruise industry source told Caixin. “Japan remains the top destination for domestic cruise passengers, and most won’t accept a switch to South Korea,” the source said. “But issuing full refunds would be too costly, so rerouting some trips while offering alternatives is a compromise.”
Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.
Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.
- RELATED
- DIGEST HUB
Digest Hub
Back
- Foreign and Chinese cruise operators are reducing or canceling most Japan-bound sailings from China for Q1 2026, rerouting many to South Korea amid rising Sino-Japanese tensions.
- Japan accounts for nearly 50–70% of China’s cruise passenger volume, so these cancellations significantly impact the sector, prompting operators to offer major discounts to fill ships.
- Chinese cruise lines have fully withdrawn from Japan routes, and a key passenger ferry has suspended service, raising concerns about declining passenger volumes at Chinese ports.
- MSC Cruises
- MSC Cruises, based in Geneva, significantly cut its Japan sailings. For the first quarter of 2026, it rerouted six out of nine scheduled trips to Japan from Chinese mainland ports to South Korea, retaining only three Japan-bound itineraries. To incentivize bookings for South Korean alternatives, MSC Cruises is offering competitive packages.
- Royal Caribbean
- Royal Caribbean, an American cruise line, has announced significant cuts to its Japan itineraries. Following the lead of Chinese counterparts, it will redirect 13 of its 20 planned Japan sailings to South Korea in the first quarter of 2026 due to rising diplomatic tensions. To attract bookings for South Korea alternatives, Royal Caribbean is offering deals like "buy one, get three free" on family rooms.
- Adora Cruises
- Adora Cruises was the first Chinese-funded cruise line to cancel all Japan itineraries from late December 2025 through the first quarter of 2026, replacing them with South Korea-bound cruises. To attract bookings for these alternative routes, Adora Cruises has significantly dropped prices, offering packages for around 1,800 yuan per person, plus a 600-yuan credit.
- Astro Ocean Cruise
- Astro Ocean Cruise is a Chinese-funded cruise line that has abandoned its routes to Japan. This decision, along with similar moves by other cruise operators, comes amidst rising diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, which have strained cultural and economic exchanges.
- Tianjin Orient International Cruise Line
- Tianjin Orient International Cruise Line is a Chinese cruise operator that has decided to abandon its Japan routes. This decision mirrors a broader trend among Chinese-funded cruise lines to cancel sailings to Japan from mainland Chinese ports due to rising diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.
- Blue Dream Cruises
- Blue Dream Cruises, a Chinese cruise line, has cancelled all its Japan routes. This change is part of a broader trend where both Chinese and foreign-owned cruise operators are rerouting or cancelling sailings to Japan from mainland Chinese ports due to rising diplomatic tensions.
- China Merchants Group
- China Merchants Group (CMG) is involved in the cruise industry through a joint venture with Viking Cruises, named CM Viking. Their vessel, the "Viking Sun," is expected to operate primarily in Europe in the first half of 2026, indicating that CMG, like other Chinese-backed operators, will not be running Japan routes during that period.
- Viking Cruises
- Viking Cruises, through its joint venture CM Viking with China Merchants Group, operates the vessel "Viking Sun." This ship is expected to primarily operate in Europe during the first half of 2026, meaning it will not be sailing on Japan routes from China.
- China-Japan International Ferry Co. Ltd.
- China-Japan International Ferry Co. Ltd. is a Sino-Japan joint venture. The company confirmed it has suspended passenger ferry service to Japan, now focusing exclusively on cargo. Its vessel, the "Jian Zhen," was the first to offer passenger service between the two nations after diplomatic normalization, and had just resumed operations in July following a pandemic-induced pause.
- By July 2025：
- The 'Jian Zhen' ferry vessel had resumed passenger operations following a pandemic-induced pause.
- November 28, 2025：
- Adora Cruises became the first to cancel all Japan itineraries from late December 2025 through the first quarter of 2026, replacing them with South Korea-bound cruises.
- December 9, 2025：
- American cruise line Royal Caribbean announced it would redirect 13 of 20 planned Japan itineraries to South Korea for the first quarter of 2026, retaining only seven Japan-bound sailings mainly scheduled for April 2026.
- December 11, 2025：
- MSC Cruises announced it would reroute six of its nine scheduled trips to Japan in the first quarter of 2026 to South Korea, retaining just three Japan-bound sailings.
- December 11, 2025：
- China-Japan International Ferry Co. Ltd. confirmed suspension of its passenger ferry service to focus exclusively on cargo.
- December 12, 2025：
- Royal Caribbean introduced a 'buy one, get three free' deal on family rooms for South Korea-bound cruises.
- MOST POPULAR
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook
Sign in with 财新