Japanese cruise newcomer Mitsui Ocean Cruises has confirmed its newest vessel Mitsui Ocean Sakura, formerly Seabourn Sojourn, will enter service on 19 September 2026, sailing a debut season of 29 voyages.

The ship, purchased from Seabourn in March 2025, will be delivered to Mitsui after completing its final Seabourn voyage in May 2026. Following a comprehensive refurbishment, the Mitsui Ocean Sakura will enter service under the Japanese flag in September 2026. It will join Mitsui Ocean Fiji, which launched in December 2024, in the fleet.

The inaugural season will feature several short voyages of one to three nights, over a three-month period through December 2026. Itineraries will be centered on Japan with the vessel’s compact size enabling it to call at “ports in various regions, from remote islands in Okinawa and Hokkaido … to ports located within walking distance of urban areas.” Reservations for these debut cruises will open on Monday 19 January 2026.

The ship will blend tradition with innovation, reflecting the company’s signature hospitality and design philosophy. “While preserving the ‘Omotenashi’ cultivated through previous cruise ships … the new cruise ship will offer guests a new kind of cruise experience with our sense of Japanese beauty unique to MOL Cruises,” the company said.

Among the ship’s new features are the Shiosai Sushi Bar and a Grand Pool with Foot Bath.

Mitsui Ocean also announced the appointment of Captain Satoshi Ninomiya, former master of the Nippon Maru, as one of the ship’s inaugural captains, and Executive Chef Katsutoshi Nakayama, also a Nippon Maru veteran, as the ship’s Head of Culinary Operations.

Mitsui Ocean Sakura’s itineraries will include short and medium-length cruises, along with themed voyages celebrating “festivals, fireworks, music and food.” The company will also continue to offer one-night cruises, which have proven especially popular among domestic travellers.