Carnival’s Princess Cruises To Resume In Japan In March 2023
It was recently reported that Japan had lifted its COVID-related ban on international cruise lines. This reopening is hoped to revive an industry devastated by global tourism restrictions. Meanwhile, Carnival’s Princess Cruises announced on Friday that it will sail again in Japan in March 2023.
Carnival’s Princess Cruises return to Japan in March 2023
Princess Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation, said in a press release on Friday that the cruise line is resuming trips in its homeport of Japan early next year. In fact, starting March 15, 2023, the Diamond Princess is set to sail from Tokyo for cruises varying from five to 19 days.
This return to cruising comes after an announcement by the Japanese Transport Ministry in November, lifting a two-and-a-half-year ban on international cruise ships. However, under Japan’s new guidance, crew members must have three COVID vaccine shots. Meanwhile, according to the Associated Press, most passengers are required to have had at least two jabs.
John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises, said in the press release:
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.
The ban on international cruises was initiated by Japan in March 2020, following a fatal coronavirus outbreak in February. Meanwhile, the outbreak happened on the Diamond Princess, a Princess cruise ship. Due to this, around 3,700 people were forced into two-week quarantine on board the ship.
Returning to international cruising
Princess isn’t the only one resuming sailing, as since Japan reopened to international cruises as other ships are getting ready to return to the country. Holland America Line, another subsidiary of Carnival, said in a Wednesday press release that some of its own itineraries in Japan are set to sail in early 2023.
Japan wasn’t the only country that took a while to return to cruise tourism after a break during the pandemic. As reported, New Zealand lifted its cruise ban in late July, while Australia did the same in April 2022. Meanwhile, Canada resumed sailing in November 2021.
After keeping its borders closed for almost three years, cruises are the next step in Japan’s easing of travel restrictions. Those restrictions had devastated many sectors of the country’s billion-dollar tourism industry. It was only in June this year that Japan once again opened its borders to international travelers.
COVID pandemic and cruising
The many and various travel restrictions in the world badly hit the cruise industry. Some of its biggest brands had to cut operations, often after a fatal coronavirus incident on board. This led to a number of cruise lines, including Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises, the leaders in the market, seeing their shares drop by more than 80 percent in 2020 alone.
Meanwhile, since the world steadily reopened, cruise lines have been hit by rate hikes, as well as a potential recession. However, companies are steadily building back with hopes of eventually restoring the industry to its pre-pandemic levels.