Japan cruises 2028

Where do Japan cruises sail in 2028?

Japan cruises in 2028 are dominated by sailings that spend most or all of their time in Japanese waters, with a smaller number of transpacific crossings heading onward to North America and a handful calling at Chinese ports. The mix ranges from short coastal voyages to extended itineraries stretching to fifty nights, with a median of around fourteen nights — long enough to take in several Japanese ports at a comfortable pace.

Japan — the heart of the 2028 sailings

Japan accounts for the largest share of itineraries by a considerable margin, and it is easy to see why. Sailings fan out from Tokyo and Yokohama (Tokyo) — the two busiest embarkation ports — as well as from Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. If you are based in Australia, the quickest route to most of these departures is a direct or one-stop flight into Tokyo; from another city, a short domestic connection gets you there without anything resembling a gruelling journey.

A significant number of these itineraries are one-way voyages, so the ship may start in one Japanese city and finish in another, or end the voyage in a port such as Hong Kong or Singapore. For one-way sailings finishing away from your home city, a domestic or regional flight home is a natural conclusion — and our team can book that leg alongside your cruise so you are not left to sort it separately.

Round-trip sailings also feature strongly across the 2028 programme, giving you the reassurance of returning to the same port where you boarded — useful if you are building a pre- or post-cruise stay around Tokyo or Yokohama.

Transpacific crossings: Japan to North America

A smaller but distinct group of sailings connects Japan with North America, making them ideal if you want to combine two major regions in one long voyage. These transpacific crossings typically depart from Japanese ports and arrive in Vancouver or Seattle — or vice versa. If the voyage ends in Canada or the United States, a domestic flight home to Australia is the logical final step, and we can arrange that as part of a DreamAway Package so the whole journey sits on one booking. You can read more about transpacific cruises on our dedicated page. If you are also considering the north Pacific coast while you are in that part of the world, our Alaska cruises 2028 from Vancouver page is worth a look.

Which cruise lines sail Japan in 2028?

Princess Cruises has the broadest programme in this region, with Princess Cruises 2028 sailings making up the largest share. Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Azamara and Explora Journeys all have strong presences too. Oceania Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises also sail Japan in 2028. The range of lines means you can choose a style that suits you — from large-ship itineraries with a full entertainment programme to intimate, all-suite vessels where the focus is entirely on the destination.

More than half the sailings across the 2028 roster are all-inclusive or carry a premium fare tier that bundles in key extras. If you are comparing fares, our cruise experts can walk you through what each tier actually covers — which saves you the disappointment of discovering what is not included after you have booked.

Ships to know for Japan 2028

Diamond Princess — Princess Cruises

Diamond Princess carries one of the most distinctive features of any ship sailing Japan in 2028: the Izumi bathhouse, where you can soak in a traditional Japanese onsen at sea — a genuinely rare ritual that ties the ship directly to the culture of the destination. When you are not in the bathhouse, the Princess Theatre hosts Broadway-style productions, and Skywalkers Nightclub sits fifteen decks above the waterline. Japan, Vietnam and Singapore itineraries on Diamond Princess are also available with return flights included, which brings Asia within reach without the usual flight-booking headache.

Cabin choices on Diamond Princess run from a compact interior to one of the largest suites afloat:

• Inside cabin IA — 15.6 m² (sleeps 4): positioned on middle decks for a quiet ride, with central lift access and minimal movement.
• Premium Ocean-view cabin O5 — 18.3 m² (sleeps 4): a panoramic window with a wide forward view gives you natural daylight that an interior cabin cannot match.
• Balcony cabin B2 — 25.7 m² (sleeps 4): your own outdoor space with seating, direct sea air and a view that interior and ocean-view cabins do not offer.
• Grand Suite S1 — 123.5 m² (sleeps 4): at roughly 123.5 m², the largest suite on the ship — almost twice the size of the Owner’s Suite.

See the full Diamond Princess cabins and deck plans before you choose.

Sapphire Princess — Princess Cruises

Sapphire Princess emerged from a 2025 refit with new restaurants, revitalised cabins and a modernised Lotus Spa — so the ship you board in 2028 is in strong condition. The adults-only Sanctuary pool deck offers private cabanas, cold towels and serenity stewards, giving you somewhere genuinely peaceful when the rest of the ship is busy. A small number of Sapphire Princess sailings depart from Fremantle, which means no long-haul flight at all if you are in Western Australia — a domestic hop or a short drive and you are on board.

Cabin grades on Sapphire Princess:

• Inside cabin IA — 15.6 m² (sleeps 4): middle-deck position keeps things quiet and stable.
• Premium Sea-view cabin O5 — 18.3 m² (sleeps 4): a large panoramic window with a bow view brings in daylight and an unobstructed forward outlook.
• Balcony cabin B2 — 25.7 m² (sleeps 4): private balcony with outdoor seating and direct sea air.
• Grand Suite S1 — 123.5 m² (sleeps 4): the largest suite aboard, with a separate living room and dining area — more than twice the space of a Penthouse suite.

Browse the Sapphire Princess cabins and deck plans for the full layout.

Seabourn Encore — Seabourn

Seabourn Encore is built for travellers who want the destination to be the whole point. The ship carries an all-suite design with an atmosphere closer to a five-star boutique hotel than a conventional cruise ship — understated, classical and genuinely calm. Elegant dining is included in the fare, so there are no à la carte surprises. The Grand Wintergarden Suite GR, at around 115 m², is the ship’s largest accommodation and comes with a private hot tub — noticeably more spacious than the Owner’s Suites at 67 m² or Penthouse Spa Suites at 83 m². See the Seabourn Encore cabins and deck plans for the full suite range.

Azamara Pursuit — Azamara Cruises

What sets Azamara Pursuit apart from most ships sailing Japan is time in port. The ship is built around overnight and late-night stays, which means you are not watching a city fade on the horizon at four in the afternoon — you have the evening and sometimes the following morning too. With just 777 guests, the ship is also small enough that you are never fighting through crowds to get ashore, and the crew knows who you are within a day or two. Your fare includes a private cultural evening ashore — a symphony concert or a vineyard dinner, exclusive to Azamara guests. Check the Azamara Pursuit cabins and deck plans to find the right grade for you.

Celebrity Solstice — Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Solstice was revitalised in 2026 with new restaurants, redesigned staterooms and refreshed outdoor spaces. The Lawn Club — a real grass deck — and Sunset Park give the ship an outdoor character that few vessels match. In the evenings, Dueling Pianos is a perennial crowd-pleaser. For something more theatrical, Le Petit Chef delivers a 3D animated dining show at the table. If you want a step up in wellbeing, an AquaClass cabin gives you exclusive access to a dedicated spa restaurant and the Spa facilities included in your fare — a meaningful upgrade from a standard balcony. See the Celebrity Solstice cabins and deck plans for the full range of staterooms.

Celebrity Cruises offers a range of fare tiers for its Japan sailings. The cruise-only rate gives you the lowest base fare, with extras added later. A value-tier fare bundles in a drinks package and basic Wi-Fi. At the top, The Retreat fare covers premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, suite accommodation and exclusive lounge and sundeck access — everything included in one price.

Seven Seas Splendor — Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seven Seas Splendor is Regent’s flagship in this region, and it operates on a genuinely all-inclusive model. Space is generous throughout, excursions are included in the fare, and the focus is on immersive exploration rather than ticking off ports at speed. If you want every meaningful cost covered before you board, this is the ship to look at. Browse Regent Cruises 2028 for the full programme, or check the Seven Seas Splendor cabins and deck plans for suite options.

Also worth exploring on these Japan sailings: Silver Muse from Silversea, with its all-suite layout and deck plans available online. Oceania’s Riviera also sails Japan in 2028 — see the Riviera cabins and deck plans for cabin details. Queen Elizabeth is another ship, with cabins and deck plans available to browse.

What fare types are available for Japan 2028 sailings?

Fare structures vary significantly across the cruise lines sailing Japan in 2028, and understanding what is included before you book saves a lot of friction later.

Princess Cruises offers a Standard base fare — covering the cruise itself — with Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages available to add. The Plus package covers 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (up to 15 per day), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photos plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. Fare types such as last-minute offers and early-booking promotions also appear across the Princess programme.

Celebrity Cruises has a cruise-only rate for those who prefer to build their own package, a value-tier with drinks and Wi-Fi included, and The Retreat — a premium suite fare that covers premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi and exclusive lounge and sundeck access.

Silversea fares are all-inclusive as standard: butler-serviced suites, exceptional dining, unlimited wines and spirits, gratuities and Wi-Fi are all covered. An enhanced fare adds a shore excursion credit and a fully refundable deposit — worth considering if your plans might change.

Are there discounts on Japan 2028 cruises?

Some sailings carry a reduced price measured against the price previously listed for that cabin grade. On the sailings where a reduction is available, the maximum saving reaches up to 40% on a single departure, though that represents one sailing. Most discounted sailings sit closer to a 7% reduction, so the typical saving is modest rather than dramatic. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere, we will match it.

Make it a full holiday with CruiseAway

For the vast majority of Japan 2028 sailings, you will be flying from Australia. That flight does not have to be a separate booking you manage yourself. Our team can put together a DreamAway Package that wraps your cruise, your return flights, hotels either side, transfers between the airport and the port, and any tours you want into a single itinerary. You sort one booking; we handle the rest.

If you happen to be joining a Sapphire Princess sailing from Fremantle, the journey is simpler: no international flight required, and a short drive or domestic hop gets you to the ship. Either way, our cruise experts are there to help you choose the cabin grade and fare inclusions that match your travel style and budget. They know these ships and these itineraries in detail — it is a different conversation from booking direct with a cruise line.

We are members of CLIA, and every booking comes with the reassurance of our Best Price Guarantee.

Also worth considering in 2028

If you are still deciding on a region, Asia cruises 2028 gives you a broader look at what is sailing across the region. For the wider 2028 cruise calendar, cruises 2028 covers every destination we sell. Japan sits within a broader Asian itinerary for many travellers — cruises to Japan and cruises to China are both worth comparing if your route is flexible.

Princess has a particularly rich 2028 programme for Australian travellers. The Princess 2027–2028 season launch is the best place to see the full sweep of sailings, and the Australia 2027/2028 season launch covers the homeport and regional departures in detail. If Sydney is your preferred starting point, Princess Cruises from Sydney 2028 lists what leaves from there. Fans of Pacific itineraries may also want to look at the Princess Cruises Around Australia 2028 programme.

Planning a voyage for the year before? Japan cruises 2027 has a comparable selection of itineraries and is worth reviewing if your dates are flexible. And if Vancouver appeals as a departure point — particularly for a transpacific or Alaskan leg — Alaska cruises 2028 from Vancouver covers that corner of the market in depth.

For Princess sailings specifically, the broader topical pages — including Princess Cruises from Brisbane 2027, Princess Cruises to Tasmania 2027 and Princess Cruises from Sydney 2027 — give a sense of how the full Princess network fits together, which can be helpful when you are matching a Japan sailing to a positioning voyage or a back-to-back itinerary.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.