MOL Mitsui Ocean Cruises

Mitsui Ocean Cruises is a new travel brand established in 2023, managed by MOL Cruises Ltd. The company is a fully owned subsidiary of the Japanese shipping corporation Mitsui Group (Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd) and operates under MOL's subsidiary Mitsui OSK Passenger Co Ltd.

Mitsui Group entered the premium market of the cruise shipping industry in March 2023 with the acquisition of Seabourn Odyssey (2009-built) from Seabourn Cruise Line Ltd (a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation) on March 17. MOL announced plans to order two new ships in November, with the first scheduled for delivery in 2027.

Until 2023, MOL operated only one cruise ship - the 1990-built Nippon Maru, in addition to several of Japan's newest cruiseferries.

In 2025 (on February 28), Mitsui Group acquired the vessel Seabourn Sojourn from Carnival Corporation. Despite the ownership change, Sojourn will continue operations for Seabourn (now under charter) to retain its scheduled itineraries through May 2026.

The cruising experience is characterized by stylish luxury, Omotenashi service (a concept of wholehearted hospitality/selfless service), spacious staterooms, authentic Japanese cuisine, modern wellness facilities, and contemporary hotel amenities.

Company History

The Japanese shipping company MOL/Mitsui OSK Lines (founded in 1964) is one of the world's largest container shipping companies. The company is headquartered in Minato City, Tokyo. MOL is part of Mitsui Group, a conglomerate of interlocking companies in Japan.

MOL was established through the merger of two Japanese shipping companies - OSK/Osaka Shosen Kaisha (founded in 1884) and Mitsui Bussan Kaisha/Mitsui Line (founded in 1876 as Mitsui Steamship Co Ltd).

Following the merger in 1964, MOL became Japan's largest shipping company, with capital and assets totaling JPY 13.1 billion, a fleet of 83 ships, and a total DWT (deadweight tonnage) of 1,237 million tons. The merger significantly boosted the company's container shipping operations. In 1968, MOL was recapitalized to JPY 20 billion, and in 1972, to JPY 30 billion. By 1974, MOL owned 152 ships (fleet DWT ~6.6 million tons) and operated an additional 291 ships under charter (total DWT ~10 million tons).

MOL's first container ship, America Maru, began operations on the Japan-USA route between Kobe and San Francisco in 1969. Through partnerships with other Japanese shipping corporations, MOL expanded its routes to Australia and Europe in the following years. In 1972, it opened the Panama Canal transit route to the East Coast USA (New York City) and Europe/Mediterranean.

MOL's first Ro-Ro ship (car carrier), Oppama Maru (launched in 1965), began operations in 1970, exporting Nissan vehicles to the USA. In 1973, it also began carrying Honda cars. Today, MOL's Ro-Ro division, Auto Car Carrier Express, specializes in shipping and distributing new and second-hand vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, trailers, and other wheeled cargo, as well as heavy machinery.

MOL's passenger shipping operations were established in 1970 with its subsidiary Mitsui OSK Passenger Co Ltd, which initially operated three ships. MOL's first cruiser was Fuji Maru (IMO 8700474, 1968-built/2021-scrapped at Gadani, Pakistan).

MOL's gas shipping operations began in 1983 with LNG (liquefied natural gas) imports from Indonesia and the addition of seven new gas carriers. Kohzan Maru (built in 1983) became Japan's largest gas carrier and imported methanol from Saudi Arabia.

Since 2019, MOL has fully owned Euro Marine Logistics NV (founded in 2011, based in Brussels, Belgium), a shipping and logistics company. EML currently owns 15 ships and serves six routes linking 27 ports across 17 European countries.

MOL's current fleet includes container ships, general cargo ships (bulk carriers, LNG carriers, oil tankers), Ro-Ro ships (vehicle carriers), Ro-Pax ships (passenger ferries), and cruise ships. The corporation also owns container terminals.

MOL FERRIES Ltd, Japan's largest Ro-Pax shipping company by fleet and capacity, is also fully owned by Mitsui Group. The company was formed in 2023 through the merger of two MOL-owned subsidiaries - Ferry Sunflower Ltd (founded in 2009, headquartered in Oita City) and MOL Ferry Co Ltd (founded in 1969 as Nippon Enkai Ferry, headquartered in Tokyo).

Mitsui Group's passenger shipping (cruise and ferry) operations are managed by its subsidiary MOL Cruises Ltd, part of Mitsui OSK Passenger Line Ltd (MOPAS), led by President Yusuke Ueno. The President of Mitsui Ocean Cruises is Tsunemichi Mukai, who also serves as Vice President of MOL America Inc.

In November 2022, Takeshi Hashimoto (President and CEO of MOL) announced that the company was considering an investment of USD 720 million (~JPY 98 billion) in two medium-sized cruise vessels (approximately 35,000 GT). The ships will be Japan-flagged and designed with a maximum passenger capacity of around 600. The order will include an option for two more ships of the same class/sisterships if the first two are successful.

Mitsui Group's expansion into the cruise shipping business is driven by the sector's high profitability and stability. The investment is also part of the corporation's diversification strategy to target both domestic and international tourists and strengthen its position in the global cruise industry.

Company Changes in 2025

In February, the company launched sales in North America for the first time. The expansion into the USA and Canadian markets (through an exclusive partnership with The Travel Architects, a Virtuoso member agency) reflects the growing popularity of Japan as a cruise vacation destination. In 2024, Japan welcomed approximately 37 million international tourists (compared to around 32 million in 2019, before COVID), including 2.7 million from the USA (a 30% increase over 2023).

Company Changes in 2024

In April, the company unveiled a new logo honoring its maritime heritage.

The three-bar motif is inspired by ocean waves.

In October, an exclusive partnership was signed with Kiyomi Mikuni (born in 1954, master chef and owner of the French restaurant Hotel De Mikuni in Tokyo, one of the highest-rated in the city). The deal involves Mikuni overseeing the Hokusai Restaurant on the Mitsui Ocean Fuji ship (which serves a five-course dinner at a fixed price) and developing several French fusion dishes using traditional Japanese ingredients for the Restaurant Fuji (MDR/main dining room).

Company Changes in 2023

On March 16, 2023, it was announced that Carnival Corporation (the parent company of Seabourn) sold the 14-year-old Seabourn Odyssey to the Japanese shipping company MOL. As of 2023, MOL operated only one cruise ship - Nippon Maru (built in 1990).

Along with the sale, Seabourn signed a time-charter agreement with MOL, allowing the company to operate Odyssey's scheduled voyages through October 11, 2024.

In October 2024, Seabourn Odyssey will be renamed and reflagged to Japan (MMSI TBD), with its port of registry changed to Tokyo.

On October 12, 2023, MOL Group officially launched its new cruise brand, Mitsui Ocean Cruises ("Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business"), and announced that Seabourn Odyssey's new name would be Mitsui Ocean Fuji.

In November 2023, the company placed a shipbuilding order for two cruise vessels, with an option for two additional units.

MOL's new brand, MITSUI OCEAN CRUISES, was officially established in October 2023 (announced on October 12) and is managed by MOL Cruises Ltd, a subsidiary of Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd.

MITSUI OCEAN CRUISES will be inaugurated in December 2024 when the ship Mitsui Ocean Fuji (Seabourn Odyssey) embarks on its Maiden Voyage from the homeport Yokohama. The all-suite luxury cruiser (acquired by MOL from Seabourn in March 2023) is also scheduled to embark on an Around the World Voyage in April 2025.

MOL Cruises' fleet currently includes only one vessel - the 1990-built Nippon Maru, which visits approximately 150 different Japanese seaports.

MOL's annual "Grand Cruise" (a round-Japan itinerary) lasts approximately two months.

Nippon Maru's "Island Cruise" itineraries visit two UNESCO sites - the Ogasawara/Bonin Islands and Yakushima Island. "Fly and Cruise" itineraries also visit Hokkaido Island (Shiretoko Peninsula, Otaru/Sapporo, Rebun Island), Okinawa Island, Taiwan (Keelung).

South Asian voyages include the "Taiwan Grand Cruise" itinerary (visiting Keelung/Taipei City, Kaohsiung, Hualien) and the "Gourmet Cruise" itinerary (to Hong Kong, Keelung, and Kaohsiung).

"South Pacific Islands Cruise" itineraries depart from the homeport Kobe/Osaka and visit Yokohama, Guam Island (USA), Papeete (Tahiti Island, French Polynesia), and Hawaii (USA).

In November 2024, four shore excursions were announced in partnership with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism: "Fugu Restaurant and Usuki Castle Town" (Beppu/60 stone Buddha sculptures, a pufferfish lunch, a guided walking tour of Usuki Castle Town/Usuki Castle ruins, Inaba Family Suburban Residence, Nogami Yaeko Literature Museum), Okonomiyaki in-Depth (Hiroshima/okonomiyaki pancake at Micchan restaurant), Shikoku Pilgrimage Walk (Sakaide/monk-guided tour/pilgrimage route to Negoro-ji Temple, visiting Ritsurin Park), Zentsuji Temple with Monk (Takamatsu/monk-guided tour, Five-Storied Pagoda).