Mitsui Ocean Fuji

The 2009-built (as Seabourn Odyssey) cruise ship Mitsui Ocean Fuji was the first/oldest in the Seabourn fleet, with sisterships Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest. In September 2024, the ship was renamed "Mitsui Ocean Fuji" and in December started operations for the new travel brand "Mitsui Ocean Cruises" managed by MOL Cruises Ltd.

The vessel (IMO number 9417086) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 309416000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

On March 17, 2023, Carnival Corporation (as shipowner and parent company of Seabourn Cruise Line Ltd) sold the 14-year-old Seabourn Odyssey to the Japanese shipping company MOL (Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd). The news was confirmed by Takeshi Hashimoto (MOL's President and CEO).

Until 2023, MOL owned and operated only one cruiser - Nippon Maru (1990-built).

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

On September 26, 2024, Seabourn Odyssey was handed over to the new Japanese shipowner, renamed and reflagged to Japan (MMSI tba) with port registry Tokyo.

Following the charter agreement with Seabourn and a drydock refurbishment, in September 2024 the vessel was transferred to MOL's subsidiary Mitsui OSK Passenger Line Ltd (MOPAS). The ship's last refurbishment by Seabourn was in 2022.

On October 12, 2023, the shipowner Mitsui Group officially launched its new cruise brand Mitsui Ocean Cruises as well as Seabourn Odyssey's new name - Mitsui Ocean Fuji.

The shipowner Mitsui Group (1964-founded) is one of the world's largest container shipping companies. The Japanese transportation company is headquartered in Tokyo. MOL itself is part of Mitsui Group (interlocking companies in Japan). MOL's fleet includes box ships, general cargo ships (bulk carriers, LNG carriers, tankers), ro-ro ships (also ferries) and the MOPAS-operated cruise ship Nippon Maru.

Mitsui Group also plans to order two new cruise ships designed with max passenger capacity of ~600.

The 450-passenger ship Seabourn Odyssey was the company's first new-class boat. At volume 32000 GT-tons, Odyssey was the smallest vessel operated by any of all major cruise lines at the time and with the industry's highest space-per-guest ratio.

Seabourn Odyssey was named in Venice and constructed in Genoa (by T. Mariotti). All guests on that occasion were honored as the ship's godparents. A plaque with guests' names was mounted permanently on a wall inside Seabourn Odyssey. The ship was designed by Bjorn Storbraaten and Petr Yran - the same architects who designed Seabourn's original ships. In addition to larger accommodations, the biggest portion of the vessel is utilized for creating larger open-deck spaces, a variety of dining venues and public rooms.

Decks and Cabins

Seabourn Odyssey staterooms (225 total) are in 15 cabin categories. The largest are the GRWG-Grand Wintergarden Suites (1180 ft2 / 110 m2 including the 220 ft2 / 20 m2 terrace). These are actually two connecting cabins (WG-Wintergarden Suite plus V4-Veranda Suite) with connecting balconies.

Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 7 (located on all cabin decks). The connecting staterooms' number is 37 (adjacent suites convertible to a double suite).

All staterooms are in suites categories and have luxury hotel amenities like separate sitting-sleeping areas, a walk-in closet, electronic safe box, smart HDTV (with free on-demand movies), iPod docks, minibar, refrigerator.

Most staterooms are Veranda Suites (sized 300 ft2 / 28 m2 plus 65 ft2 / 6 m2 balconies). Penthouse Suites are spacious (435 ft2 / 40 m2 with 100 ft2 / 9 m2 terrace) and with bedrooms separated from lounge areas (with dining tables and comfortable armchairs) and powder rooms. Grand Suites are two-bedroom and with a glass-walled Solarium (whirlpool bathtub and lounge bed).

The boat has 11 decks, of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

By company's loyalty program "Seabourn Club", Silver Level and above passengers receive free Internet (limited and unlimited packages), free phone calls (20-30-40 min worldwide), complimentary Spa Massage, Day Pass for Spa Serene Area, free laundry (1 bag for every 7-days on the ship), plus discount pricing on onboard alcohol purchases (premium wines and spirits), future cruise booking discounts, luggage shipping service discounts, access to special offers and exclusive onboard events.

MITSUI OCEAN FUJI ship review (facilities and amenities)

Mitsui Ocean Cruises announced Fuji ship's facilities in June 2024.

Restaurant Fuji (main dining room) offers a full-service experience with chef-curated menus featuring Japanese and international dishes.

Terrace Restaurant Hachiyo (named after the 8 peaks of Mount Fuji) provides a variety of global food options in an open space with ocean views. At night, it features an omakase sushi menu and outdoor al fresco dining.

Hokusai Fine Dining (named after the artist Katsushika Hokusai known for his Mount Fuji artworks) serves seasonal dishes presented in fine dining style.

Poolside Restaurant Kohan offers casual meals and beverages inspired by the lakes of Mount Fuji.

The Ocean Cafe provides a casual walk-up food and beverage service in the central Mitsui Ocean Square.

Lounges and bars include Observation Bar 36, offering panoramic views and craft cocktails inspired by Mount Fuji’s changing seasons.

The Ocean Club and Bar features beverages alongside live music, lectures, and games.

Entertainment centers around Ocean Stage (theater) - the main entertainment venue for Broadway-style production shows (music, dance, drama) and special events. This is a multi-function venue also serving the company's enrichment program with daily lectures and media presentations. The 45-minute evening shows feature performances by professional singers and dancers, with the show's choreography, costumes and musicals by Belinda King Creative Productions. The Midnight Hour show (Chicago-themed) features tributes to stars like Elvis Presley, Peggy Lee, Stevie Wonder.

Ocean Casino offers blackjack and roulette gaming.

Health and fitness/wellness facilities include Spa and Wellness Kodama, offering massage, facial treatments, salon services, and acupuncture.

The Fitness Center and Motion Studio have training equipment and spaces for yoga and Pilates.

Recreation Raiko on the top deck provides a place for games and sunbathing.

The next ship review video is in Japanese.

SABOURN ODYSSEY ship review (facilities and amenities)

The Restaurant is the main dining venue and an open-seating eatery.

Restaurant 2 is the alternative venue, specializing in tasting seven-course menus. The menu changes weekly in a 7-week rotation, and guests for more than a week see a different menu.

The Colonnade is a casual restaurant with both waiter service and buffet options. In the evenings, it is transformed and becomes a bistro-style restaurant. Menus are themed. One night, it is Italian, the next - Mediterranean, or French.

Patio Grill (on Deck 8, next to the swimming pool) is the most casual, with tables around the main pool. It offers continental breakfast; burgers, hot dogs, pizza and salads for lunch. Patio Grill is open for dinner in good weather, offering chops, steaks, shrimp, and pizza.

Early risers may enjoy continental breakfast in Observation Bar between 6:15-8 am, as well as pastries and brand coffees at The Square between 6:15 am and 6 pm. Afternoon Tea is served in Observation Bar daily from 4 to 5 pm, with live piano music. Tea selections include Darjeeling Organic, Himalayan Peak, Bleu Peacock Oolong, Mandarin Rose Petal, and tisanes - African Amber and Ginger Twist.

Follows the complete list of Seabourn Odyssey restaurants and food bars.

• The Restaurant (main dining room with open-seating breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the dining amenities are top-luxurious; the Restaurant's dress code is "elegant casual" with optional "formal" dress on special nights.
• Restaurant 2 (reservation-only; offers an avant-garde dining experience, featuring a rich selection of fine wines and regionally-themed menus)
• Patio Grill (serves the pool area with grilled specialties, salads, and several side dishes; fresh pizza by the slice is offered throughout the afternoon)
• The Colonnade (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; its chefs cook in an open kitchen and guests can enjoy watching the food being prepared; the menu for dinner is differently themed each day; the restaurant has an aft Terrace and an outdoor seating area)
• The Grill by Thomas Keller (the menu and ambiance are inspired by the classic American chophouse; a collaboration between designer Adam D. Tihany and 3-star Michelin chef Thomas Keller).

Room service is 24 hours a day, however, the menus do not vary much and you can order hot breakfast and staples, such as chicken, burgers, steaks, and surprisingly delicious pizza. For dinner, you can order from the Fuji Restaurant's menu - your food will be served course by course.

Most beverages onboard Seabourn Odyssey, from house wines and cappuccinos to soda and martinis, are complimentary. Each cabin is stocked with two complimentary liquor bottles.

Most evenings, Seabourn guests enjoy three entertainment options - piano music (Observation Bar), a show (Grand Salon) and dancing (The Club).

The pool deck is vast, with attendant whirlpools, ringed by two spacious sundecks. There's another/smaller swimming pool (at the stern), and the third one is on Deck 6 - a large whirlpool, all the way forward.

Seabourn Spa covers two decks, although Deck 10 space is limited by two spa villas (private, with treatment beds), a double day-bed, an oversized whirlpool tub, and a wraparound terrace featuring lounge chairs for private sunbathing. The cost is $500 - the minimum for half a day!

The spa entrance (Deck 9) has a panoramic sliding-glass wall opening to the outdoor relaxation area, with six treatment rooms, hydro spa pool, steam rooms, and saunas, and a fitness studio with free Kinesis training. You will also find all the usual equipment a modern gym is able to provide. The cost is $30 for a spa pass to the thermal area and the pool. Several group classes (Kinesis training, Tai Chi, yoga, pilates) are organized fee of charge. However, you will have to pay for private sessions and lessons with a trainer.

A typical Seabourn trademark on Odyssey is the Watersports Marina, aft on Deck 2. The marina platform is typically open one day per voyage (weather permitting) and only when the ship is anchored/not docked in port. An array of water toys are launched from the facility - from kayaks and a banana boat to a bizarre activity in which guests sit in the inner tube, after which are pulled by a speedboat to the swimming platform.

Onboard gratuities are included in the fares, so tipping is not required. The ship is suited primarily to couples. However, solo travelers will also be cared for with needed attention.

Complimentary amenities include 24-hour room service, Internet/WiFi access, laundry, self-serve Laundromats. Tipping/gratuities - tips are not expected or calculated in the price. Wedding parties on Seabourn ship Odyssey could be held in any of the ship's public spaces (no chapel onboard).

Follows the complete list of Seabourn Odyssey lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Living room (open-floor area serving as a lounge with a small seating area)
• The Casino (with 1 roulette table, 3 gaming tables for blackjack and poker, 15 slot machines)
• The Club lounge (disco nightclub)
• The Club Pool area (with one plunge pool flanked by two Whirlpools, served by The Club's bar)
• Whirlpool (with an open-deck area with loungers)
• Grand Salon (main show lounge for grand productions, featuring a 6-piece band; hosts guest lectures and presentations during the day)
• Card Room (cards playing and board games room)
• 3 duty-free shops (The Boutique for fashion clothes, perfumes, and luxury cosmetics; The Seabourn Shop for Seabourn-logo merchandise; The Collection for brand watches and jewellery)
• The Coffee Bar (patisserie and specialty coffee bar, serving Seabourn Square lounge area, which has a corner serving as the Library/Computer Centre)
• Patio Pool (swimming pool, two Whirlpools, sunbathing area with loungers, private cabanas; served with drinks by Patio Bar; the pool deck also hosts barbecue parties)
• Sky Bar (serves the Patio Pool's balcony level)
• The "Spa at Seabourn" (11,400 ft2 wellness area spanning on two decks, with outdoor relaxation deck area, Massage-Treatment Rooms, Steam Room, Saunas, Thermal Suite, glass-roofed Spa pool, Beauty Salon)
• Fitness Center (panoramic-view modern gym)
• Motion Studio (separate Aerobics Room)
• Observation Bar (round-shaped observation lounge with grand piano)
• Promenade (Deck 5); Outdoor relaxation areas (Sun Terrace, Spa Terrace, The Retreat)
• The Retreat (multi-use, open-air relaxation area with a 9-hole Golf putting green and courts for deck games - Giant Chess, Shuffleboard).

Mitsui Ocean Cruise Itineraries

In October 2023, the new shipowner (Mitsui Group) announced that Mitsui Ocean Fuji is scheduled to operate its first World Cruise for MOL's new brand Mitsui Ocean Cruises. The 100-day itinerary (roundtrip from Yokohama/April 12th through July 20th, 2025) visits 24 call ports (16 countries) globally and features a Suez Canal transit.

Mitsui's World Voyage was opened for booking in February 2024.

Mitsui Ocean Fuji's inaugural itineraries were announced on May 20, 2024. The brand's debut program is based on homeporting in/roundtrips from Yokohama and Kobe, and visiting ports in Japan (Beppu, Nagasaki, Shingu, Matsuyama, Kochi, Nagoya, Shimonoseki, Takamatsu, Hiroshima, Kagoshima) and Korea (Jeju City and Busan). The itinerary lengths range between 5 and 12 days.

Next are listed the inaugural season's first voyages/December 2024 schedule.

MAIDEN VOYAGE (Dec 1-7) 7-day from Yokohama to Tokyo visiting Beppu, Busan and Shimonoseki. Inaugural Cruise prices ranged between JPY 0,506-1,984 million (USD 3170-12440/EUR 2950-11600).

• (Dec 8-13) Yokohama roundtrip visiting Shingu, Kochi and Busan
• (Dec 14-18) Nagoya roundtrip visiting Busan and Takamatsu
• (Dec 19-23) Kobe roundtrip visiting Busan and Matsuyama
• (Dec 23-29) Kobe to Yokohama visiting Hakata, Busan and Kagoshima
• (Dec 29-Jan 8, 2025) Yokohama roundtrip visiting Jeju, Busan, Nagasaki, Beppu, and Hiroshima

In July 2024 were announced 5x more itineraries for Mitsui Ocean Fuji scheduled for 2025:

1. 8-day "Spring Cruise with Yeosu" (Apr 10-17) roundtrip from Yokohama to Yeosu, Nagasaki, Ibusuki
2. 8-day "Spring Cruise with Jeju" (Apr 17-24) roundtrip from Yokohama to Jeju, Hakata, Sukumo
3. 12-day "Golden Week Around Japan Cruise with Busan" (Apr 24-May 5) roundtrip from Yokohama to Ofunato, Hakodate, Aomori, Miyazu, Hamada, Busan
4. 9-day "Spring Cruise with UNESCO Sites" (May 5-13) roundtrip from Yokohama to Hofu, Sasebo, Yeosu, Shimonoseki, Toba
5. 66-day "Grand Asia Cruise 2025" (May 13-Jul 17, visits 24 ports/10 countries) roundtrip from Yokohama to Kobe, Ishigaki, Hong Kong (overnight), Ha Long Bay, Da Nang/Hue, Saigon (overnight), Sihanoukville, Laem Chabang/Bangkok (overnight), Koh Samui, Singapore (overnight), Melaka, Penang, Langkawi, Phuket, Port Klang/Kuala Lampur, Benoa Bali, Komodo Island, Darwin (overnight), Makassar, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Kaohsiung, Keelung, Naha

Also in July 2024, the previously scheduled "MITSUI OCEAN FUJI WORLD CRUISE 2025" was canceled as it included a Suez Canal transition (uncertainty in the Red Sea/Houthis attacks).

Seabourn Itineraries

Seabourn Odyssey itinerary program was based on World Voyages leaving from Fort Lauderdale Florida USA, Caribbean deployments, Panama Canal voyages. In Europe, Odyssey operated Mediterranean itineraries with departures from Venice, Athens-Piraeus, Istanbul, as well as Transatlantic crossings on seasonal relocation (RepositionCruises.com).

In October 2020, Seabourn announced new itineraries in British Columbia (BC Canada) and Alaska (USA) for the 2021 summer season. The ship had scheduled 7-10-11-day voyages between Vancouver BC and Juneau Alaska, also combinable into 14-day B2Bs/back-to-back cruises with no repeated call ports. Odyssey's Alaskan 2021 program also had 10-11-day cruises between Whittier-Anchorage and Vancouver, with every voyage visiting either Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm or Hubbard Glacier. In addition, 4x sailings visited Glacier Bay NP. Eventually, the Alaskan deployment was canceled and replaced with the Caribbean.

In late-April 2021 Seabourn scheduled for Odyssey two 7-day itineraries leaving roundtrip from Bridgetown Barbados (homeport) - beginning on July 18. The 7-day ex-Barbados voyages were to Southern Caribbean island ports in Antigua (St Johns), Tortola BVI (Road Town), Grenada (St George's), Dominicana (La Romana), St Lucia (Castries), St Maarten (Philipsburg), and St Kitts (Basseterre).