Japanese media reported on the 15th that a Disney-themed cruise ship will make its debut in Japan in 2029.

Oriental Land, the operator of Tokyo Disneyland, held a press conference the previous day at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal and announced that a cruise ship named "Disney Imagination" will set sail in the spring of 2029.

Known as a "floating resort hotel," Disney Cruise is a Disney-themed version of a cruise vacation. Its defining feature is that passengers can enjoy dining, performances, shopping, and attractions within the immersive world of Disney.

Currently, nine Disney cruise ships are in operation worldwide. With Singapore having launched its service last March, Japan will become the second destination in Asia to host a Disney cruise.

The Disney Imagination is a 140,000-ton cruise ship equipped with 1,250 cabins, capable of accommodating up to 4,000 passengers. It features 30 dining facilities, including Disney-themed restaurants and cafes, as well as a 1,300-seat theater.

Operating primarily out of the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal in Koto Ward, Tokyo, Oriental Land plans to run routes centered around short itineraries of two to four nights to make it easily accessible for families and younger demographics.

Separate spaces dedicated exclusively to children and adults will be provided, and the pricing is expected to range between 100,000 yen and 300,000 yen (approximately $650 to $2,000 USD / 850,000 KRW to 2.56 million KRW) per person for a standard cabin.

Oriental Land has invested 330 billion yen (approx. $2.15 billion USD / 2.81 trillion KRW) into the Disney Imagination. Within several years of its launch, the company expects to attract 400,000 passengers annually and generate 100 billion yen (approx. $650 million USD / 852 billion KRW) in yearly sales.

Oriental Land's entry into the cruise business stems from the growing number of visitors to Tokyo Disneyland, which has made it increasingly challenging and costly to secure land for new attractions.

The Asahi Shimbun explained, "As visitor numbers grew, [Oriental Land] alleviated crowding by building theme parks in new spaces, but there were limits to securing land, and the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated visitor restrictions. The company plans to foster cruises as the third pillar of its business, following theme parks and hotels."

Recognizing significant room for growth in cruise tourism, the Japanese government is strategically fostering the cruise industry at a policy level.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's annual cruise passenger count last year was 243,000, which accounts for less than 1% of the 37 million global total. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has set a target to increase this figure to 1 million by 2030.

Yomiuri added that Japanese cruise operators have recently been introducing relatively short itineraries with more affordable pricing, aiming to expand the domestic cruise market—traditionally dominated by affluent seniors—toward younger generations and families with young children.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]