R Yacht Co. Delays Sefu Cruise Ship Debut to Spring 2028
Built at West Sea's shipyard in Portugal, the roughly 120-meter Sefu is planned with 60 cabins, a stern marina with direct sea access and an infinity pool.
R Yacht Co. has postponed the debut of its first cruise ship, Sefu, to spring 2028, moving it from a planned launch ahead of summer 2027. The 120-passenger vessel is being built at West Sea’s shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
In its September 2026 newsletter, the Japanese company also confirmed that the approximately 10,000-gross-ton ship will sail under Japan’s flag and be registered at Uno Port. R Yacht identified Uno as the vessel’s homeport.
Established in January 2024 as a cruise venture of the Ryobi Group, R Yacht plans to offer voyages in Japan and elsewhere in the Far East. Sefu’s intended operating area includes the Seto Inland Sea and southern Japanese islands.
The roughly 120-meter vessel is planned with 60 cabins and approximately 100 to 120 crew. Its design includes a stern marina giving passengers direct access to the sea, alongside an infinity pool, restaurants, a spa and bathing facilities. The ship is intended to reach ports and islands inaccessible to larger cruise vessels.
Uno is in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, where R Yacht’s parent company, Ryobi Holdings, is also based. R Yacht described the port as a “key point for maritime traffic connecting Honshu and Shikoku.”
The port has regular ferry connections to Naoshima, Teshima and other Seto Inland Sea islands. The crossing to Naoshima takes about 20 minutes. JR Uno Station is approximately a three-minute walk from the port.
The ship’s name, announced in late 2025, draws on Setouchi and the Japanese word for wind. R Yacht said the choice expresses its connection with Japan and its aim to introduce domestic and international passengers to the region’s islands, cuisine, culture and port towns.
R Yacht said it would announce Sefu’s deployment details at a later date.
