Seabourn Sojourn Ends Final Voyage Ahead of Mitsui Debut

Seabourn Sojourn has finished its final voyage for Seabourn, closing a charter-back period after Mitsui Ocean Cruises bought the ship in March 2025. The 2010-built, approximately 32,000-gt vessel ended a 129-day world cruise in Vancouver on May 15 and is slated for delivery to the Japanese operator, where it will sail as Mitsui Ocean Sakura.

The transfer gives Mitsui Ocean Cruises a second former Seabourn sister ship after Seabourn Odyssey, now Mitsui Ocean Fuji, entered service for the line in December 2024. For Seabourn, Sojourn’s exit leaves a five-ship fleet. It now numbers three traditional luxury ships and two smaller expedition vessels.

Sojourn’s last Seabourn cruise departed Long Beach in early 2026 and included 63 destinations in 14 countries. The itinerary crossed the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Japan and Alaska, with calls including Bora Bora and Suva and overnight stays in Hong Kong and Busan.

The ship’s farewell season for Seabourn also included Northern Europe itineraries and a Canada and New England program before the world voyage. MOL Group’s cruise brand acquired the 225-cabin vessel from Seabourn and chartered it back so published voyages could continue through the end of the world cruise.

Seabourn said the ship’s next deployment is in a market “not competitive with Seabourn.” Mark Tamis, Seabourn’s president, said at the time of the sale that the remaining vessels provided the mix the brand wanted for different parts of the ultra-luxury market.

As Seabourn Sojourn, the ship carried about 458 guests at double occupancy with roughly 330 crew.

Sakura scheduled for September debut from Yokohama

Before entering Mitsui Ocean service, Sakura is scheduled for minor adaptations. Its inaugural voyage is set for Sept. 19, 2026, a four-night roundtrip from Yokohama calling at Toba and Hidaka.

Mitsui’s initial Sakura season includes additional departures from Yokohama and sailings from Tokyo, Kobe, Hakata, Niigata, Nagoya and Kanazawa. The line has also put the ship into its 2027 program for North American travelers, with Fuji and Sakura scheduled to operate 27 cruises from February through September 2027.

Mitsui reshapes fleet after Nippon Maru retirement

The incoming ship arrives as Mitsui Ocean Cruises retires Nippon Maru, which made its final Yokohama call on May 10 after a 36-year career. More than 7,000 people attended the Yokohama retirement event, and Mitsui did not announce plans for the ship’s future.

After Nippon Maru’s withdrawal, Asuka II and Asuka III were identified as the only Japanese-flagged cruise ships in service. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has set a goal of reaching 1 million domestic cruise passengers by 2030; the domestic market was 76,000 passengers in 2025, with another 167,000 Japanese passengers sailing internationally.

Mitsui Ocean’s 2027 deployment uses Fuji and Sakura on five- to 12-night cruises, including Japanese ports the line named as less common for international operators, such as Nanao, Shodoshima, Tanegashima and Tottori.

“Our two-ship fleet gives us a unique position to sail exclusively around our island nation, while also offering longer voyages to nearby South Korea and beyond,” said Tsunemichi Mukai, president of Mitsui Ocean Cruises.

For North American sales, Mitsui Ocean is offering up to $1,000 in onboard credit on 2027 cruises booked by Sept. 30, 2026.