The Japanese cruise line NYK Cruises has taken delivery of the “Asuka III”, the new cruise ship from Meyer Werft in Papenburg.
On board the ship, whose home port will be Yokohama, Hiroyuki Endo, President and CEO of NYK Cruises, and Captain Hisashi Kogue celebrated the official handover of the ship with Bernd Eikens, CEO of Meyer Group, executives of Meyer Werft and employees of NYK Cruises. The traditional flag change also took place during the delivery ceremony.
The “Asuka III”, which will sail alongside the 1990-built “Asuka II” for NYK Cruises, will accommodate 740 guests and will offer cruises from various ports in Japan.
During its first season, the ship will call at over 30 destinations throughout the country, including Hakodate, Otaru, Takamatsu, Shingu, Muroran and Moji. The highlight of the season is the “Japan Circumnavigation Cruise”, which departs from Yokohama at the beginning of August. As part of the 12-night voyage, the “Asuka III” will visit Hakodate, Otaru, Kanazawa, Maizuru, Moji and Beppu before returning to its home port.
“Asuka III” is particularly energy-efficient
According to Meyer Werft, the ship is one of the “most energy-efficient cruise ships ever built” and represents an important milestone on the way to reducing emissions and carbon intensity. Work on the new cruise ship has been underway in Papenburg since September 2023.
“We are delighted to take delivery of the ‘Asuka III’,” said Endo. “Offering the best vacation experiences in our home country in a responsible way is what drives us. We are fortunate to have the best people working together to create unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
“The delivery of the ‘Asuka III’ is on schedule and is an important milestone for us,” said Meyer CEO Eikens. “The entire team at Meyer Werft has worked hard with our partners to bring this ship to life, and today we have completed another great ship.”
Many of the interior elements will be brought on board in Yokohama, the ship’s home port, but it is already clear that it will be a wonderful ship for the Japanese public, Eikens added.
After the “Asuka III” had been transferred from the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg some 40 km down the Ems, she completed her technical and nautical sea trials in the North Sea on March 18 – under the supervision of Captain Wolfgang Thos, the shipyard’s captain, and experienced pilots on the high seas.
