Meyer Werft’s latest newbuilding, the cruise ship Asuka III, left the yard’s building hall on 18 January 2025 and is now alongside the fitting-out berth.
Asuka III, built for Japanese NYK Cruises, is the first cruise ship to sail under the Japanese flag in nearly 35 years and will enter service as the Japanese cruise market enjoys a period of expansion.
Leaving the hall, the 52,250gt ship paused so that her funnel could be put in place. The ship, which is approximately 755ft (230m) in length, is also at maximum height in the hall and requires the additional clearance outside the hall for the funnel to be fitted.
Meyer Werft has customised numerous solutions for the Japanese market for the new cruise ship. These include, for example, a spa area equipped with a Japanese-style open-air bath.
Delivery of the new ship is planned for 2025. She has 385 passenger cabins and will carry around 740 passengers with a crew of 470.
The cruise ship, which is powered by LNG, was ordered in March 2021, making her the first large cruise ship ordered after the onset of the pandemic.
Steel cutting began in September 2023. The first block, which weighed 345 tonnes and was 80ft (24.6m) long, was placed in the dry dock in December 2023 to begin the assembly of the new ship.
NYK has a long heritage in passenger shipping and has maintained cruise operations for the Japanese market with a series of newly-built cruise ships. The first Asuka (built in 1991) was sold and replaced with the current Asuka II (built in 1990), which was originally operated by NYK’s American cruise company Crystal Cruises.
The new cruise ship is also unique in that it is not being built in Japan, unlike her predecessors. NYK opted to tap the expertise of Meyer with cruise ships, but the yard stated that the vessel was being uniquely outfitted for the Japanese market.
Asuka III is expected to make her conveyance to the North Sea in the spring. Delivery is currently scheduled for the summer with the ship operating a delivery cruise from Germany to Japan. She will be homeported in Yokohama.
