Princess Cruises Signs Partnership with Korea Tourism Organization to Expand Cruise Travel to Korea

Overview Carnival Japan, the Japan office of Princess Cruises, has officially signed a partnership agreement with the Korea Tourism Organization (led by President Park Sung-hyuk) aimed at expanding cruise tourism to Korea. The signing ceremony took place on Friday, April 10, 2026.

Partnership Goal This agreement sets a target of 300,000 international cruise visitors to Korea by the end of fiscal 2028, facilitated by cruises departing from and returning to Japan on the Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess.

Key Cooperation Areas - Increasing passenger and crew disembarkation rates and promoting local spending at ports of call. - Developing high-value shore excursions and tourism products in the surrounding regions. - Providing support for the improvement of reception infrastructure, such as shuttle bus services. - Conducting familiarization tours for the development of new cruise ports in Korea. - Promoting the planning and development of charter cruise products.

Background and Outlook Princess Cruises began operating cruises from Japan in 2013, marking its 14th year of service in 2026. In 2027 and 2028, the company will deploy two ships, the Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess, visiting multiple countries, including Busan and Jeju Island in Korea. Through this partnership, Princess Cruises and the Korea Tourism Organization will jointly promote tourism products, enhance reception environments, and execute promotional activities to boost the appeal of travel to Korea via cruise ships. They also plan to contribute to the development of new ports and the revitalization of local tourism.

Satoru Horikawa, President and Representative Director of Carnival Japan, commented, "Busan and Jeju are highly popular ports of call on our cruises from Japan, providing special experiences to many guests. Through this partnership, we aim to further enhance the sightseeing experience at ports of call, increase guest satisfaction, and create opportunities for our passengers to more deeply enjoy the diverse charms of Korea."