$540m luxury liner planned as Japan's pensioners gain a taste for travel

Debut of Nippon Yusen's new cruise ship slated for mid-2020s

20190226N Asuka II cruise ship

The nearly 30-year-old Asuka II cruise ship will continue to ply the seas after undergoing repairs and renovations. (Photo courtesy of Nippon Yusen)

KEIGO IWAMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Maritime shipper Nippon Yusen will order a second cruise ship, Nikkei has learned, as luxury travel demand grows among affluent seniors in Japan, with plans to put it in service as early as the mid-2020s.

Construction costs are expected to reach up to 60 billion yen ($541 million). Nippon Yusen's well-known cruise ship, the Asuka II, will be taken out of service temporarily for repairs but will continue to operate after the new vessel sets sail.

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