NYK Cruises receives Grand Prix Award for 2018 World Cruise

NYK Cruises Co. Ltd., an NYK Group company, was recognized for its 2018 world cruise with the Grand Prix award at the 2018 Cruise of the Year Awards sponsored by the Japan Oceangoing Passenger Ship Association (JOPA), the shipping line said in a press release.

At an awards ceremony held in Tokyo on December 13, Ichiro Tsukada, state minister of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and JOPA chairman Naohiko Yamaguchi presented a certificate and plaque to NYK Cruises president Fukashi Sakamoto.

The world cruise was held on board the luxury cruise ship Asuka II, operated by NYK Cruises, and was conducted for the first time in three years. This cruise provided guests a 102-day trip from March to July sailing through Asia, the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, Europe, the Atlantic, North America, the Panama Canal, and the Pacific. Although the cruise had been suspended for three years due to an unstable global situation, over 700 guests participated in this full cruise during a time of unsteady market demand. The cruise was additionally praised for maintaining safe operations by obtaining information beforehand about areas of political instability.

The NYK Group will continue its efforts to offer further safety and creative cruise experiences that best meet the passions of its customers.