Construction began on October 5, 2026, for a new cruise terminal at Naha Port in Okinawa, Japan. The project is a collaboration between Naha Port Authority, Cruise Port Naha G.K., MSC Cruises, and Royal Caribbean Group. The groundbreaking ceremony included Okinawa Governor Genta Koja and representatives from Japan’s Cabinet Office.
Cruise Port Naha G.K., a joint venture between CTL Maritime and RCL Cruises Ltd. representing MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean Group respectively, will develop and operate the terminal. Under the Cruise Hub Formation Agreement signed in August 2026 with Naha Port Authority, the terminal aims to start operations by March
2028.
Since its 2019 designation as an International Cruise Ship Hub Formation Port by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Naha Port has been a focal point for cruise infrastructure development. The terminal will provide modern facilities designed to enhance guest experience, increase operational efficiency, and support embarkation and disembarkation processes for advanced cruise ships visiting Okinawa and the broader East Asia region.
Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group—which operates 71 ships to over 1,000 destinations worldwide—emphasized Japan as a key market and the group’s investment in infrastructure benefiting the local community. Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive
Chairman of MSC Group, Cruises Division, which operates 23 ships across five continents, highlighted Okinawa’s strategic location at the crossroads of Asia’s cruise destinations and the project’s role in expanding regional cruise presence.
This project exemplifies a public-private partnership supporting long-term growth in cruise tourism in Okinawa and East Asia. It will enable year-round cruise itineraries and strengthen connectivity across Asia, enhancing the region’s appeal as a major cruise destination and contributing to the cruise industry’s expansion in Japan.
