Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises break ground on Naha terminal

Royal Caribbean Group and MSC Cruises have officially broken ground on a new cruise terminal at Naha Port in Okinawa, Japan. The project is being managed through a joint venture known as Cruise Port Naha G. K., which represents the interests of both major cruise operators via CTL Maritime and RCL Cruises Ltd.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on October 5, 2026, followed traditional Japanese customs and included officials such as Okinawa Governor Genta Koja, who also serves as the President of the Naha Port Authority. The new facility is designed to enhance the capacity of the port to accommodate modern cruise ships and improve the passenger experience.

Scheduled to open in March 2028, the terminal is part of a broader strategic effort to develop Okinawa as a major international cruise hub in East Asia. This development follows a 2019 designation by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which identified Naha as an ‘International Cruise Ship Hub Formation Port’ to bolster regional tourism and maritime connectivity.