Frequently Asked Questions

These answers cover the questions international guests ask us most often. They are prepared by Anchor Infinite from NYK Cruises Co., Ltd.'s published information about ASUKA III, which they operate, and from what our own guests ask us. For the full legal terms governing your voyage, see our Terms & Conditions page.

Booking with us

How do I book an ASUKA III cruise from outside Japan?

You send a booking request through this site and register a card; nothing is charged at that point. We then hold the cabin with NYK Cruises, register your names on the passenger list, and confirm the exact fare with you in writing. Only after you have that confirmation is your card charged.

Who are you, and what is your relationship with NYK Cruises?

Anchor Infinite Co., Ltd. is an authorised sub-agent of NYK Cruises Co., Ltd., who operate ASUKA III. Your travel contract is with NYK Cruises; we sell on their behalf, handle the booking in English, and pass on their documents to you in English.

Do I need to pay a deposit?

No. Nothing is taken when you make a booking request. The fare is charged in full once NYK Cruises confirms the cabin and we have told you the exact amount — normally well before your sailing date rather than close to it.

Can I pay with a card issued outside Japan?

Yes. Payment is handled by Stripe, which accepts credit and debit cards issued outside Japan, including Visa and Mastercard. Fares are set and charged in Japanese yen, and your card issuer handles the conversion.

What if my card will not authorise the full amount?

This happens on higher fares, where a card's per-transaction ceiling is lower than the total. You can pay by bank transfer in yen instead, and we will send you the account details. An international transfer usually takes several days to arrive, so please allow time rather than leaving it until close to your sailing date. Ask your bank to charge its fees to you rather than deduct them from the amount sent, so that the full fare arrives.

Fares and My ASUKA CLUB

What is included in the fare?

Accommodation, all meals in the main restaurants, onboard entertainment, taxes and port charges, and alcohol served at the drinks counter in M's Garden.

What costs extra?

Optional shore excursions, the two reservation-only restaurants that carry a cover charge, drinks ordered in the bars and restaurants, laundry, telephone, the Asuka Salon & Spa, and your travel to and from the departure port.

Do I need to tip?

No. There is no tipping on ASUKA III.

What is My ASUKA CLUB, and should I join?

It is NYK Cruises’ membership, and it is free — no joining fee, no annual fee. Members pay a lower fare, and membership is also what allows you to reserve shore excursions and restaurants before boarding. Every guest needs their own membership number, and the size of the member discount varies by sailing, so we quote it for your cruise. You can register at https://myac.asukacruise.co.jp/registration/index — the site is mainly in Japanese, and your browser will translate it.

Before you sail

How do I book shore excursions and restaurants?

You book them yourself through My ASUKA PLANS, inside the My ASUKA CLUB member site, using your membership number at https://myac.asukacruise.co.jp/login Reservations open on set dates before departure that depend on your cabin class, and places on the tours are limited and allocated first come, first served. Both are optional — your meals are included in the fare.

Are the shore excursions conducted in English?

No. ASUKA III's shore excursions are conducted in Japanese. A local guide may speak some English, but NYK Cruises do not undertake to provide it — many of our overseas guests prefer to explore the ports independently, and the ship's calls are long enough to make that comfortable.

Is the My ASUKA CLUB site available in English?

It is mainly in Japanese, with some English. Chrome and Edge will translate the pages, and the tour list, the dates and the booking steps all read normally once translated.

How does check-in work, and where does the ship dock?

Check-in is done in person at the passenger terminal on the day of departure — there is nothing to complete online. You present three things at the counter: valid original photo identification such as a passport, your boarding ticket, and a completed Infectious Disease Prevention Questionnaire. The card you are given is also your cabin key.

How do I receive my boarding ticket?

NYK Cruises send the boarding ticket to us rather than to you. It usually reaches us about two weeks before departure and we forward it as a PDF, together with the final itinerary, which confirms the terminal and the check-in time for your sailing.

Booking & Documentation

What documents do international guests need to board ASUKA III?

For domestic Japan cruises, no special government documents are required beyond your boarding pass. For voyages that visit foreign ports, a valid passport is required, plus any visas mandated by the destination countries. In all cases — whether the cruise is domestic or international — you'll need to present both your boarding pass and a government-issued photo ID (passport or equivalent) at check-in.

Is the cancellation policy the same for international guests as for Japanese guests?

Yes. The same cancellation schedule applies to all guests regardless of country of residence. For full details, please see our English-language Contract of Carriage (linked at the bottom of this page).

Can I make changes to my booking after it's confirmed?

Yes, with some conditions. Changes within the same cruise (number of guests, cabin category, dates within the same voyage) can be accommodated when space is available; any difference in price is settled at the time of change. Switching to a different cruise after the cancellation-fee window has begun requires cancelling the original booking (cancellation fees apply) and creating a new booking on the new cruise, subject to availability.

Onboard Experience

Are children welcome aboard ASUKA III?

Yes, and the fare for a child is the same as for an adult — there is no child discount. Before you book, it is worth knowing the character of the ship: a dress code applies from dinner time onward, several of the restaurants take reservations, and no infant supplies are carried on board. Older children and teenagers generally enjoy the voyage; a very young child may find it long.

What are the age rules for children and infants?

Infants under 6 months cannot board. From 6 months to 2 years there is no fare, but no bed is provided and only one infant may accompany each adult — and the ship cannot supply formula, baby food, or allergy-adapted meals for infants. Guests under 15 must share a cabin with a parent or guardian, and pre-school children require a consent form from NYK Cruises. Guests aged 15 to 17 may sail without a guardian if a parent provides written consent.

Can the kitchen accommodate food allergies or special diets?

Yes. We accommodate documented food allergies for the eight Japanese-regulated major allergens (shrimp, crab, walnut, wheat, buckwheat, egg, dairy, peanut) plus 20 additional ingredients including sesame, soy, beef, pork, chicken, salmon, mackerel, almond, and gelatin. Please visit the onboard guest services desk shortly after boarding so our team can prepare allergen-free alternatives. Religious dietary requirements (halal, kosher) cannot currently be accommodated. For vegetarian or other preference-based diets, please let us know in advance via our inquiry form.

Is ASUKA III accessible to wheelchair users or guests who need assistance?

Yes. Accessibility provisions are the same for all guests regardless of country of residence. Please share any specific accessibility needs at the time of booking so we can prepare accordingly and confirm cabin selection.

What languages are spoken on board?

Reception staff and restaurant staff are equipped to assist in English. English-language menus are provided, and shipboard announcements are made in both Japanese and English. Most onboard activities — cultural programs, lectures, and demonstrations — are conducted primarily in Japanese, but the daily activity schedule is published bilingually so you can choose what to attend.

Is there a dress code on board?

Yes, but a relaxed one — and there is no formal or black-tie evening at all, which sets ASUKA III apart from many ships of her class. Daytime is comfortable and relaxed; wear what you like. From dinner time onward the dress code is Elegant Casual, which means dressing with a little care rather than to a fixed standard, and guests are warmly welcomed in traditional attire from their own country. Two practical notes: for safety, sandals that do not hold the heel should be kept for going to and from the pool deck or the Grand Spa; and from dinner time onward, please leave shorts, sleeveless T-shirts, beach sandals, heavily worn clothing and caps in your cabin.

Travel Considerations

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance is not required to book, but we strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive international travel insurance before leaving your home country. The onboard medical clinic operates on a fee-for-service basis (charges are not covered by ASUKA III), and unexpected situations can arise during shore excursions or while at sea. Insurance protects you in either case.

What happens if the itinerary changes or a port call is cancelled due to weather?

Before departure: if what you booked is changed in a way that matters, you may cancel without penalty. That also applies when a typhoon or sea conditions make safe operation of the cruise impossible, or very likely impossible — in that case no cancellation fee is due. After departure: refunds are not generally provided for itinerary changes that occur after sailing; if the voyage is significantly shortened, a partial refund may apply. Separately, because your booking is a package travel contract with NYK Cruises, the Tour Itinerary Guarantee (旅程保証) forms part of it and pays fixed compensation for certain significant changes regardless of fault. Weather and other natural events are excluded from that guarantee, so a port call dropped because of a typhoon is not compensated — though, as above, it may remove your cancellation fee.