Between March 13 and November 9, Princess Cruises will launch 32 sailing aboard the Diamond Princess from Japan. After three years of international cruise ships ban, the Japanese government announced in mid-November that foreign-registered cruise ships will be allowed to use Japanese ports starting in spring 2023. 

John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises, described the reopening of Japan's ports to the international cruise industry as "an important and welcome development that not only greatly expands the vacation options available to guests, but also helps to significantly strengthen Japan's tourism economy."

Princess Cruises' 2023 voyage will cover Okinawa to Hokkaido and "will offer guests the opportunity to discover the culture, history, cuisine and natural wonders of Japan," according to the company.

The Diamond Princess, which was quarantined in Yokohama Harbor for weeks in March 2020, will return in the summer and fall to make 57 voyages. The Japanese-built ship will sail from Yokohama and Kobe, with 38 destinations in four countries on 43 itineraries.

This season will also see the introduction of the Medallion Princess Cruises system on Diamond Princess. The small device, which can be worn or worn by passengers, offers contactless check-in, keyless cabin entry, tracking the location of companions on board and food and beverage delivery, among other services.

Such options are likely to offer even more peace of mind to travelers worried about Covid-19, according to Japanese travel experts.

In addition, Japan's industry associations have consolidated the lessons of the pandemic to produce strong infection-fighting guidelines ahead of the resumption of international cruises, which include a requirement that more than 95 percent of passengers be vaccinated at least twice.