October 1, 2026 — Sefu, the 120-guest luxury ship being built for Japan’s R Yacht Co., is running late. Its first season moves from summer 2027 to spring 2028.
What happened
Sefu is under construction at the West Sea shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. It was due to start sailing in summer 2027 but is now expected to enter service in spring 2028 (exact date TBA). No reason for the delay has been given.
- Size: about 10,000 gross tons, 120 guests
- Flag: Japan, registered at Uno
- Homeport: Uno Port, a gateway to Japan’s Setouchi (Seto Inland Sea) region
- Cruising area: Japan and the Far East, focused on the islands, food, culture and port towns of the Seto Inland Sea. Detailed itineraries: TBA
- Name: a blend of “Setouchi” and the Japanese word for wind
What it means for airline travelers
- Booked for 2027? No information has been published yet on existing bookings, refunds or rebooking. If you hold a 2027 reservation or deposit, contact R Yacht Co. or your travel adviser directly, and don’t book nonrefundable air until new sailing dates are confirmed.
- Interline and industry fares: No change to travel-industry rates or eligibility has been announced.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News — R Yacht’s Sefu Delayed, Now Set to Enter Service in 2028
