WORLD PEACE

Peace Boat is not a cruise line, but with the help of its travel agency partner, Japan Grace, it ranks as one of the most experienced operators of round-the-world cruises. Since the departure of its first world voyage in November 1990, the Japan-based international non-governmental organisation (NGO) has conducted 70 circumnavigations on ten different vessels. Emerging from a 26-month operational hiatus courtesy of Covid-19, Peace Boat is on the verge of the most significant growth in its history, with plans to introduce its largest vessel, the 77,000gt Pacific World, in April 2022, followed by the 47,000gt The Zenith in August 2022.

As Peace Boat marks a milestone and prepares to welcome two new vessels, Jonathan Crabbe looks back at the interesting and eclectic mix of ships used by the Japan-based organisation to deliver its unique brand of cruising.

Founded in 1983 by a group of Japanese university students, including current director Yoshioka Tatsuya, Peace Boat was a response to rising tension over government censorship of Japan’s past military aggression in history textbooks. Travelling (1962), participants gained first-hand knowledge of the experiences of afflicted peoples.