Japan cruises courting younger travelers with shorter, cheaper trips

TOKYO - Major Japanese shipping and entertainment companies are launching new cruise ships with shorter, lower-cost itineraries, aiming to attract a younger range of travelers beyond the affluent senior demographic.

Although costs vary by travel season and ship class, cruises are widely viewed as a luxury pastime for retirees. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism aims to raise the number of Japanese cruise travelers to 1 million by 2030.