Odakyu Hakone has refurbished the “Royal II,” one of the “Hakone Pirate Ship” sightseeing cruise vessels on Lake Ashi, and will resume service with the refurbished vessel on July 18. To mark the occasion, the company will host a special cruise offering free rides to a total of 950 guests over the three days from July 18 to 20.
As part of this renovation, we have revamped the “Special Cabin,” which is available for an additional fee (800 yen for adults, 400 yen for children) on top of the standard one-way fare (1,700 yen for adults, 850 yen for children). Featuring a color scheme of white and deep rouge red, the cabins are furnished with ornate Rococo-style furniture popular in 18th-century France, and the wall paintings have been replaced with original hidden-picture designs.
In addition, the trick art displays at three locations on the first deck have been updated to feature designs depicting fish native to Lake Ashi—such as rainbow trout—and the underwater torii gate at Hakone Shrine.
A new draft tower has been installed at the onboard café to serve “Royal II,” a signature cocktail made with sparkling wine and cassis liqueur. At “Pirates’ Galley,” a restaurant located at Moto-Hakone Port, a limited-time “Treasure Chest Cream Puff” decorated with pirate-ship-shaped chocolate will also be available.
A lottery will be held for the inaugural cruise, with entries accepted in advance through the Odakyu Group’s membership service, “Odakyu ONE.” The application period runs from June 26 to July 12.
On July 18 and 19, the cruise will operate for 250 passengers each day, and passengers will receive an original cup holder as a boarding gift. On July 20, “Marine Day,” the cruise will operate as a family cruise for 450 passengers, including children in elementary school and younger, and passengers will receive an original origami figure as a gift.
© Source travel watch