Frankly, there was a time when Japan was never on our radar. There was also a time when it wasn't on the radar for most cruise lines, and now Princess is doubling the number of ships it has based there, from one to two, as the industry continues to grow in Asia.
Next year, the Sun Princess will be joined in Japan by its younger sister, the Diamond Princess. Together, the cruise line says in 2014 the ships will carry over 100,000 passengers from Yokohoma, Kobe and Otaru to destinations elsewhere in Japan, and South Korea, Russia and Taiwan.
Cruising has discovered — or is expanding its interest in — Japan. 
Hopefully, the experience will mirror ours.
Japan is special to us.
The relationship began several years ago when we won, of all things, a radio contest that took us to Tokyo for a week. We made the most of our seven days, taking the bullet train to Nara (Japan's first capital), visiting ancient temples and enjoying wonderful food and Japanese hospitality. One of our memories was being stopped on the street in Tokyo in the middle of the day by a passerby. We were lost, he knew it and he didn't give us directions…he took us to where we wanted to go, then returned to work.
"It is expected of us," he explained.
A few years after that, we met a young Japanese tourist at a cafe in Italy. That meeting led to a friendship of 11 years (and counting) with this talented artist, Yoshihiro Tanamachi, who has since visited not just with us but also members of our family. So now we have a stronger connection to Japan.
Like Princess does.
Carnival Conquest
7 nights
April 7, 2013
New Orleans (return): Key West, Freeport, Nassau
Inside: $399
Cost per day: $57
www.carnival.com