Northeast Asia consisting of China, Japan, and South Korea has recently shown a phenomenal growth in the cruise industry. Chinese demand for cruising has been increasing significantly and South Korea has strengthened its position as a ‘must-visit’ destination while the Japanese cruise industry is ready to welcome another period of prosperity. Yet cruise tourism in this region remains untapped. This paper aims to shed light on the current scenario in the industry by reviewing the past and outlining the existing situation in the core markets. The paper, thus, is the starting point for insights into the region and provides the foundation for further research. Both an extensive literature review and interviews on experts were performed to fulfil the purpose of the research.