emerald cruises yachts

Our luxury yachts

Discover our pair of award-winning luxury yachts, Emerald Azzurra & Emerald Sakara.

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A new way to cruise

Join us on board our brand-new luxury yachts, as we explore everything that they have to offer. Sun yourself on the Pool Deck or even go for a dip. Enjoy a bite in one of our eateries, and experience complete relaxation in the Elements Spa^.  ^At additional cost

Introducing our groundbreaking yachts

Why sail on an Emerald Cruises luxury yacht?

At Emerald Cruises, your enjoyment comes first. Every aspect of our superb yachts is designed around you, from the contemporary accommodation and social spaces to our crew’s attentive level of service. Sail with small cruise ship experts.

Award-winning luxury

Our fleet of yachts are your home away from home, boutique floating hotels that provide guests with luxurious surrounds, a wealth of amenities, and unique innovations such as the spectacular Marina Platform and state-of-the-art infrared sauna.

Small ship yacht cruising expertise

Emerald Cruises specialise in providing a small cruise ship experience. You’ll notice how measured guest numbers, an excellent staff-to-guest ratio, and the purpose-driven design and layout of our yachts offer you a comfortable and luxurious yacht cruise experience.

In the heart of the action

Our luxury yachts are custom designed to sail into smaller ports and harbours. This allows our fleet to dock in in the heart of fascinating port towns, meaning you’ll enjoy a more in-depth cruise that takes you closer to the action.

Contemporary suites & staterooms

Escape to your private sanctuary of serenity. With our range of suites and staterooms, there’s a cabin option to suit all preferences and budgets, whether you need plenty of space to stretch out or you’re longing for cosier accommodation.

A wealth of generous inclusions

Your yacht cruise should also provide complete peace of mind. This is why we cover port charges, all meals on board with accompanying beverages, complimentary Wi-Fi, and cover all gratuities on board and onshore. You’ll also benefit from a first-class English-speaking crew, and enjoy excursions led by knowledgeable, local guides.

Our yacht fleet

Emerald azzurra, emerald sakara.

Discover fine dining on board

Enjoy the most delectable dishes in the opulent surrounds of the La Cucina Dining. Let the tastes of freshly sourced ingredients on your palate, and enjoy complimentary beverages with each meal.

Unwind or catch up with friends in our on board social spaces

From the chilled and relaxed vibe of the Amici Bar & Lounge to the open-air surrounds of the Pool Deck and the serene Observation Lounge, you’ll find plenty of spaces on board to enjoy the company of new-found friends or to take a moment for yourself.

Explore our innovative yachts

Take in stunning vistas from the Observation Deck. Swim under the sun in the infinity-style Aqua Pool or take a leisurely dip in the Spa Pool. Unwind in the innovative infrared sauna and, on select days, enjoy swim stops off the Marina Platform.

Find your sanctuary of serenity

The suites and staterooms on board our yachts are modern sanctuaries with inspired décor and contemporary designs. Enjoy all the amenities you’d expect from a world-class hotel including luxury ESPA toiletries, Wi-Fi, and a queen or twin-sized bed.

Discover exciting destinations across the world

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Yacht cruise calendar

See all the exciting sailings coming up on board our luxury yachts, Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara, and Emerald Kaia.

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Plan your extraordinary journey  

Mediterranean & adriatic sea.

Sailing June – October 2024, April – November 2025, and April – October 2026

Mediterranean Enchantment

Explore the Mediterranean by luxury yacht

Amalfi Coast, Sicily & Gulf of Naples

Cultures of the Mediterranean

Hidden Gems of the Croatian Riviera

Croatian Coast and the best of the Adriatic

Monaco Grand Prix and the Italian Riviera

Greek Islands & Turkish Coastline

Riviera Rendezvous

Exploring the Balearic Islands

Catalonia to Andalusia

Coastal Gems of Italy & Croatia

Sailing November 2024 – April 2025, November 2025 – April 2026, and January – April 2027

Cruising the Leeward Islands

Island hop through the Caribbean by luxury yacht

Eastern Caribbean with St. Barths

Grenadines & Windwards yachting

Discover the Pearls of the Caribbean

Discover the hidden treasures of the Caribbean

Seychelles & indian ocean.

Sailing October 2025 – March 2026 and December 2026 – March 2027

Seychelles Island hopping

Discover the Seychelles Islands by luxury yacht

Discover Seychelles & the East African Coast

Sailing October – November 2025, April 2026, October – November 2026, and March – April 2027

The Secrets of the Red Sea

Discover the Red Sea by luxury yacht

Ancient Wonders of Israel, Egypt & Jordan

Holy Land & Pyramids with Suez Canal

Yacht cruising brochures.

• 2023 & 2024
• 2024 - 2026

Your guide to luxury yacht cruising

Your guide to luxury yacht cruising  

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Emerald Cruises

History, review, itineraries, ships, deck plans, news.

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Emerald Cruises fleet

Emerald kaia.

Emerald Sakara

Emerald Azzurra

Adriatic Princess 2 yacht

Adriatic Princess yacht

Emerald Luna

Emerald Harmony

Emerald Destiny

Emerald Liberte

Emerald Radiance

Emerald Sun

Emerald Dawn

Emerald star.

Emerald Sky

Review of emerald cruises.

Scenic Group (shipowner) is the parent company of three travel brands - Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours , Evergreen Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises (Emerald Waterways and Emerald Yacht Cruises).

Company history

Fka "Emerald Waterways", Emerald Cruises (emeraldcruises.com) is a Scenic Group-owned travel brand and an affordable river cruise line established in 2013 and operational since 2014. The company is a division (subsidiary/brand) of the Australian cruisetour operator Scenic Tours .

The parent company Scenic Group offers a huge variety of leisure travel deals - from 5-star luxury riverboat cruises to land tours and coach travel excursions in Australia, Europe, and the USA. Scenic Group's river cruise brand "Emerald Waterways" is known on the Australian market as "Evergreen Waterways".

In early-2020, Scenic Group established "Emerald Yacht Cruises" as a separate (from Emerald Waterways) brand specializing in premium yachting vacations. The new brand was inaugurated in 2022 with the newbuild 100-passenger superyacht Emerald Azzurra . Scenic's yacht brand operates itineraries in Europe's southern seas (Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Black Sea) and also in the Red Sea (Arabian Gulf/Dubai) and Indian Ocean (Seychelles). Azzurra's sistership Emerald Sakara was inaugurated in 2023 August. The similarly designed but larger Emerald Kaia is currently scheduled for inauguration in April 2026.

On March 9, 2021, was officially announced the merger of Scenic Group's brands "Emerald Waterways" (EmeraldWaterways.com) and "Emerald Yacht Cruises" (EmeraldYachtCruises.com) into a single brand - "Emerald Cruises" (EmeraldCruises.com).

Emerald Waterways as a cruise line debuted with 2 top-luxury riverboats - Sky and Star. In 2015, the second pair of sisterships joined the fleet - Dawn and Sun. The 5th boat was scheduled for launch in 2016 (Emerald Belle), but a construction yard fire accident postponed the launch for 2017. The boat's name was also changed to "Emerald Destiny", joining the 2017-inaugurated boats Liberte and Radiance.

Overall, the company has raised the bar within the budget river cruising market. The brand is positioned somewhere between the 3- and 4-star cruise lines. It competes with renowned brands like Avalon Waterways and Viking Cruises by boasting less expensive fares and innovative design touches.

The following YouTube video provides information regarding Emerald Waterways ships' general onboard amenities and services on the company's "Star-Ship" class boats. It provides information on onboard activities and amenities, along with the boats' best deck plan features.

One of the new river cruise companies, Emerald targets the European inland waterways cruising market exclusively. The line operates the following Scenic Tours-owned riverboats:

• Emerald Luna (2021)
• Emerald Harmony (2019) - Mekong River cruises in Cambodia and Vietnam
• Emerald Belle (2016) was damaged by fire during construction and replaced by Emerald Destiny (2017)
• Emerald Liberte (2017) - cruises in France (on Saone and Rhone rivers)
• Emerald Radiance (2017) - cruises on Douro River in Portugal
• Emerald Sky (2014)
• Emerald Star (2014)
• Emerald Sun (2015)

Emerald Waterways ships have some of the best crew-to-guest ratios for European riverboats. One of the best fleetwide innovations is the dual-purpose area - the brand's signature "pool cinema" complex) located Deck 3 aft on the "Star Ships". The area transforms from a heated indoor pool (with a retractable roof) at daytime into a cinema at night - a unique river cruise ship feature. The second impressive feature is Emerald's balcony stateroom that transforms into a conservatory with a button touch.

The rest of the innovations are fairly standard on newbuilds in the modern era of European river cruising. Among those are the private balconies for the majority of cabins, good-sized suites, and open-air alternative dining spots. The alfresco dining area at the bow of the ships provides informal alternative dining options for breakfast and lunch, but most meals are served in the Reflections Restaurant - the riverboat's main dining room.

Next YouTube video is about shipboard dining options.

Emerald Waterways cruise deals inclusions

Emerald Waterways river cruise tour deals are inclusive of:

• some flights (depending on market and special offers)
• all transfers (to and from the ship)
• guided sightseeing/shore excursions, also city tours
• gourmet dining, all meals onboard (and some ashore)
• (top suite cabins only) pre-dinner canapes, after-dinner sweet treats
• unlimited tea and coffee
• bottled water (in all cabins / replenished daily)
• free drinks (wine, beer, soft drinks, espresso, cappuccino) with every meal
• complimentary bicycle
• free Internet / WiFi access
• live onboard entertainment
• all onboard and excursion gratuities
• impeccable service

In July 2020, the "Emerald Waterways" brand was officially launched in Australia, where Scenic Group originally operated river cruises via the "Evergreen Cruises and Tours" brand.

In July 2021 officially started operations the brand "Emerald Yacht Cruises". Announced on February 1, 2020, the new brand is served by two 110-m long, 100-passenger superyachts - Azzurra (2022) and Sakara (2023).

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, Scenic Group's travel entities suspended passenger operations (land tours, yachts, riverboats) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through late-July 2021.

Scenic Group's fleetwide travel operations resumed in August 2021, including the riverboats in Europe, Asia (ship Harmony) and Egypt (ship Movenpick MS Hamees).

With rebooking, Scenic Group provides an FTC (Future Travel Credit) for all canceled departures. To each of the canceled cruise bookings (river or ocean itineraries) is provided 110% FTC (for the booking's full value), to rebook and travel by December 31, 2022. To all booked land tours (including Egypt cruisetours) during the suspension period is provided 100% FTC (for the booking's full value), to rebook and travel by December 31, 2022.

Scenic's FTC is valid for travel departures through to December 31, 2022. The FTC can be applied to any existing booking within the Scenic Group travel companies (Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Evergreen Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises) and also when rebooking future travel. The FTC is fully transferrable to another customer.

Upon the expiry of the Scenic FTC voucher (on December 31, 2022), unable to travel customers may request a 100% cash refund (equal to the amount paid). All customers with a booking that departs from July 1, 2020, and customers considering a booking after July 1st, have the option to transfer their booking (up to 30 days prior departure) to an alternate date without a fee. Scenic will waive all cancellation fees with the booking value applied as an FTC and we will review the timing for the full payment when rebooking. Please note, if you choose to cancel there may be third-party fees applicable, which will be at the customer's own expense. This policy applies to all Scenic Group's travel brands.

Itinerary of Emerald Cruises

Besides its owned fleet, Emerald Waterways also charters ships with deployment in the Adriatic Sea (yachts Adriatic Pearl, Adriatic Princess , Swallow, Lastavica), Nile River Egypt (hotel ship Movenpick MS Hamees ), Volga RIver Russia ( MS Nizhny Novgorod ).

Vacation travelers wishing to explore Southeast Asia while experiencing a level of luxury style should check out the new Mekong River itineraries of Emerald Waterways.

A signature 16-day itinerary on the purpose-built Mekong Navigator riverboat explores Vietnam and Cambodia along the Mekong River. In addition to the 16-day river cruise tour from Hanoi to Siem Reap , Emerald Waterways offers an 8-day "Magnificent Mekong", 12-day "Mekong Discovery" and 19-day "Vietnam and Cambodia Explorer" B2B itineraries .

Owned by the Austria-based company Lueftner Cruises, this luxurious ship is often charted by large European river cruise companies, including Uniworld , Emerald Waterways, Haimark Travel, Vantage Deluxe World Travel, Saga .

Family river cruises 2023 Rhine and Danube

In February 2023 were announced two family voyages on Danube and Rhine departing in July 2023.

• (departure July 17, 2023) 8-day "Family Rhine River Cruise" (boat Emerald Luna) from Basel was promo-priced from US$2770 pp (4-person family deal).
• (departure July 15, 2023) 8-day "Family Danube River Cruise" (boat Emerald Dawn) from Budapest was promo-priced from US$2545 pp (4-person family deal).
• Pricing was inclusive of savings, onboard gratuities, port charges, shore excursions, airport-ship-airport transfers, all meals, wines and beers by the glass (with lunch and dinner), soft drinks (for the children).

The voyages were kids-friendly (allowing boarding of children 10 to 18 years old) and with discounted pricing for booking two adjacent staterooms (50% off the second cabin).

Emerald Yacht Cruises

In July 2021 was planned for inauguration the company's new brand "Emerald Yacht Cruises".

Announced on February 1, 2020, the new brand started with two 100-passenger superyachts ( Emerald Azzurra /2022, and Emerald Sakara /2023). In April 2024 was announced the third yacht - Emerald Kaia , slated for inauguration in April 2026.

The custom-designed ships operate in warmer climates, including Southern Europe's Mediterranean (Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea), the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean (Seychelles).

Emerald Yacht Cruises 2021 program grouped 47 different itineraries to destinations in Italy (Ligurian Riviera), Spain (Costa del Sol), France ( Cote d'Azur ), Greece (Greek Islands, Cyprus, Crete), Adriatic Sea's Dalmatian Coast (Croatia, Montenegro, Albania), Malta, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan.

In March 2021 was announced Azzurra's 2023 program. In addition to voyages in the Adriatic, Aegean, Mediterranean, Red seas, the collection included two Black Sea itineraries.

• The 15-day " Mykonos , Gallipoli and Essence of the Black Sea" voyage ( Piraeus-Athens to Istanbul ) visited Mykonos before the Black Sea ports in Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey. Prices started at USD 8100 per person with double occupancy. Departures were scheduled for August 5 and 19, 2023.
• The 22-day "Discover the Greek Islands, Turkey and the Black Sea" itinerary included more Greek islands ( Amorgos , Patmos , Rhodes ) plus Turkey's Bodrum and Kusadasi-Ephesus . Early booking promo prices started from USD 11820 pp, with departures scheduled for July 29 and August 19, 2023.

"Epic Voyages 2023" were two expanded/ B2B voyages combining several shorter itineraries.

• The 26-day "Discover Gems of the Mediterranean Coastlines" itinerary visited Western and Eastern Mediterranean ports, including on the French and Italian rivieras (between Villefranche-sur-Mer/Nice  and Civitavecchia-Rome) before Sicily and the Ionian Sea to Greece. The last leg was roundtrip from Piraeus-Athens. Earlybird booking promo fares started at USD 13910 pp.
• The 22-day "Discover the Pearls of Croatia, Greece and Turkey" itinerary started with a Greek island and the Turkish coastline before the Adriatic ( Dubrovnik , with call ports in Montenegro and Albania). Followed northbound cruising along the Dalmatian Coast and debarkation in Venice . Earlybird fares started at USD 13840 pp.

In August 2021, to Azzurra's 2022 schedule were added two new itineraries, both visiting Saudi Arabia and transiting the Suez Canal .

• The 10-day "Mysteries and Treasures of the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia" voyage (from Limassol Cyprus to Jeddah Saudi Arabia ) visited Egypt (Giza's Great Sphinx and the Pyramids, from Port Said ), Sharm El-Sheikh Egypt , Aqaba-Petra Jordan , Dubai UAE , Al Wajh Saudi Arabia .
• The 12-day "Ancient Wonders of the Red Sea and Mythical Greece" itinerary (from Jeddah to Athens) visited Al Wahj (optional tour to AlUla), Dubai, Aqaba, Sharm-el Sheik, Ain Sokhna (the closest beach resort to Cairo ), Crete, Santorini , ending in Piraeus-Athens . From Sharm El-Sheikh were offered a glass-bottom boat tour (at Naama Bay), a Felucca boat tour (on Nile River), bus tour to Giza's Pyramids.

With Emerald Sakara, Scenic Yacht Cruises introduced in 2023 a new Indian Ocean island destination - the Seychelles. The 7-day itinerary (titled "Tropical Charms of the Seychelles"/roundtrip from Victoria, Mahe Island) visited the islands Sainte-Anne , Cousin , Praslin , Grande-Soeur , Curieuse , La Digue and Aride .

In August 2022 was opened for booking the 2023-2024 yacht cruise schedule listing both ships ( Azzurra and Sakara ). Regions included Caribbean and Central America, Transatlantic crossings, new/maiden call ports in Europe (Mediterranean and Adriatic). The program (winter 2023-2024) featured 15 new Caribbean islands and countries.

• (departure November 24, 2023) 10-day "Grenadines and Grenada" itinerary (roundtrip from Bridgetown Barbados ) visited Tobago Cays, Bequia Island, Saint Vincent, Union Island, Mayreau Island, Carriacou Island. Fares started from GBP 4805 per person.
• 10-day "Coastal Adventures - Costa Rica and Panama" itinerary from Puerto Caldera/Puntarenas (Costa Rica) visited Curu and Isla Tortuga, Quepos, Golfito, Isla Cebaco, Darien NP, San Jose Island, and Panama City . Fares started from GBP 5200 pp.
• 11-day "Highlights of Spain, Morocco and Italy" itinerary from Tenerife visited Arrecife/Lanzarote (Canaries), Casablanca (Morocco), Gibraltar UK, Malaga (Spain), Cartagena (Spain), Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Spain), Mahon/Menorca (Balearic Spain), Bonifacio (Corsica France), and Civitavecchia-Rome, with fares from GBP 5550 pp.

Emerald also scheduled three Atlantic Ocean crossings (RepositionCruises.com), including a 13-day from San Juan Puerto Rico to Santa Cruz de Tenerife Canary Islands , with fares from GBP 4895 pp.

Emerald Kaia ship's schedule for 2026 (inaugural season) was announced in April 2024. The program listed only 8x voyages (opened for booking on April 10th) and is based entirely on the 14-night/15-day "Discover the Best of the Croatian Coast" itinerary. These voyages leave roundtrip from Dubrovnik's Port Gruz  (departures May 2, Aug 8, Aug 22, Sep 26) and from  Venice  (departures Jun 20, Aug 1, Aug 15).

Kaia's Maiden Voyage departs roundtrip from Dubrovnik on May 6th, 2026. The 15-day voyage starts with an overnight in Dubrovnik and visits Split Croatia (Day 3-4/overnight), Zadar Croatia (Day 4), Opatija Croatia (Day 5), Piran Slovenia (Day 6), Venice Italy (Day 7-8/overnight), plus Croatia's ports Rovinj (Day 9), Sibenik (Day 10), Trogir (Day 11), Vis (Day 12), Hvar (Day 12-13/overnight), and Korcula (Day 14), ending in Dubrovnik.

2024 Europe river cruise itineraries

In March 2023 was announced Europe 2024 river cruise program featuring a selection of Epic Voyages (multi-river itineraries up to 23 days in length) and two new European itineraries.

The new 10-day "Danube Explorer and Highlights of Budapest" voyage visits ports in 5 countries and includes a host of locally-focused experiences. The itinerary allows tourists to visit a farm in Passau Germany (for a Bavarian brunch), enjoy an onboard Slovakian performance in Bratislava , and an onboard dinner with a folklore show in Budapest Hungary . Also are offered bus tours to Veste Oberhaus and Bratislava Castle, as well as 6 EmeraldACTIVE hiking and biking tours. An extended stay in Budapest allows touring the UNESCO-listed downtown, exploring the city's nightlife, visiting one of its baths, and enjoying a culinary tour of the Grand Market.

Emerald's second new European itinerary in 2024 is the 11-day "Rhine Castles and Moselle Vineyards" visiting ports in 4 countries. While cruising in Germany, tourists can enjoy tours to the Reichsburg Castle in Cochem and the Marksburg Castle in Koblenz as well as a hiking tour to Landshut Castle Ruins (above Bernkastel ). Rhine's vineyards are featured in Emerald's tour/tasting at Schloss Johannisberg (in Rudesheim ) and the bus travel to the Alsace Wine Route complete with a tasting in Strasbourg .

In Emerald's two new Dutch ports of call - Utrecht and Nijmegen , is offered a canal cruise and a visit to the UNESCO-listed windmills of Kinderdijk .

Emerald's four Epic Voyages in 2024 range in duration between 15-23 days. These B2Bs combine some of the brand's best-selling itineraries into back-to-back/longer vacations, either on the same boat or with a short flight/bus travel to embark on a new boat halfway through.

Next YouTube videos are official releases that review the company's signature river cruise destinations:

Danube River

Douro River

and Asia (Vietnam and Cambodia)

Emerald Cruises related cruise news

Emerald Cruises schedules exotic Caribbean itineraries (winter 2024-2025) for two superyachts

Emerald Cruises has unveiled new Caribbean itineraries for the superyacht Emerald Azzurra, scheduled for winter 2024-2025 season. These routes will...

Scenic Group adds a new superyacht and upgrades riverboat fleet

Scenic Group recently introduced a new 128-passenger superyacht for its subsidiary Emerald Cruises, designed to blend increased capacity with an...

Scenic Group unveils next-generation luxury superyacht: Emerald Kaia

Scenic Group has introduced the Emerald Kaia, the latest addition to Emerald Cruises' luxury yacht fleet, marking a new era of ocean travel. With a...

Emerald Cruises introduces 16-day Safari and Seychelles Expedition

Emerald Cruises unveils an enticing 16-day "Safari and The Seychelles" expedition, now open for booking with sailings available from December 2024 to...

Emerald Cruises celebrates official christening of luxury yacht Emerald Sakara in San Juan, Puerto...

Emerald Cruises marked a significant maritime event with the official christening of their newest superyacht - Emerald Sakara, in a special ceremony...

Emerald Cruises opens bookings for 2024-2025 Mekong River season

Emerald Cruises has unveiled their 2024-2025 Mekong River season aboard the intimate Star-Ship Emerald Harmony, navigating in Cambodia and Vietnam...

Emerald Sakara departs Piraeus/Athens on inaugural voyage

Emerald Cruises' newest superyacht, Emerald Sakara, embarked on her inaugural voyage on August 5th, out of Port Piraeus/Athens Greece. The boat was...

Scenic Cruises' superyachts (Azzurra, Sakara, Eclipse 2) deployed in the Caribbean in 2023

Scenic Group has announced that 3 of its superyachts - Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara, and Scenic Eclipse II, will be sailing in the Caribbean...

Emerald Cruises' newest superyacht Emerald Sakara completes sea trials

Following successful sea trials, Emerald Cruises' second custom-built superyacht is preparing to commence operations next month. Emerald Sakara...

Scenic Group to boast Starlink High-Speed Internet fleetwide

Scenic Group has joined the growing list of cruise lines opting for Starlink as their onboard Wi-Fi provider, following suit with the latest industry...

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The yacht cruising experience

Relax on an award-winning luxury yacht as you sail the world’s oceans.

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The Emerald Cruises experience

Take a glimpse into what makes each Emerald Cruises yacht cruise an unforgettable experience. Unpack just once after you step on board your innovative luxury yacht and into your spacious suite or stateroom for a one-of-a-kind journey.

Discover life on board.

Unveil the highlights of luxury yacht cruising

Seamlessly blending modern exploration with luxury travel, Emerald Cruises takes you on an epic adventure across Mediterranean & Adriatic coastlines, the breathtaking Seychelles archipelago and African coast, the extraordinary beauty of the Red Sea, and the vibrant ports and islands of the Caribbean Sea.

Life on the ocean

Why cruise with Emerald Cruises

Life on board our luxury yachts promises unique innovations, an abundance of space, and an emphasis on wellness, complemented by the expertise of our dedicated crew. Onshore, handpicked included excursions offer authentic and immersive local experiences.

Drinks & dining on our yacht cruises 

Experience à la carte and fine dining on your yacht cruise. No matter which exciting destination you’re sailing through, you’ll find delectable meals on board, prepared with fresh, local ingredients. A wide selection of wines, beers, and soft drinks included with lunch and dinner ensures there's always a delightful pairing for your meals. And, if you’d like to extend your selection of beverages, you’ll find a range of drinks packages to choose from^.

^Available at an additional cost.

Find out more 

Fitness & wellness onboard

Personal wellness and invigorating experiences are at the heart of our yacht cruises, with a number of enjoyable activities available. Your dedicated wellness coach is on hand to ensure you make the most of your cruise, so why not join them onboard for a range of classes such as sunrise yoga sessions on the Observation Deck - or head to the gym if you prefer to work out on your own schedule. Ashore, you’ll find a number of Emerald ACTIVE excursions to take part in, from guided hikes and bike rides to canoeing trips and canopy zip-lining. 

Find out more

Find your sanctuary of serenity

Whichever cabin grade you choose for the duration of your luxury yacht cruise, you can be assured of a comfortable and restful getaway. Every suite and stateroom  benefits from an en-suite bathroom, complete with a selection of luxury ESPA toiletries, as well as a soft and inviting bed, draped in luscious linens.

Meet our friendly teams

At Emerald Cruises, our passion for cruising is echoed within our team . We believe that the right people are integral to creating the exceptional experience we promise, from the first moment you step onboard to every minute you spend discovering our yachts and exploring the wonderful destinations we visit.

Get to know our yachts

Cutting a stylish and chic figure along the some of the world’s most iconic oceans, our fleet of award-winning yachts combine comfort and innovation with contemporary design and a wealth of amenities. If you’d like to learn more about our yachts  before you sail,  our yacht layouts  are a handy tool.

Discover everything our yacht cruises have to offer

Discover the world's seas and oceans, mediterranean & adriatic, red sea & middle east, seychelles & the indian ocean.

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• Luxury yacht cruises 2024 - 2026

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This New Yacht Is Sailing to Gorgeous, Lesser-known Ports in the Caribbean Sea — and I Was on Board With 'Below Deck's' Chef Ben

Emerald Cruises' new Emerald Sakara ship brings guests to smaller ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, with an onboard marina and the occasional Bravo-lebrity.

Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler , Skift , and The Huffington Post .

The Staterooms

Bars and restaurants, where emerald sakara sails, shore excursions, amenities and entertainment, family-friendly offerings, accessibility.

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

With a couple dozen guests looking on, chef Ben Robinson was showing how to slice and dice a fresh red snapper. “You kind of feel him — but you don’t fondle him,” said Robinson, the fan favorite from the Bravo reality show Below Deck, who’s always ready with a quip. As he pulled a perfect filet off the bone, he explained how to salt the fish and that there’s no more important relationship than the one you have with your fishmonger. “My advice is to always be friendly,” he noted. “I like to support my mom-and-pop [businesses]. If you become familiar with them, they’ll say, ‘Hey, I got this in this morning.’”

The cooking demo, which also featured a ceviche how-to and tips on knife sharpening, was one of many “Chef Ben” moments on my trip aboard Emerald Sakara . It’s the newest 100-passenger vessel from Emerald Cruises, which launched in the fall of 2023, a sibling vessel to the Emerald Azzurra .

During an eight-day voyage in March from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, the reality personality was definitely one of the star attractions. Robinson spent several evenings in the galley, creating special dishes such as a panko-crusted veal striploin stuffed with pesto.

He also hosted a well-attended Q&A about his life in the kitchen — and spent plenty of time connecting with fans, many of whom booked the trip specifically to chop it up with Below Deck alum.

“We definitely booked because of Ben,” said Shannon Welnel , a Montana-based travel advisor who had lots of praise for his cuisine — and the yacht-like atmosphere on board the 100-passenger ship. Other guests I spoke with admitted they hadn’t seen much Below Deck, but were intrigued by the chance to chill with a Bravo-lebrity.

Emerald Sakara

• With a max of just 100 passengers, Emerald Sakara feels at times like a private yacht, with no lines and no crowds, and outstanding service from a highly experienced crew.
• Minimalist rooms recall the stripped down aesthetic of Miami Beach or Mykonos, Greece, with pops of color from Missoni Home accents and a sleek-yet-functional bathroom with plenty of storage space.
• While this small ship has but one restaurant and one poolside cafe, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to meals, whether you’re hitting the breakfast or lunch buffet or choosing from the dinner menu.
• The onboard marina, which is open in favorable weather conditions, offers watersports and swimming off the stern of the ship.
• Easy to understand and mostly inclusive pricing covers meals, beverages at mealtime, many tours, and surprisingly speedy Wi-Fi.

The intimate-ship vibe was also one reason the chef wanted to hop aboard. “This definitely has more of a yacht vibe than any other [ship] I've been on,” Robinson told me one afternoon. “A hundred passengers is not a lot,” he said. “I've been on boats with 2,500 passengers, and you really do feel like you're anonymous. But here, the service is great, and you really are treated as an individual and someone important. And you kind of lose that on the big boats.”

While Robinson doesn’t have immediate plans to join another Emerald cruise, he told me that there were plenty of parallels between his life on megayachts and what the Sakara offers its guests. “It’s been incredible,” he said.

I had to agree. The Sakara certainly has much to offer, both in spite of its smaller size and because of it. While it’s available to book by the cabin, like any cruise ship, it still manages to feel at times like a private yacht, particularly when it sails to less-commonly visited ports such as Culebra, on Puerto Rico, or St. Bart’s. In the latter, we dropped anchor near Eric Schmidt’s yacht, Whisper , and had the whole day to explore the glitzy island and its capital, Gustavia. (After a drive around in the morning, I managed to catch the beautiful sunset from the lovely little Shell Beach, right in town.)

“The benefit of being on a small cruise ship like this one is that we can enter small ports and areas where others can’t,” said Robert Kuznin, the captain of Sakara , who previously worked with several cruise lines, including Paul Gauguin, Seabourn, and Virgin Voyages. “For example, when we dropped anchor in Esperanza Bay,” he explained about our stop at the island of Vieques, “there were only two meters under the keel — and that was the shallowest I’ve ever been!”

Courtesy of Emerald Cruises

The ability to go places that larger ships can’t was also on display one morning on St. Kitts, one of the final stops of my trip. It was still early in the morning, but already four mega-ships were docked in Basseterre, the island’s capital. Instead of tying up next to them on the busy cruise pier, we dropped anchor just off the beach in South Friar’s Bay, a long sweep of sand in the island’s southern reaches. There were no crowds to contend with, no paperwork hassles, no touts offering dodgy cab rides. A five-minute tender ride to the beach was all it took to meet our local guide. Time from leaving the breakfast buffet to our first stop? About 25 minutes. Even the most efficient mega-ship would struggle to make that happen — and they can’t drop anchor right off the one of the best beaches on the island. 

Other moments aboard Sakara felt like something out of Below Deck . One afternoon, I made my way to the yacht’s marina, a platform at the stern stocked with lounge chairs, refreshments, and water toys such as a floating trampoline and inflatable sea kayaks. I jumped off the stern into the Caribbean and then tried out the ship’s Seabob, a floating gadget that’s like a cross between a Jet Ski and an electric scooter.

As I continued my joy ride, I could see another vessel anchored just north of us. Turns out, it was David Geffen’s private yacht , Rising Sun . Of course, we were there first.

Here’s a closer look at all the amenities of the Emerald Sakara , which sails seasonally in coastal waters in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Laurent BENOIT/Courtesy of Emerald Cruises

Welcome to your starship: the stripped down, white-and-gray cabins on Sakara feel sci-fi chic, particularly when the accent lighting is switched on. They’re also, thankfully, spacious and super functional, with ample storage space (including a safe), a small minibar, a coffee station, and a clever headboard built-in that’s a great spot for your charging devices and water bottle. Most of the 50 rooms and suites have verandas; ocean-view staterooms are the exception. Bathrooms are just big enough, with plenty of storage, and are stocked with Espa products and a hair dryer. My cabin, 421, was a 300-square-foot balcony suite toward the aft of the ship on deck four: I never once heard noise from the surrounding cabins or in the hallway, though I did occasionally notice sounds and vibrations from the vessel, something that is common on even the largest of ships. A note on power plugs: my stateroom had U.S.-style outlets throughout as well as USB-A charging ports on either side of the bed, a nice touch.

Because Sakara is smaller than most cruise ships, it can’t compete on sheer volume of bars and restaurants. Still, the food on board is solid. La Cucina is the only true dining room, with both indoor and outdoor seating; it has somewhat limited hours compared to the round-the-clock dining options on bigger vessels. That being said, I certainly didn’t go hungry: a breakfast buffet is complemented by traditional à la minute options such as omelets and pancakes; lunch is also buffet style with a carving station. Dinner is more restaurant style, with options from an ever-changing daily menu plus always available classics such as Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, grilled salmon, and spaghetti bolognese on offer. (Many dietary restrictions and preferences can be accommodated.)

On my voyage, chef Robinson put together several special plates, including what might’ve been the best dish of the week: a sesame-crusted seared yellowfin tuna with celeriac puree. The Below Deck star also put together a panko veal striploin roulade one night and, another evening, offered a citrus-cured hamachi with, in a touch of molecular gastronomy, “mango spheres.” Elsewhere on board, a poolside cafe, Aqua Café, has quick bites like burgers and flatbreads, as well as sweets and coffee pulled from a Cimbali espresso machine. The cocktails served in the Amici Lounge and the Sky Bar were consistently excellent, mixed by a talented team of pros who’ve previously worked on Seabourn ships and in some of Dubai’s top hotels. One weaker spot was the selection of wine on board: pours at mealtimes are included, but they didn’t rock my boat. A short list of “chairman’s wines,” available at extra cost, included a couple by-the-bottle finds such as 2013 vintage Cristal ($650) and some mid-tier Bordeaux and Burgundy options.

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

Though small, this ship isn’t an expedition yacht. Rather, it’s specifically designed for warm-weather coastal cruising, meaning it spends the lion’s share of its time in places such as the Caribbean and, in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months, the Mediterranean. My trip aboard was spent entirely in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, where passages between ports were short and the seas were often calm. (We did occasionally encounter some swells of up to two meters, or 6.6 feet. I saw many guests wearing medicated patches to prevent motion sickness throughout the trip.) Sakara typically spends a season of several months in a given region, with a variety of cruise lengths offered, ranging from six to 24 days. In 2024, the ship will spend April through November in the Mediterranean. Sakara will return to the Caribbean at the end of the year, through April 2025.

Tours off the ship were a strong suit for Emerald, at least on my voyage. Most stops offered a variety of activities, ranging from a simple transfer to a nearby beach to a full-on, multi-hour tour. Usually, I found myself ashore with a very small group of folks — fewer than a dozen — and all the guides Emerald arranged were true pros. Passengers raved about a kayak paddle through the bioluminescent bay on Vieques, something I sadly didn’t try myself. I did, however, enjoy a short guided hike on the island of St. John, to the pristine beach along Salomon Bay, which was all but deserted. The organization of excursions felt flawless to me, thanks no doubt to the crew and shore excursion manager, Pilar Atencio. Worth a mention, too, were Atencio’s detailed briefings on what to expect each day. While these sorts of “port talks'' are common on ships of all sizes, they felt particularly useful on Sakara because of how intimate our groups were; many passengers made a point of attending the pre-dinner talks every night, for info on what to expect about our anchorage, historical background on each island, and detailed info about what each tour offering would entail.

Call it small but mighty: Sakara has all the essentials, which is a bit of feat for a ship this size. A cozy spa has wellness and beauty treatments, as well as a small hairstyling and facial studio; morning yoga and stretching are available on deck. The fitness center, with a few cardio machines, a Peloton bike, and a variety of weights and other gear gets the job done. The smallish pool and a top-deck whirlpool were lovely — though I spent most of my time in the ocean: the Sakara ’s marina deck is a key feature, and it was open several afternoons during my trip. It’s like the greatest pool party you’ve ever been to, complete with piña coladas, sea kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and a trampoline, right off the stern of the ship. It is, truly, as much fun as it sounds like, though it is subject to the whims of weather and ocean currents. Also available in some destinations are e-bikes from Gocycle, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis; during my trip, several guests gave them a spin on the island of Vieques. Sakara also carries a ton of snorkeling gear and beach towels, which passengers can borrow whenever they like. In terms of performances, this isn’t the vessel for Broadway-style shows, but guitarist Jamie Ferguson and voyage director Nathalie Millet added plenty of live music to the trip.

The youngest passengers I spoke with on my cruise were in their 20s — and they were traveling with their parents. Sakara is perhaps the perfect ship for families traveling with adult children, since it offers such a diverse array of activities to suit different tastes and activity levels, while visiting intriguing destinations. The ship is also intimate enough that everybody can gather easily for meals — or a swim off the stern — without fighting the crowds common on larger vessels. On the other hand, Sakara is probably not the best choice for families with younger children: there’s no kid-specific programming, and you’re likely to be the only ones aboard with little ones. “Emerald Cruises yachts are recommended for people aged 12 and up, and they must be accompanied by and share a cabin with an adult aged 18 or [older],” a spokesperson shared with T+L.

Sakara is probably best described as somewhat accessible: the ship has elevators to all decks and the crew was, on my trip, very accommodating to those with mobility challenges. There are handrails throughout, and bathrooms feature shower grab bars. That being said, several areas of the ship — the outdoor dining terrace, for example — require navigating at least one step even once you’ve reached the deck in question by elevator. “Due to the nature and size of the ships, wheelchairs and scooters are not allowed to be used on board,” a spokesperson told T+L. When the ship is at anchor, it’s only possible to go ashore by tender or Zodiac, both of which could be challenging for those with limited mobility. As Emerald’s FAQ explains: “Guests with limited mobility will require help from a companion, since the crew is limited.” Also of note: many announcements are made only by loudspeaker with no hearing-impaired alternative.

Seven-night sailings on Emerald Sakara start from $2,775 per person, and you can book at emeraldcruises.com .

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