Emerald Cruises
Luxury Cruising
Emerald is the line I recommend when clients want the look and feel of luxury river or yacht cruising without the top-tier price tag. The Star-Ships have that heated indoor pool that converts to a cinema at night — it's a clever touch that no one else offers on the rivers. And the Azzurra superyacht punches well above its weight at just 100 guests. It's not Scenic or Silversea, but the gap is smaller than the price difference suggests.
Emerald Cruises operates across two distinct but complementary product lines: a fleet of purpose-built Star-Ships on Europe’s rivers and the Mekong, and a growing collection of luxury superyachts sailing the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Red Sea. The combination gives the brand unusual range — it is one of very few operators where you can book a Danube river cruise and an Adriatic yacht voyage from the same company, with a consistent standard of service and design tying the experiences together.
The Star-Ships are the backbone of the river fleet, and their signature feature remains the heated indoor pool that transforms into a cinema under the stars at night — a clever use of limited river-ship space that no competitor has replicated. Cabins are contemporary and well-finished, with the top-category suites offering private balconies and iPad controls. A fleet-wide refurbishment programme completed ahead of the 2025 season has brought Missoni Home textiles, yacht-themed artwork, and updated public areas across the European vessels. A new riverboat, Emerald Astra, joins the Danube and Rhine rotation, while Emerald Lumi will inaugurate Seine River sailings in 2027.
The ocean side of the business centres on the Emerald Azzurra, a 100-guest superyacht launched in 2022 that delivers a boutique cruising experience at a price point below established ultra-luxury lines like Silversea and Seabourn. With 88% of staterooms featuring step-out balconies, an infinity pool, and a water-sports marina deployed from the stern, the Azzurra offers a private-yacht atmosphere with the structure and reliability of a commercial operation. Food is regionally sourced and designed to reflect each port of call, and the intimate guest count means the crew knows you by name within a day. The yacht fleet is expanding rapidly, with Emerald Kaia, Raiya, and Xara all entering service between 2026 and 2027.
Inclusions across both the river and yacht products are generous for the price bracket. River fares bundle all meals, selected drinks, guided excursions, airport transfers, and gratuities into a single fare. The yacht product includes excursions and most onboard dining but charges for premium beverages. The passenger demographic trends younger than many luxury competitors — typically 40s to 60s, active, well-travelled, and drawn to smaller ships. For travellers who want contemporary luxury without the formality or the price tag of the top-tier brands, Emerald occupies an increasingly compelling middle ground.
Tell us your travel dates and our Emerald Cruises specialists will create a tailored proposal.