Cruise Frog guide
Emerald Cruises
Emerald Cruises is the river and yacht cruise line of Scenic Group, sold as Emerald Cruises & Tours and marketed as relaxed luxury next to its fully inclusive sister brand, Scenic. It has ten river ships in service, which it calls Star-Ships, in Europe and on the Mekong, plus three small ocean-going yachts.
Style
River
riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days
Best for
- Couples
- Value seekers
- Adventure seekers
- History and culture
Fleet rating
No ships rated yet.
About Emerald Cruises
Scenic founder Glen Moroney set up the brand in 2013 as Emerald Waterways, and its first river cruises sailed in 2014 aboard the 180-guest Emerald Sky. Sister ships followed through 2017 and again in 2022 and 2026, with Emerald Liberté in southern France, Emerald Radiance on the Douro and, from 2019, Emerald Harmony on the Mekong. In 2020 the company became Emerald Cruises, adding a yacht division whose first ship, Emerald Azzurra, arrived in 2022, followed by Emerald Sakara in 2023 and the larger Emerald Kaia in 2026. A Seine ship, a second Douro ship and two more yachts are due in 2027 and 2028.
On the river, fares include guided excursions, EmeraldPLUS cultural events, EmeraldACTIVE outings such as hikes and bike tours, tips, and wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; some DiscoverMORE excursions and other drinks cost extra. The 180-guest European Star-Ships have an indoor pool that becomes a cinema at night. The yachts carry 100 to 128 guests and include meals with drinks, Wi-Fi, port charges and gratuities, with swim stops from a stern marina platform.
What Emerald Cruises is known for
Emerald is known for value: Cruise Critic's editors named it best river line for value in 2019 and best value-for-money river line in 2023, and also picked it as best for active cruises that year. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted it the top small-ship line in 2023, Emerald Azzurra was Cruise Critic's best new luxury ship of 2022, and Emerald Sakara made Condé Nast Traveler's 2024 Hot List. The trade-offs follow from the pricing: drinks outside lunch and dinner and the DiscoverMORE excursions cost extra, the European ships carry up to 180 guests, more than Scenic's, and the staterooms have a picture window rather than a balcony. The Douro ship Emerald Radiance has no indoor pool or cinema.
Who it's for
Emerald fits couples and value-minded travelers who want a polished river cruise with excursions, tips and mealtime drinks included but without paying for a fully all-inclusive fare. Active travelers will like the EmeraldACTIVE hikes, bike rides and kayaking. The yachts suit people who want a Mediterranean, Caribbean or Seychelles cruise on a ship of about 100 guests, with swimming from the marina platform. Travelers who want every drink and extra included should compare Scenic, and those looking for children's programs, nightlife or big-ship entertainment should look elsewhere.
- Couples
- romantic dining, quiet spaces, balcony cabins
- Value seekers
- low fares and frequent deals
- Adventure seekers
- active excursions, remote places
- History and culture
- port-intensive itineraries, lectures, included excursions
How it rates
None of Emerald Cruises's ships has been rated yet. A line's rating is the average of its ships' scores.
Where Emerald Cruises sails
Ships
Emerald Azzurra2022 · 100 guests · MediterraneanEmerald Azzurra was Emerald's first ocean-going yacht, delivered in February 2022 after Emerald Cruises set up its yacht division in 2020. The 110-metre ship takes 100 guests in…
Emerald Dawn2015 · 180 guests · Rhine · DanubeEmerald Dawn is a 2015 Emerald Star-Ship of the 135-metre Central Europe design, with 91 cabins for 180 guests and a crew of 51. Emerald highlights her three-tiered atrium and…Emerald Destiny2017 · 180 guests · Rhine · DanubeEmerald Destiny entered service in 2017 as one of Emerald's Central Europe Star-Ships, with the same 135-metre plan of 91 cabins for 180 guests and a crew of 51. Emerald singles…
Emerald Harmony2019 · 84 guests · MekongEmerald Harmony is Emerald's only river ship outside Europe, a 73-metre Star-Ship announced in 2018 and sailing the Mekong since 2019. She carries 84 guests in 42 cabins with a…Emerald Kaia2026 · 128 guests · MediterraneanEmerald Kaia, which entered service in April 2026, is the first of a larger generation of Emerald yachts: 120 metres long, with 64 suites and staterooms for 128 guests and a crew…Emerald Liberté2017 · 130 guests · RhôneEmerald Liberté is Emerald's ship for southern France, a 110-metre Star-Ship built in 2017 that sails the Rhône and Saône. Shorter than the Central Europe ships, she has 66…
Emerald Luna2022 · 180 guests · Danube · RhineEmerald Luna is an Emerald Star-Ship for Central Europe, completed in 2021 and, by Emerald's count, part of a series built from 2014 to 2022. She follows the 135-metre design of…
Emerald Radiance2017 · 112 guests · DouroEmerald Radiance is Emerald's Douro River ship, an 89-metre Star-Ship built in 2017 with 56 cabins for 112 guests and a crew of 37. Unlike the Central Europe ships she has no…Emerald Sakara2023 · 100 guests · Caribbean · MediterraneanEmerald Sakara is the 2023 sister of Emerald Azzurra, a 110-metre yacht for 100 guests in 50 suites and staterooms with the same open decks, wellness spaces and marina platform…
Emerald Sky2014 · 180 guests · Danube · RhineEmerald Sky is the ship that launched Emerald Waterways: the brand's first cruises, on Europe's rivers in 2014, were aboard her. She set the pattern for Emerald's 135-metre…
Emerald Star2014 · 180 guests · Danube · RhineEmerald Star, completed in 2014, is a sister of Emerald Sky among Emerald's Central Europe Star-Ships, sharing the 135-metre, four-deck layout with 91 cabins for 180 guests and a…
Emerald Sun2015 · 180 guests · Danube · RhineEmerald Sun joined Emerald's fleet in 2015 as one of its 135-metre Central Europe Star-Ships, built to the same plan as Emerald Sky and Emerald Star. She carries 180 guests in 91…Coming soon
Where to fly in
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)1 Emerald Cruises ship sails from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam3 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS)1 Emerald Cruises ship sails from Lyon, France2 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO)1 Emerald Cruises ship sails from Porto, Portugal1 lounge on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Emerald Cruises known for?
Emerald is known for value: Cruise Critic's editors named it best river line for value in 2019 and best value-for-money river line in 2023, and also picked it as best for active cruises that year. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted it the top small-ship line in 2023, Emerald Azzurra was Cruise Critic's best new luxury ship of 2022, and Emerald Sakara made Condé Nast Traveler's 2024 Hot List. The trade-offs follow from the pricing: drinks outside lunch and dinner and the DiscoverMORE excursions cost extra, the European ships carry up to 180 guests, more than Scenic's, and the staterooms have a picture window rather than a balcony. The Douro ship Emerald Radiance has no indoor pool or cinema.
Who is Emerald Cruises best for?
Emerald fits couples and value-minded travelers who want a polished river cruise with excursions, tips and mealtime drinks included but without paying for a fully all-inclusive fare. Active travelers will like the EmeraldACTIVE hikes, bike rides and kayaking. The yachts suit people who want a Mediterranean, Caribbean or Seychelles cruise on a ship of about 100 guests, with swimming from the marina platform. Travelers who want every drink and extra included should compare Scenic, and those looking for children's programs, nightlife or big-ship entertainment should look elsewhere.
Where does Emerald Cruises sail?
Emerald Cruises's ships in service sail Rhine (7 ships), Danube (7 ships), Mediterranean (3 ships), Caribbean (1 ship), Rhône (1 ship), Douro (1 ship) and Mekong (1 ship).
Does Emerald Cruises have new ships coming?
Yes: Emerald Cruises has 4 new ships on the way: Emerald Nova (debuts June 2027), Emerald Lumi (due 2027), Emerald Raiya (due 2027) and Emerald Xara (due 2028).
How many ships does Emerald Cruises have?
Emerald Cruises has 13 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Emerald Astra, Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Dawn, Emerald Destiny, Emerald Harmony, Emerald Kaia, Emerald Liberté and Emerald Luna, and 5 more.
Who owns Emerald Cruises?
Emerald Cruises is part of Scenic Group.
Where is Emerald Cruises based?
Emerald Cruises is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. It has operated since 2013.
What is Emerald Cruises's loyalty program called?
Emerald Cruises's past-guest loyalty program is Scenic & Emerald Rewards.
Cruising with children
Emerald’s river cruises and yacht cruises need separate family checks. The right question is what the specific voyage accepts and provides, not whether the brand has one universal family policy.
Read the Emerald Cruises family guide →