Emerald Cruises & Tours presents the Emerald Kaia after its successful transit through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The next-generation superyacht set sail from Limassol, Cyprus, on its maiden voyage. This first crossing also follows the recent successful river trials of Emerald Astra, the new Emerald Star-Ship, which will join the fleet on the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers in May 2026.
Glen Moroney, president and founder of Scenic Group, stated: “The launch of Emerald Kaia and the upcoming maiden voyage of Emerald Astra in May mark significant milestones for Scenic Group as we celebrate 40 years of innovation in the travel industry. As the only cruise company that designs, builds, and operates its own ships, we continue to set new standards in luxury cruising, both on yachts and rivers, driven by technical excellence and a commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for our guests.”
Emerald Kaia combines Emerald Cruises & Tours' signature relaxed luxury with new levels of design sophistication. A curated collection of contemporary art and exclusive interior finishes, featuring designers such as Tom Dixon, Missoni, Freifrau, Paola Lenti, and Kettal, elevates the aesthetic of the onboard spaces. Its expansive outdoor areas invite guests to unwind and feel more connected to the coastline during their days at sea.
James Griffiths, Managing Director of Ocean Operations at Scenic Group, said: “Emerald Kaia represents the next evolution of Emerald Yacht Cruises, with more space, enhanced wellness, innovative dining concepts, and a thoughtfully designed yacht experience. All of this is designed to provide the intimate and relaxed atmosphere that our guests value so much. Seeing her in operation and welcoming our first passengers is the best confirmation that this evolution of our fleet is the right one.”
Emerald Kaia's dining spaces feature a carefully curated selection of experiences. The main restaurant, La Cucina, boasts an open kitchen, allowing guests to connect more closely with the chefs, and offers both indoor and outdoor seating options. The new Soleá Bar & Bistro, located next to the Vitality Pool, serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in an elegant yet relaxed setting, open for à la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner with panoramic sea views. Meanwhile, the intimate Night Market Grill offers a private and immersive dining experience for up to eight guests, celebrating flavors inspired by local Asian markets.
The newly renovated Wellness Deck offers a holistic approach to wellness, featuring KLAFS salt therapy rooms, a cold plunge pool, and a spacious spa with a variety of luxurious treatments and therapies. Guests can move seamlessly between the fitness areas, the marine platform, and a self-service beverage area designed for relaxation and connection.
The spacious suites at Emerald Kaia, with their floor-to-ceiling windows, create bright and personal spaces. New connecting suites have been added to offer greater flexibility for families and groups, balancing privacy with shared spaces, in keeping with Emerald's guest-centric design philosophy.
For the 2026 and 2027 Mediterranean summer seasons, Emerald Kaia will sail the popular Adriatic Sea, offering 8- and 15-day island-hopping itineraries between Venice and Dubrovnik. Emerald Kaia is one of the few cruise ships that can dock in the heart of Venice.
This luxury yacht, accommodating up to 128 guests, will then relocate to the Indian Ocean, sailing the Seychelles archipelago from December 2026 to March 2027. It will offer itineraries ranging from 8 to 20 days, including the popular 16-day Safari & Seychelles voyage, which combines a Seychelles cruise with safaris in Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, Samburu Game Reserve, and Lake Nakuru National Park. Due to high demand, new departure dates have recently been added to this itinerary.
Emerald Kaia will be joined by the twin yachts Emerald Raiya in 2027 and Emerald Xara in 2028, expanding the fleet to five ships, along with Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, with itineraries in the Mediterranean, Seychelles and the Caribbean.
The debut of Emerald Kaia coincides with the recent successful river trials of the new Emerald Star-Ship, Emerald Astra, which will join the fleet in May 2026, bringing Emerald Cruises' new design philosophy to iconic European rivers.
In addition, two new riverboats, Emerald Lumi on the Seine River in France and Emerald Nova in the Douro Valley in Portugal, will mark the next phase of the brand's river expansion in 2027.
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