Scenic Group expands its global yacht cruising program by 2028. The launch of Emerald Xara and the return of Scenic Eclipse II to Australia, Kimberley and the South Pacific, following two years of successful deployment in the region, reinforce the group's commitment to innovation and respond to strong demand for luxury and expedition cruising experiences.
Following Emerald Kaia 's maiden voyage in April, Emerald Cruises continues with the launch of two new superyachts: Emerald Raiya in 2027, followed by Emerald Xara , which will join the luxury fleet in 2028.
The first of these yachts to explore Asia and Australia, Emerald Xara will operate 15 new itineraries in these regions. These include Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands, before heading south to Darwin, the rugged coasts of Australia's remote Kimberley region, and Papua New Guinea.
For the first time, guests will be able to discover this extraordinary part of the world through Scenic Group's two brands, experiencing the exploration and relaxed luxury of Emerald Xara.
Tom Batchelor, acting vice president of Deployment, Product and Port Operations – Ocean, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Scenic Eclipse II back to Kimberley, Oceania and East Antarctica from March 2028, following two very successful seasons that have demonstrated the region’s great appeal for world-class expedition and discovery voyages.
The launch of Emerald Xara in its inaugural season will allow guests to explore this extraordinary part of the world through both brands, reflecting our confidence in delivering unique experiences in the region and our commitment to expanding Scenic Group's presence across all continents.”.
After recently leaving the region for the Mediterranean and the Arctic, Scenic Eclipse II will return to Oceania in 2028. This return responds to unprecedented demand from business partners and guests, driven by the success of the 2024 and 2025/26 seasons.
The expedition yacht will operate an expanded program through the South Pacific from Papeete through the Pacific islands to the Kimberley coast in Australia, continuing through the Australian Top End to Hobart; then on to New Zealand for two voyages to East Antarctica and the Ross Sea, subsequently through the Spice Islands of Indonesia to Japan and South Korea.
These announcements add to the strong momentum of Scenic Group, which includes the maiden voyage of the Emerald Kaia, as well as the new riverboats Emerald Astra (May 2026) and Emerald Lumi (2027) and the yacht Emerald Raiya (2027). In addition, Scenic Group will launch the Scenic Spirit II on the Mekong in early 2028 and the highly anticipated...
Through both brands, the growth of the luxury yacht fleet reinforces Scenic Group to leading high-end travel experiences, continually expanding its offering on rivers, oceans and land travel around the world.
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