Emerald Cruises & Tours celebrated the launching ceremony of the Emerald Lumi, after the new Emerald Star-Ship touched the water for the first time at the shipyard where it is being built in Romania. This milestone represents a crucial step towards its inaugural season on the Seine River, which will begin in 2027 with departures from Paris.
The Emerald Lumi has been specifically designed to navigate the Seine River. At 110 meters long, it can reach the heart of Paris and access the port of Honfleur, a destination that very few riverboats can reach.
With a capacity for up to 130 passengers, this new Emerald Star-Ship will offer an intimate atmosphere and contemporary design, with spacious cabins and suites equipped with innovative panoramic balconies for any weather condition.
Among its common areas are the Reflections restaurant, the Horizon Bar & Lounge, and a heated indoor pool that transforms into a movie theater at night. The ship will also feature a self-service laundry, a highly valued service among travelers and already available on the new Emerald Star-Ship class ships.
“The launch of the Emerald Lumi marks an exciting step forward in offering a new style of river cruising on the Seine. By combining extended overnight stays in key ports with thoughtfully curated experiences centered around local history and gastronomy, plus a selection of EmeraldACTIVE excursions, this new itinerary offers a more immersive and relaxed way to discover Northern France than many traditional river cruise programs,” said Elisabeth Sadler, Vice President of Product for River Cruises at Scenic Group.
Highlights of the “Sensations of the Seine and Normandy” itinerary
From March 2027, the Emerald Lumi will operate the new eight-day itinerary “Sensations of the Seine and Normandy”, departing from and returning to Paris and stopping in Honfleur.
Passengers will enjoy more time on land thanks to extended layovers, with overnight stays and late departures in destinations such as Honfleur and La Roche-Guyon.
Each day will include a guided tour to discover the personality of each destination, along with activities from the EmeraldACTIVE program, such as guided electric bike tours, hiking or kayaking, allowing you to choose between a more relaxed pace or a more active exploration.
History buffs will be able to enjoy experiences including:
- A tour “In the footsteps of Claude Monet” in Giverny.
- A full-day excursion to the Normandy landing sites, visiting beaches, memorials and museums that recreate one of the most decisive episodes of World War II.
Food and wine lovers will also find outstanding options, such as a walking tour of Honfleur accompanied by a tasting of fresh oysters, highlighting the maritime tradition and the renowned seafood offering of the town.
The EmeraldPLUS experiences will focus on the culture and flavors of the region, including an onboard lecture on World War II and an exclusive visit to a traditional Normandy cider farm, with tastings of artisanal ciders and local gastronomic specialties.
In addition, passengers will enjoy Emerald Cruises' signature all-inclusive services program, which includes:
- Transfers between the airport and the ship.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner served daily on board.
- Drinks included during meals.
- Guided excursions.
- EmeraldPLUS and EmeraldACTIVE experiences.
- Tips.
- WiFi connection.
All of this is designed to offer a comfortable and worry-free experience from the beginning to the end of the trip.
The construction of the Emerald Lumi is being led by the specialist team of Scenic Group at MKM Yachts and is part of the group's ongoing investment strategy in its fleets of river cruisers and yachts.
Alongside the debut of the Emerald Lumi on the Seine, the Emerald Cruises fleet continues to grow following the start of operations of the Emerald Kaia and Emerald Astra, while the new superyachts Emerald Raiya and Emerald Xara will enter service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Meanwhile, sister brand Scenic will continue to expand its fleet of ultra-luxury Scenic Discovery Yachts with the addition of the Scenic Ikon in 2028, as well as new riverboats in Asia, which will sail on the Mekong River in 2028 and on the Hooghly River in India from 2027.
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