Emerald Cruises & Tours Celebrates Two Major Milestones with the Launch of Emerald Kaia and Successful River Trials of Emerald Astra
April 7, 2026 – Emerald Cruises & Tours has announced the launch of Emerald Kaia following a successful voyage through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. This next-generation superyacht departed from Limassol, Cyprus, on its maiden journey. This inaugural sailing follows the recent successful river trials of Emerald Astra, the new Emerald Star-Ship set to join the fleet on the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers in May 2026.
Glen Moroney, Chairman and Founder of Scenic Group, said: “The launch of Emerald Kaia and the upcoming inaugural 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 river and yacht cruising. We are driven by technical excellence and a commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience.”
Emerald Kaia blends Emerald Cruises & Tours’ signature relaxed luxury with sophisticated, cutting-edge design. A curated selection of contemporary art and bespoke interior finishes, featuring pieces from Tom Dixon, Missoni, Freifrau, Paola Lenti, and Kettal, enhances the onboard aesthetic. Expansive outdoor spaces invite guests to unwind and connect with the coastline throughout their journey.
James Griffiths, General Manager of Ocean Operations at Scenic Group, said: “Emerald Kaia represents the next evolution of Emerald Yacht Cruises, with more space, enhanced wellness offerings, innovative dining concepts, and a thoughtfully designed cruising experience. Everything has been created to deliver the intimate and relaxed atmosphere our guests truly value. Seeing it in operation and welcoming our first guests is the most rewarding proof that this evolution of our fleet is the right direction.”
Unique Culinary Experiences
Emerald Kaia’s dining venues offer a carefully curated selection of culinary experiences. The signature restaurant, La Cucina, features an open kitchen concept that allows guests to interact directly with chefs while enjoying additional indoor and al fresco seating. The new Soleá Bar & Bistro, located beside the Vitality Pool, serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in an elegant yet relaxed setting, offering à la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner with panoramic ocean views. Meanwhile, the intimate Night Market Grill delivers a private and immersive dining experience for up to eight guests, featuring flavors inspired by local Asian markets.
Wellness at Sea
The redesigned wellness platform offers a comprehensive approach to relaxation, featuring KLAFS salt therapy rooms, a cold plunge pool, and an expansive spa with a variety of luxury treatments and therapies. Guests can move seamlessly between the fitness areas, the Marina Platform, and a self-service refreshment area designed to encourage calm and connection.
Contemporary Comfort and Design
Emerald Kaia embodies the brand’s commitment to delivering authentic and luxurious ocean travel, combining the sophistication of yacht cruising with the warmth and comfort guests have come to appreciate.
Spacious suites with floor-to-ceiling windows create a bright and personal retreat. New connecting suites have been introduced to provide greater flexibility for families and groups, balancing privacy with shared spaces — a true reflection of Emerald’s guest-focused design philosophy.
Itineraries
For the 2026 and 2027 Mediterranean summer seasons, Emerald Kaia will sail the ever-popular Adriatic Sea, offering an appealing selection of eight- and 15-day itineraries with stops between Venice and Dubrovnik. Emerald Kaia is one of the few cruise vessels able to dock in the heart of Venice.
The 128-guest luxury yacht will relocate to the Indian Ocean, sailing the Seychelles archipelago from December 2026 through March 2027. Emerald Kaia will offer cruise itineraries ranging from eight to 20 days, including the popular 16-day “Safari and Seychelles” journey, combining a Seychelles cruise with safaris in Kenya’s Masai Mara, Samburu Game Reserve, and Lake Nakuru National Park. Additional departure dates have recently been added for this itinerary due to high demand.
In 2027, Emerald Kaia will be joined by its sister yachts Emerald Raiya and Emerald Xara in 2028, expanding the fleet to five vessels alongside Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, with sailings across the Mediterranean, Seychelles, and the Caribbean.
Emerald Astra River Trials
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 Europe’s iconic rivers. Two additional river ships, Emerald Lumi on France’s Seine River and Emerald Nova in Portugal’s Douro Valley, will mark the next phase of the brand’s continued river expansion in 2027.
For 40 years, Scenic Group has redefined luxury travel, earning worldwide recognition for its award-winning river cruises, exclusive yacht experiences, and meticulously designed land journeys. With a portfolio of renowned brands — Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises & Tours, and Mayflower Cruises & Tours — Scenic Group delivers transformative experiences that provide unmatched access to the world’s most breathtaking destinations across all seven continents.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ ultra-luxury river cruises sail throughout Europe and Southeast Asia, offering all-inclusive five-star journeys that elevate the art of travel. At sea, Scenic Eclipse, the world’s first Discovery Yachts, pioneers expedition and exploration cruising, combining adventure and indulgence aboard state-of-the-art yachts that allow guests to explore remote polar regions and extraordinary destinations across all seven continents while enjoying world-class dining, expansive wellness experiences, and personalized service. Launching in 2028, Scenic Ikon will join the Discovery Yacht fleet as a next-generation ultra-luxury vessel designed for polar and warm-water exploration, offering sophisticated design, immersive experiences, and all-inclusive luxury across 21 countries and 110 ports during its inaugural season.
Celebrating a decade of excellence in 2024, Emerald Cruises & Tours continues to expand its fleet of innovative river ships and luxury ocean yachts. Emerald Kaia joined Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara in April 2026, further enhancing luxury cruising with itineraries across the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Caribbean and Central America, Seychelles, and the Indian Ocean. Additionally, Emerald Astra, debuting in spring 2026 as the tenth Emerald Star-Ship in the river fleet, will elevate Emerald’s renowned river cruise experience. Looking ahead to 2027, the eleventh Star-Ship, Emerald Lumi, will mark the brand’s first voyages on the Seine River, offering roundtrip cruises from Paris. The fleet will continue growing with Emerald Raiya (2027) and Emerald Xara (2028), introducing new boutique superyacht itineraries in warm-water destinations.
Scenic Group’s commitment to innovation and exceeding expectations ensures that every journey — whether by river, ocean, or land — delivers moments of wonder and creates memories that last a lifetime.
For more information, to browse available journeys, or to reserve your spot on an upcoming cruise, visit www.scenicusa.com or www.emeraldcruises.com. You may also call Scenic at (844) 788-7985 or Emerald Cruises at (844) 428-8389, or contact your preferred travel advisor. High-resolution images may be requested through the contact listed below.