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Emerald Azzurra Cruise Review: Onboard Yacht Experience

Sailing on an Emerald Cruises yacht is fabulous. Our Emerald Azzurra Cruise Review will bring you onboard into the cabins, lounge area, top deck spaces (hot tub and pool included!), and dining spaces. 

We’ll tell you what we loved about the ship , what to beware of before you book so you can have the best experience on Emerald Cruises yacht ships like us, and what to expect in terms of ship movement if you are concerned about motion sickness.

While we sailed on Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara is a sister ship that is expected to be very similar to sailing on Azzurra. So whether your vacation calendar brings you onboard Emerald Azzurra or Emerald Sakara, this information will be vital to maximizing your trip enjoyment.

Disclosure: We thank Emerald Cruises for hosting us. This page may contain affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase  at no cost to you , which helps keep our content free. We only recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Emerald Azzurra Review Overview

You are in awe as soon as you see the ship come into view when you arrive at the port for embarkation. “Can you believe that's our ship?” is a sentiment many Emerald Azzurra guests share. The sleek, modern yacht is a beauty, and its multitude of features makes you fall further in love with the yachting lifestyle onboard.

We felt relaxed and well taken care of the entire time we sailed on Emerald Azzurra. There is a maximum of 100 passengers and 64 crew onboard. With a passenger-to-crew ratio like that, you'll surely feel attended to. The cruise was lovely, as were the other guests.

And truthfully, it didn't even feel like that many people were on board! Dan was only ever sharing the gym with one person. And I was in the infrared sauna solo more than once.

The food was outstanding, the drinks divine, and the scenery and itinerary phenomenal. There was always an evening activity planned that we could go to or skip, and we could do an excursion in the ports or explore on our own.

Our Top Picks for Emerald Azzurra Yacht Cruise Highlights

A few things really wowed us during our cruise:

Emerald Azzurra Review: Common Areas and Spaces, Deck by Deck

There was a multitude of spaces onboard to enjoy, from bow to stern.

It's important to know what Emerald Cruises calls the decks on the cruise ship deck place in case you're trying to figure out what number the “Emerald Deck” is, for example:

• Deck 2 : Wellness Deck
• 3 : Emerald Deck
• 4 : Observation Deck
• 5 : Panorama Deck
• 6 : Pool Deck
• 7 : Sky Deck

Below, we'll share what each deck contains.

Deck 2: Wellness Area (Fitness, Infrared Sauna, Elements Spa, and Beauty), Marina Platform, and Tender Boats

Wellness area.

The Wellness Area is home to Elements Spa, which has the following:

Marina Platform and Tender Boats

If you are interested in swimming in the ocean while the ship is moored or playing with the marina toys, the Marina Platform is where you'll want to be. It's also where you will go if you need to take tender boats to get to shore.

We didn't have the opportunity to experience the Marina Platform during our cruise because it was too cold to go in the ocean, and because we never moored; we were always docked next to land.

However, we've experienced the fun of one and water toys onboard other cruise ships, like Kontiki Expeditions , and know what a joy it is!

We also never needed to tender to shore. Thus, we didn't experience Emerald Azzurra's tender boats.

Deck 3: Reception, Amici Bar & Lounge, Boutique Azzurra, and La Cucina Restaurant

The reception area is a simple two-desk station with seating across from it in case you need to rest before embarking or disembarking the ship. Thanks to the minimal number of guests onboard, you never really had to wait to talk if you needed to talk to a crew member there.

Amici Bar & Lounge

The ship's main bar and lounge connect to the reception area. This multi-purpose room is, at first glance, the primary place to get beverages, whether at the self-serve coffee, tea, and water station area or the bar, tended by bartenders.

However, it's actually a multi-purpose area. Port talks are given here during the day, the future cruises sales desk is here, and it is an entertainment area at night.

Boutique Azzurra

A lovely on-board shopping boutique has mostly jewelry for sale with some apparel. It's open while sailing, with hours posted in the daily program.

La Cucina Restaurant

La Cucina restaurant is at the aft of the ship. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating allows guests to have options of where to dine, depending on the weather.

The beautiful space is decorated with a mixture of round and rectangular tables, booth seating and chairs, and some high tops. Assorted green foliage is placed around the interior dining room to make it an oasis.

Deck 4: Observation Deck and Laundry

Observation deck.

One of the most peaceful places on the yacht is the Observation Deck. This relaxing nook is located toward the bow of the ship. We suppose you could say it's the closest thing Emerald Azzurra has to a library or game room.

Most of the time, guests could be found quietly reading in the space's comfy chairs. Other times we saw some people playing cards there or on their computers.

There is also a coffee and water station in the Observation Deck, which is one of two onboard. The other is in the Amici Bar & Lounge on Deck 3.

Laundry Room

As avid travelers, we're often on the road for many weeks at a time. Yet, we're minimal packers. This is why having an incredible self-serve laundry room on a cruise ship is such a treat.

Luxury cruise ships often only have the option to send your laundry out for the crew to do. But a true luxury and treat is a laundry room like Emerald Azzurra has. It's indeed welcomed and such an asset onboard. There are several washers pre-loaded with detergent, dryers, an ironing station, and a steamer for guests to use.

We were glad that we happened to have dryer sheets with us because we like to use them in a dryer, and they don't have them onboard.

The laundry room even has a seating area, but it's easy enough to set a timer on your phone to remind you to switch your laundry over to the dryer or retrieve it when it's done. That way, you can enjoy the yacht while your clothes get clean, which is exactly what we did!

If you prefer, you can request your clothes be laundered. There is a bag provided in each stateroom closet with a laundry form.

Deck 5: Emerald Azzurra Aqua Pool and Cafe, and Navigation Bridge

Aqua pool and cafe.

What's a yacht without a pool? This great area is at the aft of the ship. The Aqua Cafe and Pool are right next to each other, which is convenient if you want to station yourself in the area for a few hours – drinks and snacks are at your disposal at the cafe.

What's also nice about this area is that some seating is covered and shaded from the sun, while others are not. This allows guests to choose from multiple seating areas based on their liking.

Yacht Navigation Bridge

A highlight of being on Emerald Azzurra is visiting the Navigation Bridge at your leisure. The officers and Captain were very welcoming and friendly, speaking to us for several minutes to explain the equipment.

A really cool time to visit the bridge, where there is an open-door policy and seating for guests to comfortably observe, is when the ship is docking. Below is a photo of the officers and Captain making sure the ship docks correctly in Naples, Italy.

Deck 6: Emerald Azzurra Hot Tub, Sky Bar, and Bathroom

Deck 6 has one of our favorite Emerald Azzurra onboard amenities: the hot tub. The oval-shaped hot tub can easily fit ten people. Surrounding areas provides comfort in the form of booth seating and lounge areas. Additional seating areas are scattered around deck 6 and provide intimate spaces to read, take a nap, or enjoy the sunshine.

The Sky Bar is on Deck 6. It was a convenient place to get drinks if we wanted to be outside; this area often had the best sweeping port views. It was also where a mixology class was taught while we were sailing one day.

For guests' convenience, a bathroom with a shower is located on this deck for rinsing off after a dip in the hot tub before going back to your room.

Emerald Azzurra Staterooms

Emerald Azzurra has 50 staterooms, including two of each of the following suite categories for a total of eight onboard suites: Owner's Suites, Yacht Suites, Terrace Suites, and Deluxe Balcony Suites.

We outline the square footage of the different staterooms here , and you can view the architectural layout of the room on the Emerald Cruises website .

All staterooms on Emerald Azzurra have balconies except for the six Oceanview Staterooms at the forward of the ship on deck 3. There are eight suites onboard.

We were in room 404, a Balcony Suite on Deck 4.

Our bedroom had a king-size bed, a love seat, and a chair with a small table that perfectly fit a computer, iPad, or drink. There was also a desk we could work out where the Quiet Voxe devices for tours were and the cruise ship phone. Small reading lights next to each side of the bed were adjustable so you could angle them to your liking.

Next to that were light switches for the room so you could shut the room lights once you were cozy in bed, ready to sleep, a USB port, and outlets.

You don't need an outlet converter for your plugs to work on Emerald Cruises; they've smartly designed their outlets to fit multiple countries' electrical prongs. However, depending on your plans and hotels, you may need one before or after your cruise.

Our favorite European outlet converter

➤ This European seven-in-one travel plug converter is the favorite we've ever owned.

We bought one to start and quickly regretted not buying two the first time. Do yourself a favor and buy the two-pack from the get-go.

We loved the shelves on each side of the bed as well as the headboard that created more shelving. Emerald Cruises smartly designed this area: the top of the headboard was depressed, so it created a small safety guard around whatever items you placed there. That way, they wouldn't roll off if the ship tilted. Emerald Azzurra is a moving ship, after all.

Closet Storage and Drawers

We were awestruck by how much storage space there was in our stateroom. We could hardly fill it up! There was plenty of hanging space in the closet, special pull-out drawers for plenty of pairs of shoes, closet drawers for clothes, and more drawers in the dresser near the mini-fridge.

There was also an umbrella in the closet and a digital safe. We appreciated that Emerald Cruises provided a laundry basket too. This was helpful for us because we took advantage of doing our laundry ourselves in the onboard laundry room . After a week of cruising, we simply took the basket to the washers and dryers for one last wash before disembarking.

Our bathroom was spacious, with an abundance of storage space. Pull-out drawers and a vanity mirror opened to reveal additional storage in two compartments. That's where I placed my toiletries that were in my Stasher bag . 

One side of the cabinet had plenty of shallow-depth shelves with an outlet inside. The other part of the mirror had a slender section that opened to reveal additional storage. The compartments mimicked the width of the drawers beneath the sink, where there was more storage. (Storage, upon storage, and more storage!)

Hand lotion and liquid hand soap were next to the sink.

The shower was luxurious and as warm or cold as you wanted the temperature. It had a removable shower head to hand-hold it, and the ship provided shampoo, conditioner, and body gel. There was also a shower rail inside if you needed to hold onto something should the ship become a little rocky. (Which happens with any yacht cruise ship.)

We want to note that we had to beware of the water leaking out of the bottom of the shower. It was slippery, and we quickly learned to use the floor mat towel to soak up the water that had left the shower and somehow stretched to the bathroom door.

We thought it may have just been our cabin, but we realized it wasn't unique to our room when a fellow passenger revealed she had the same water-running issue on the bathroom floor after showering. That aside, the bathroom was still great. 

The balcony was a highlight of our Emerald Azzurra yacht stateroom.

We cruised in March, when it's a bit colder on the Mediterranean Sea than during peak summer season. However, we couldn't resist putting on long sleeves to enjoy a coffee outside, especially given how utterly comfortable the balcony seats were! They were sincerely the most comfortable balcony seats we'd ever sat on.

The cabin steward removed the cushions each evening and placed them in the room so they wouldn't get wet overnight. This was perfect for us because it meant they were dry each morning, ready to use.

In-Room Drinks and Snacks

Regardless of category, all staterooms on Emerald Azzurra have a coffee machine and tea kettle. We never used ours because the coffee machine on deck 4 was right near our stateroom. We preferred hopping over there for morning coffee, but it was a nice option to have in-room if we change our minds.

There were also two bottles of water that the steward refilled daily. Nevertheless, there were water stations near the coffee machines if we ran out or wanted carbonated water.

We had a miniature fridge in our room that we hardly opened because we simply went to the nearest bar if we wanted beer, wine, or mixed drinks.

Small jars of snacks in the room – like wasabi peas and nuts – were priced per jar at an additional cost. We go into detail about snacks, drinks, and food onboard here .

Onboard Entertainment

There was a nightly activity onboard every day. For instance, there were two nights of trivia (a crowd favorite). Another evening our Cruise Director, who went to school for musical theater, sang for the guests.

One special night, while docked in Sicily, a traditional Sicilian dance and singing group came onboard to entertain. It was fabulous! These close-up enrichment programs are part of why we love luxury, small-ship cruising.

Time of Year to Sail

We sailed on Emerlad Azzurra through the western Mediterranean Sea from the end of March into the first week of April. There were disadvantages to traveling this time of year on board the yacht and advantages to the timeframe in port.

Disadvantage onboard: The only real drawback to sailing in late March and early April – which is true for pre-season and post-season shoulder times – is using the exterior spaces. We were incredibly lucky with gorgeous weather in Europe every day in the 60s, with the sun shining. That said, it's always cooler on the water.

Despite the sun, which we were grateful for, it was often way too cold outside to enjoy Emerald Azzurra's outdoor spaces. This was especially true when the ship was sailing when the wind made the temperature colder than when it was docked.

A couple of days when we were docked, the weather allowed us to have lunch on the outside terrace of La Cucina restaurant. On the Pool Deck and Sky Deck, some guests bundled up and snuggled under towels to relax on one of the lounge chairs in the sunshine.

We went in the hot tub, but it was too chilly to enjoy for more than 15 minutes. And we were not brave enough to test the pool temperature, but it sure looked gorgeous! We know that even an indoor pool is cold on small ships from experience, like sailing on Emerald Sky . Braving the outdoor pool was not in the cards this trip!

Next time we book an Emerald Azzurra or Emerald Sakara yacht cruise, we will wait a couple more weeks to sail so we can fully enjoy the hot tub and pool if we're traveling in Europe. Alternatively, if you want to sail during early spring or fall, it's a great time to cruise the Caribbean.

Pro in ports: It was so nice to be visiting before peak season in ports. Inevitably, tourists flock to Mediterranean regions during summer. This includes places like Greece, Croatia, Italy, and nearby countries.

Best time to Vacation on Emerald Cruises Yachts

Best time of year for mediterranean cruises.

In our opinion, the best time of year to sail on Emerald Azzurra or Emerald Sakara in Europe is late April to early May, before peak tourist season in the Mediterranean. Or alternatively, fall from the last week of September to early October in that area.

Best Time of Year for Caribbean Cruises

The great thing about Caribbean cruise itineraries with Emerald Cruises is that they only offer itineraries in this region of the world during ideal times to sail the Carribean Sea. Generally speaking, they offer Caribbean yacht cruises from November through March.

Emerald Azzurra Itineraries

Emerald Cruises offers plenty of itineraries aboard their yachts. You can vacation in Europe like we did and sail on the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. You can also sail the Americas on a Caribbean yacht cruise or one in Central America. To maximize your sea days, choose a Transatlantic sailing.

Caribbean and Central America

Explore destinations from the Grenadines to St. Vincent and Barbados in the Caribbean with Emerald Cruises yachts. Head to St. Barth's on an Eastern Caribbean itinerary, stopping at St. Lucia, Antigua, and Martinique.

Explore Costa Rica and Panama's lush and adventure-filled port towns in Central America.

Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea

Discover historic towns and iconic city centers throughout Europe as you travel from port to port in the lap of luxury. Can you imagine pulling into port on a yacht in Nice, France?! Envision it, and then book your cruise to make it a reality!

Emerald Cruises yachts sail the French and Italian Rivieras on the Mediterranean. They also cruise along the Adriatic Sea, visiting Croatia and Italy before ending in France.

Alternatively, uncover Greek and Italian destinations as we did on an Ionian Sea itinerary.

Emerald Azzurra Ionean Sea Adventure

Our Mediterranean journey on Emerald Azzurra was a dream come true. We knew Emerald Cruises would take us to the best ports (including some we never heard of until this cruise) and have wonderful tour guides. Both turned out to be true.

Some of our favorite ports on the itinerary included Athens and Cephalonia in Greece and Sicily's charming city of Taormina.

Athens, Greece

We embarked on our Ionean Sea Adventure at the Port of Piraeus, which is a 15-minute drive from Athens. We came in a few days early so we could enjoy the city and learn more about Greek culture and history.

It was a joy to be able to visit the Acropolis, eat plenty of Greek salad, olives, and seafood, and drink Greek Mythos beers.

Cephalonia, Greece

Some of the most stunning water and coastline we've ever laid eyes on, anywhere, was in Cephalonia during our Emerald Azzurra cruise.

Gratitude overflowed when the bus made a special stop at a viewpoint to see Myrtos Beach. The milky turquoise blue water changes depending on the day's sunlight, yet our guide told us it's also breathtaking. Words could never adequately describe the view.

We were also treated to a short rowboat ride in Melissani Cave, with jaw-dropping jewel-toned water. It was like we were looking through topaz gemstones that shimmered in the sunlight.

Taormina, Sicily

Taormina is a coastal town that has incredible views of the Mediterranean. Not to mention, it was the location of season two of HBO's famous hit show, White Lotus. It was so much fun to be able to recognize the streets of Taormina that Dan and I saw in one or two of the episodes and see the outside of the White Lotus hotel in person.

The city has Roman roots and plenty to admire regardless of HBO fandom.

Far beyond our White Lotus thoughts was experiencing the city's energy for a few hours during an included walking tour organized by Emerald Cruises. Emerald Azzurra was docked at a Sicilian port nearby in Catania. Buses drove us 70 minutes north to Taormina.

The Taormina excursion was seamless, and we learned so much during our walking tour, which included tickets for a guided tour through the Ancient Theater of Taormina (Teatro Antico di Taormina). Without our guide, we would never have understood the meaning and legend behind the Sicilian ceramic heads or about Etna, the island's active volcano.

Our favorite part of our visit was the free time we had. We were grateful this was a schedule option, and we were still able to meet up with the group to take the bus back to the yacht. If you visit Taormina, getting “lost” in the streets and passageways there is a must. We had the best of the tourism world between our free time and guided tour.

Civitavecchia, Italy

It was such a dream to end our cruise in Civitavecchia, which is close to Rome. We decided to extend our vacation to explore this famous city on our own for a few days. It was easy to do thanks to the awesome location of our disembarkation port, just a quick train ride from Rome.

We saw all the hits, from the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, Victor Emmanuel II Monument in Piazza Venezia, to the Trevi Fountain. We also ate all the classics, from Cacio e Pepe to Pizza, which is how we know firsthand how on par the Emerald Azzurra pasta dishes are with the creations of Roman chefs !

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Included Excursions On Itineraries

Emerald Cruises includes an excursion option for their guests in most ports. On their yachts, there are options to pay for additional excursions as part of their DiscoverMORE programming.

For example, if you're in Sicily, you may have the opportunity to do a unique Godfather tour, visiting the movie's local filming locations for an additional fee per guest.

However, you don't have to do an excursion at all. One of the great things about the yacht cruise is that it takes you to incredibly pedestrian-friendly ports. If you get off the ship and want to explore on your own, you can.

You can also opt to ride one of the ship's “Gocycle” bikes at your leisure, included in the cruise fare. These state-of-the-art electric bicycles cost $5,499 each on Gocycle's website! So if you have ever wanted to test one out, it's a great opportunity to do so.

Ship Movement

When you sail on a yacht cruise ship , you feel the movement more than a river cruise ship , yet likely less than a sailboat or sailing cruise ship . This is why we always travel with anti-nausea solutions , including medication, motion sickness patches, Blisslets, and Non-Drowsy Dramamine or Bonine.

Motion Sickness Fixes

There were times when we hardly felt the ship's movement while sailing and other times when the water was a bit rougher, which affected us more.

But you'll enjoy the ship more when you're sailing if you're equipped with the right medications should motion sickness creep up on you. The Captain did a great job of doing his best to avoid rough routes and provide as smooth a cruise as possible, yet no matter how you slice it, when you cruise on a yacht, you'll be on an ocean contesting with Mother Nature.

Emerald Azzurra Yacht Cruise Cost

One of the best things about sailing on Emerald Azzurra is the cost. You get to feel like a celebrity on a yacht for a minimal cost! Emerald Cruises provides amazing value, just like their river cruises , regardless of whether you're on their river or yacht cruises.

The cruise line does not nickel and dime you. Nearly everything is included in your cruise fare unless you want to add DiscoverMORE excursions or upgrade to a drinks Platinum Package.

Airport transfers, port fees, taxes, and gratuities are included, as well as things like soft drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner. Wifi is included onboard, as is the use of all the marina toys, including SEABOBs, paddleboards, and kayaks.

Cruises start from $3,675 per person or $7,030 per couple.

Read this next:

• Emerald Azzurra vs. Scenic Eclipse: Super Yacht Cruises

Affordable All-Inclusive Yacht Cruise that lets you Vacation Like a Celebrity: Emerald Azzurra

• Emerald Cruises vs. Viking River Cruises: Who Wins?

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First look: Emerald Azzurra, the first oceangoing yacht from Emerald Cruises

A cruise ship isn't my typical travel habitat. Instead, you'll usually find me trying to score award flights in Singapore Suites or figuring out when whale sharks will next be passing through La Paz for a friendly snorkel.

That's not to say I'm not intrigued by the ever-evolving panoply of amenities and activities cruise lines now offer, such as shipboard tattoo parlors , luxury spas and surf simulators . I just haven't gone out of my way to experience them.

However, when the opportunity arose to sail on Emerald Azzurra — the first oceangoing vessel from Emerald Cruises — I was on board, so to speak.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

To start, I was intrigued by the itinerary , running from Aqaba, Jordan, to Athens, Greece, which would take me to see several wonders of the ancient world.

Plus, the ship's small size (it accommodates just 100 passengers) and sleek design made it seem more like a high-tech yacht than a crowd-pleasing megaship. It even has a marina platform so passengers can snorkel, kayak and paddleboard right off the ship in certain destinations. Basically, it felt like my kind of cruise.

Here's what else my experience aboard Emerald Azzurra's second voyage entailed and what passengers can expect on future sailings.

A little background: From rivers to seas

Emerald Azzurra marks a new chapter for Emerald Cruises, which has been primarily a river cruise line since its founding in 2014. Emerald Cruises is part of Glen Moroney's Scenic Group, which also operates Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours.

My sailing was just the second for Emerald Azzurra, which was constructed in Vietnam's Ha Long Shipyard and delivered to Emerald in February of this year. Its maiden voyage took place in March on an itinerary titled, "Best of the Red Sea," ending in Aqaba where my fellow passengers and I would board.

Designed for an intimate guest experience, Emerald Azzurra is petite at 360 feet long, with six passenger decks and just 50 cabins. The scale, as well as its pronounced, aquadynamic prow, reminded me of nothing so much as a Russian oligarch's impounded yacht … minus the geopolitical implications, of course.

Emerald Azzurra is also representative of a new wave of luxurious yacht-like and expedition vessels that multiple lines are launching, including Silversea Cruises and the much-anticipated Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection . Emerald Azzurra and its forthcoming sister ship, Emerald Sakara, will carry just 100 passengers at most, however, which is around half the capacity of competitors' ships.

What's more, Emerald's sailings are priced more attractively than those on comparable vessels, starting below $4,000 per person on some itineraries. That's versus Mediterranean cruises from $6,800 per person with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, for instance. Emerald's fares even include most excursions (there are a few optional DiscoverMORE experiences that require an extra fee). While you might not enjoy over-the-top amenities like butler service or on-demand caviar that some other luxury lines proffer, that price differential is likely to entice a fair number of prospective passengers who are price conscious but still desire a high-end experience.

Emerald Azzurra: Deck by deck

Although I enjoy fantastic flight experiences like Qatar Qsuites or Qantas business class , I still tend to see airplanes as simply a mode of transportation that gets you to your final destination.

On the other hand, a cruise ship feels more like a destination unto itself, sort of like a floating hotel, and I was eager to explore Emerald Azzurra's many features.

The guest decks run from levels 2 to 7, with the cabins spread across decks 3 to 6. Deck 3 is the "ground floor" of sorts, from which we would disembark and re-board at each port of call. It's where my fellow passengers and I were first welcomed aboard. We were shepherded past the reception desk and toward the bow into the bar and lounge area for COVID-19 tests and sparkling pineapple cocktails.

As we awaited our results, I scoped out the room, which was fitted with large booths and low tables on both sides for convivial gatherings over pre-dinner cocktails. Through the center, a hodgepodge of Saarinen-like tulip chairs, velvet ottomans and rounded loveseats were arranged in casual groupings around chrome-legged, marble-topped tables. Toward the far end, high Monarch-style stools flanked the cocktail bar.

The understated palette of silver and charcoal grays, limestone and taupe, along with the mirrored pillars and ceiling panels, gave the space a sophisticated but unstuffy ambiance that blended art deco and midcentury modern aesthetics with a splash of '70s glam thrown in.

Because some of the artwork and plants meant to decorate the walls had not arrived by our sailing, the room did look a little stark, but I imagine it felt a little livelier when those final touches arrived after my disembarkation.

Once we had our negative results, we were free to check into our cabins, enjoy a light buffet lunch at the main restaurant at the stern of Deck 3, La Cucina, or simply explore the ship.

Related: A beginner's guide to picking a cruise line

I took the opportunity to roam the decks for pictures while other passengers were settling in. I started at the Sky Deck on level 7, where there is a small outdoor bar and a jacuzzi at the front and various lounging and seating areas running along either side of deck. Other travelers were soon up here enjoying glasses of wine and beer while taking advantage of the sunshine.

Like the lounge, this area seemed a little bare, but it should be outfitted with a lush assortment of plants before long to give it a more garden-like feel.

From there, I took a set of stairs down to the pool deck at the back of level 6. There is a small infinity pool facing the stern with sun loungers, two round day beds and padded deep benches. Because the weather was not very warm during my trip and the crew actually had to drain the pool for some of the rougher parts of the sailing, I didn't actually use it, though I can imagine it'll be the place to hang on hot days this summer.

Just in front of the pool is the Aqua Café, which serves light bites, pastries and coffee throughout the day. We had lunch out here one sunny afternoon and it was delightfully warm and breezy.

Deck 5 comprises cabins (including the one I occupied). One level down from that, at the front of Deck 4, is an observation lounge that's kind of like a living room and library in one. Guests can serve themselves cappuccinos and other hot drinks from an espresso machine or fill up a glass with still or sparkling water, then settle into one of the cozy chairs with a travel or history book from the shelves. There are various games at the table, too, including chess and tic-tac-toe.

Back on Deck 3, I stopped by the reception desk to hand over my passport to the agents so they could take care of customs formalities at our upcoming ports. Heading toward the stern, I peeked into the small boutique that opens in international waters to sell items like Ray-Ban sunglasses, Frey Wille jewelry and Johnstons of Elgin cashmere scarves.

From there, it was a quick turn to the central axis of the ship, with a bank of two elevators and a stunning bifurcated staircase with glass balustrades, chrome railings and floating steps that hearkened to the grand staircases of golden age ocean liners.

The back half of this deck is taken up by the main restaurant, La Cucina, which serves buffet breakfast and lunch and a la carte dinner. Though our voyage was too cold and windy to take advantage of it, the restaurant has an expansive outdoor deck that should hopefully be open for dining under the stars while at anchor in the summer months, or for enjoying an early-morning coffee while steaming into port. You might also notice that the dining room looks slightly bare-bones, but more art and permanent tables are on the way (the crew reportedly raided the Amman Ikea store for temporary furnishings, including dining room tables, for this sailing).

For a ship this size, it felt like there were plenty of public areas in which to spend time, whether it was quietly reading in the observation lounge, sharing drinks with fellow travelers in the lounge, or finding a sheltered corner of the Sky Deck to take in the coastline as we approached various ports.

The cabin: Spare but elegant

Emerald Azzurra has 50 cabins, 44 of which have balconies .

Ocean-view rooms start at a mere 182 square feet and only have windows, while Balcony Suites, of which there are 36, range from a more sizable 285-306 square feet and have private balconies.

There are two larger Deluxe Balcony Suites with separate bedroom and living areas, two Terrace Suites with both a balcony and a private terrace, two Yacht Suites with their own large private terraces and two Owner's Suites, which measure up at 1,162-1,192 square feet including both indoor bedroom and living areas as well as large outdoor decks.

The specialty suites come with extra amenities that vary by category but include items like a welcome fruit platter and bottle of sparkling wine, a full minibar that's restocked daily, in-room coffee and tea-making accouterments and complimentary daily laundry.

I was lucky enough to be assigned one of the Terrace Suites and was immediately impressed by the size of both the interior space as well as the outdoor deck and the amount of natural light filtering in through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors on two sides of the cabin.

The outdoor furniture and pillows had not all arrived by the time of our sailing, so I stuck mostly to the lounge chair when enjoying the fresh air, but luckily the cabin itself was quite comfortable. I thought this was the biggest drawback of an early sailing — not being able to fully use the suite's terrace other than for a few minutes of sunshine here or there.

However, it appears that the outdoor furnishings arrived after my departure, and the line sent TPG an updated photo of the other Terrace Suite's deck to show what it should look like going forward.

You might notice a sloping wall to the side of the deck. That shields the terrace from a public staircase down to the third deck, which does cut down on the privacy, but I didn't see any passengers use it during our cruise, so I don't think that should dissuade anyone from booking this suite.

Much of the indoor footprint is taken up by the bed, which can be split into two twins, and is dressed in the same soft white, 600 thread-count linens you'll find on other Emerald and Scenic ships. You can also use a control to raise and lower the top portion of the mattress on either side.

To either side is a built-in set of shelves in light-colored timber for small items. There are also USB ports and power plugs plus a small, flip-out reading light. You'll notice a large empty space with a mirrored wall behind it between the bed and the balcony. After I disembarked, the crew met a shipment of furniture that included swivel chairs and footrests for the space, though it remained empty for my sojourn.

There is a work desk across from the bed, which also houses the minibar. The crew had left me a fruit platter with a dramatic glass cover plus a bottle of prosecco, though I was more interested in the electric kettle and the Illy espresso machine, which looked harder to use than it actually was. The cabin's phone, audio sets for our guided tours, carafes of water and two metal water bottles took up the rest of the desk.

Though small, the closet had enough space for all our hanging clothes and had several drawers for other apparel plus two bathrobes, two large umbrellas and a safe.

Across from it, the bathroom lies behind a mirrored door. Like many ship restrooms, this one is compact but efficiently laid out .

In addition to the toilet, there is a single sink, above which is a vanity that opens into a large cupboard and a smaller one for toiletries. Below it are drawers and shelves for more belongings as well as a provided hairdryer. The glass walk-in shower had both an enormous overhead rainfall showerhead and a higher-pressure hand-held one by Hansgrohe.

The tiling, which is made to look like deeply veined Calacatta marble, feels bright and clean and contrasts nicely with the colorfully patterned Missoni towels. What I appreciated most, however, were the upscale ESPA bath and skincare products the line stocks for guests to use, which are light on the skin and aromatic without being overpowering.

Although I wasn't able to snap photos of another passenger cabin , one traveler showed me hers in the Balcony Suite category. The interior felt just as large as the Terrace Suite thanks to some slightly different furnishings and placements, and the bathroom looked like my suite's, though the shower had just a single handheld shower head mounted on the wall.

Onboard amenities: Massages and a marina

I've already mentioned a few of Emerald Azzurra's amenities, like the top-deck jacuzzi and the rear-facing infinity pool. There is also a guest laundry where passengers can clean their own clothes, so passengers can pack light without worrying about running out of attire.

Deck 2 houses the ship's wellness area , which includes a gym equipped with Technogym cardio machines, some free weights and a multiuse weight machine. Passengers can also reserve private sessions for personal training, yoga, meditation and Pilates, ranging from $55 to $105.

There is a single-seat salon where guests can book manicures, waxes, eyebrow grooming, cuts and styling using Kitoko Arte products.

The spa has two treatment rooms and offers a range of treatments with ESPA products, such as the 60-minute intense regeneration facial for $175 and the 60-minute hot stone massage for $205, among other possibilities.

Though I did not personally indulge, my travel companion booked a combination massage and facial and practically melted into bed when he returned to the cabin that afternoon. I woke him up for an hour-long yoga session with the ship's personal trainer later that day (complimentary classes were available on several days of the sailing). After, we headed back to the spa for a 20-minute sit in the infrared sauna to loosen up.

One of Emerald Azzurra's main selling points, at least in my estimation, is that it has an onboard water sports marina of sorts.

Passengers will be able to enjoy more active pursuits such as snorkeling and kayaking in certain ports such as Korcula in Croatia and Parga in Greece (pending weather and final approval of the harbormaster, of course).

Though the itinerary I was on would not allow for this, I still got a tour of the equipment stowed down there, and some guests were able to borrow the complimentary Gocycle electric bikes in Kusadasi, Turkey. There was an active cycling tour offered in Rhodes, too, but that was after I had disembarked.

For travelers who, like me, need to keep up with a bit of work while on board, the ship offers free Wi-Fi and will eventually also feature premium, higher-speed packages for sale. The free version worked decently for things like emailing and internet browsing, but not quite well enough for uploading photos or videos. It also caused the television reception to cut out frequently, so hopefully, that will be fixed when the faster service comes online.

Dining and drinking: You won't go hungry

One of the elements of my cruise I was most impressed with was the culinary program . Although there is only one main restaurant plus the poolside cafe, the kitchen team kept things interesting throughout the cruise, with few repeats in the lunch buffets and the Mediterranean-inspired dinner menus.

Each day's breakfast buffet featured a variety of hot options including scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, different kinds of sausage and roasted mushrooms and tomatoes, plus a plethora of pastries, fresh fruit and various kinds of juices and smoothies.

Since I was in one of the specialty suites , I was also entitled to order breakfast as room service and took advantage of that on a few of the days when excursions started earlier. Like the buffet, the choices were extensive and included things like omelets, pancakes, waffles, bagels with smoked salmon and different coffee and tea selections.

At lunchtime, the servers would set out another wide-ranging buffet with mains such as seared filet of rockfish with beurre blanc; beef-lamb kofte with grilled halloumi; and herb-grilled chicken breast and shrimps in a creamy pumpkin sauce. There was also a small salad bar plus plenty of desserts like sorbet, ice cream, chocolate cake with raspberry drizzle and enormous cookies, including some excellent caramel toffee ones.

After a morning spent snorkeling in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, I spent the afternoon at Aqua Café and sampled some of the healthy flatbreads, including a Greek version with tomato, feta, onions and olive and another with lemon, ricotta and artichoke, both of which were flavorful and satisfying.

Dinner menus in La Cucina changed each evening and began with small dishes such as octopus-potato salad; tuna ceviche with mango, mint and lime; and shredded baked beets with apple and horseradish. Next would come a soup course, with choices such as sweet corn potage, hearty German lentil and smoked eggplant cream. There was always a pasta or risotto dish to share followed by a choice of a main course.

The standouts I tried included a succulent duck breast and leg confit with red cabbage praline; grilled beef tenderloin with black truffle butter and fondant potatoes; and filet of sole with tangy lemon-caper Sicilian sauce and ratatouille cream.

Even after all that food, I was always game for desserts like chocolate-passionfruit cake, a creamy deconstructed chocolate millefeuille and tiramisu.

For guests who favor consistency over novelty, there is also a roster of "always available" dishes that includes shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, spaghetti Bolognese, grilled salmon, chicken, steak and breaded eggplant.

The wines rotated each lunch and evening, too, with options like a Picpoul Blanc from the south of France, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo from Spain's Ribera del Duero and a French Cote du Rhone.

I was on the premium spirits package, so drinks at the lounge and the Sky Bar were included as well, and the bartending team made a delicious old fashioned and great Negronis. We would drop by for a nightcap after dinner to hear the ship's guitarist play.

The one food-related downside to cruising is that you don't get many opportunities to sample the cuisine of the various destinations you visit. And while the menus on board the ship were excellent, I would love to see the kitchen team incorporate more "local" dishes onto the menu, such as falafel after a day in Jerusalem, for instance, or ful medames for breakfast before a visit to the pyramids in Egypt.

Itinerary highlights: Petra and the pyramids

Of course, I didn't spend all my time poking around the ship, especially on an itinerary as action-packed with sightseeing as this one.

Among the most rewarding days of the journey was the first full one, during which we remained docked in Aqaba. From there, we took buses two hours in each direction to visit the ancient Nabatean desert city of Petra, with its famous treasury building carved into a red rock face.

Two days later (with a stop in Sharm El-Sheikh in the meantime), we docked in Ain Sokhna, Egypt, and boarded buses for the trek around the outskirts of Cairo to see the pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx before a riverfront lunch in the city.

Cruising through the Suez Canal was an interesting experience that also provided some much-needed downtime, since we remained on the ship, and the next day brought us to Ashdod, Israel, from which we set off to explore the Old City of Jerusalem.

We spent another afternoon visiting ancient settlements along Cyprus's south coast before disembarking in Antalya, Turkey, which has a beautiful, pedestrianized old city chock full of Ottoman villas. The cruise went on to visit Kusadasi, Turkey, as well as Rhodes, Santorini and Athens in Greece.

Although many of the excursions required a substantial amount of time in transit, it felt more than worthwhile for the opportunity to see breathtaking wonders like Petra and the pyramids as well as to visit new (to me) places like Cyprus.

Being in the care of the ship's activities team also meant that customs processes, COVID-19 testing (in Israel) and my early disembarkation were all handled smoothly, with little to no effort on my part. Plus, since the excursions were included in the cruise fare, venturing out was that much more enjoyable.

One note on sailing for folks who are a little more motion-sensitive: Given Emerald Azzurra's relatively small size, you could feel the movement of the ship and some significant pitching in heavier seas. So, if you have issues with seasickness, you might want to consider whether a larger vessel might suit you better. This was also the reason the crew had to drain the infinity pool at one point since, otherwise, the water would have sloshed over onto the deck.

Working out the kinks

As you might expect from any early sailing on a new ship, there were a few kinks that Emerald will have to work out.

First and foremost was the fact that the ship didn't have all its permanent furnishings aboard when we embarked, including chairs and tables for the cabins' balconies, which, understandably, upset several of my fellow sailors. The crew's uniforms only arrived a day before I disembarked, too.

However, my contacts at the cruise line have told me that all the furniture is now aboard, assembled and set out, as is all the artwork and much of the greenery, so hopefully the experience on sailings going forward will feel more comfortable and consistent.

Although the Wi-Fi worked fine for my needs, hopefully, faster service will soon be available so that it will be easier to keep up with things back home or to research upcoming ports of call in detail by going online.

The excursions on my specific itinerary required a lot of time in tour buses and some fairly complicated logistics, some of which was related to COVID-19, and some of which was not. For instance, passengers were woken at 5 a.m. for COVID-19 tests to enter Israel on that day of the cruise due to changing conditions. A few days earlier, we sat on buses waiting to exit the port in Ain Sokhna en route to the pyramids for nearly 90 minutes as some snafu was ironed out. Both instances curtailed our time visiting the sights and certain activities had to be excised from the schedule. As the ship visits various ports again and again, though, hopefully, some of these rough patches will resolve into smoother sailing.

Finally, a few crew members tested positive for COVID-19 just two days into the sailing. They were isolated in the crew quarters, the crew was required to wear masks at all times after that, and passengers were asked to monitor their own health for any symptoms. Luckily, the crew members recovered, no one else fell ill and it did not impact our itinerary, but it could have been much worse had more people been exposed.

Though this is not unique to Emerald, it's something to be aware of if you intend to cruise with any line in the coming months.

Why I'd sail again

Logistical whitecaps aside, I wouldn't hesitate to cruise with Emerald again for a few reasons.

Even without all its furnishings, Emerald Azzurra was a stunner, with spacious, comfortable cabins, beautiful public areas and high-end touches like the full-service spa, Missoni textiles and ESPA products that made the experience feel luxurious .

My itinerary from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean included stops at fascinating sites. I'd be curious what some of the ship's Mediterranean itineraries — especially those that allow for use of the marina deck — are like.

More than anything, though, the service was truly excellent. Every crew member we interacted with was a pleasure to see and speak with every day, from the friendly staff at reception to the assiduous servers in the lounge and restaurant (as well as the ones who carefully toted our in-room breakfast to us), not to mention Martina, our cabin steward, who took care of everything from cleaning the stateroom to refilling our water carafes and stowing our luggage.

Many of them accompanied us on excursions and we enjoyed chatting with them at the sights and attractions we visited. Each of them knew all the passengers by name within a day or two, which also gave the experience a friendlier, more casual feel. I heard from many of my other passengers how impressed they were by the crew — so it wasn't just my experience.

The uniqueness of Emerald Azzurra, its intimate size and high-end amenities, the intriguing itinerary and the friendliness of the crew all combined to make this a memorable sailing, and one I would have no trouble recommending to others.

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My 6 Favorite Experiences On Luxury Yacht Emerald Azzurra In Italy

• Cruises and Sailing
• Destinations
• Mediterranean Cruises
• Types of Travel

With the launch of Emerald Azzurra , river cruise operator Emerald Cruises made an impressive debut on the oceans. This 100-passenger beauty is not your typical cruise ship, either. I’d call it more of a luxury superyacht, with a beautiful profile and intimate, elegant spaces on board — plus service that shines.

When you take a cruise on Emerald Azzurra , you just might feel like a member of the jet-set crowd cruising the Mediterranean with a big gathering of your newest friends. I know this because I was invited onboard and hosted by Emerald Cruises during a weeklong sailing in the Western Med that took us all around charming small port towns in Italy. 

Here is a batch of my best experiences aboard the new Emerald Azzurra . 

1. Charming Port Stops

Port stops on our voyage included the quaint towns of Monopoli and Otranto in the southern region of Italy called Puglia (you know it as the heel of the “boot”). We also visited Crotone and Giardini Naxos in the Taormina region of Sicily, as well as Amalfi and Sorrento on Italy’s western coast, before disembarking in Civitavecchia in the Metropolitan City of Rome.

We were always the only cruise ship in the ports we visited, and our small group of about 95 allowed us to blend in with the locals seamlessly. 

These places offer a wonderful mix of shops, restaurants, and cafes, as well as cathedrals, museums, and other points of interest that you can thoroughly enjoy without feeling like part of a herd coming through town. 

The ship docks at ports or anchors offshore close to historic old towns and pretty marinas. 

My wife Colleen and I took a bike ride in Monopoli (the ship carries a fleet of e-bikes ) and pedaled through town to a pretty beach filled with residents swimming and having family picnics on a Sunday.

We delighted walking the maze-like alleyways of Otranto. This seaside community on the Salento Peninsula is home to a pretty marina and a couple of historic attractions: the 15th-century Aragonese Castle and 11th-century Otranto Cathedral.

Crotone offered a chance to shop with the chef. Azzurra Executive Chef Li and a couple of team members took our small group into the market area, and it was a joy to see the process of picking fresh ingredients and haggling over prices.  

The haul of squid, clams, mussels, octopus, chilis, and cheeses was brought back to the ship, and just a couple hours later, we sampled what the chef and the rest of the galley team were able to put together using exotic items like squash blossoms (made into a delicious, crispy fried tempura filled with dill and ricotta) and water pumpkin. 

This is how it went for the entire voyage, with additional stops in Taormina, Amalfi, and Sorrento bringing daily delights like a “Godfather Tour,” adventure kayaking, and a city tour and gelato tasting in each destination.

Pro Tip: It’s easy to load your schedule with formal shore excursions, booked through the ship or independently, but give yourself a break and leave a day or two open. You’ll appreciate a more casual pace, and you’ll have time to walk through some great old town centers. 

2. Delicious Restaurants

Emerald Azzurra offers two restaurants: La Cucina and Agua Cafe.

La Cucina is the main restaurant. It serves breakfast and lunch buffet style, then dinner with open seating and a menu featuring meals made with regional ingredients and a selection of daily favorites. 

We favored having lunch each day outside at the Aqua Cafe up on Deck 6, right by the pool. Aqua Cafe is a small eatery that seats about 30 people in comfy chairs and banquettes. Having a meal in the fresh air is fantastic and really enhances the fact that this is a yacht and not a cruise ship. Our captain, Julian Burgess, was always proud to point that out as we interacted with the incredibly engaging and highly visible master of the vessel all week. 

Aqua Cafe is a casual eatery that serves a continental breakfast for early risers and offers a nice menu with a fantastic array of comfort foods for lunch. 

This is where you can order one of the creative flatbreads topped with meats, veggies, cheeses, and even seasonal fruits. The offerings also include juicy gourmet burgers or hot dogs with crisp fries. 

The eatery is open throughout the afternoon, and the selection of sandwiches, salads, and fruit cups was always enticing. The best, for me, though, were the chewy gourmet cookies (chocolate chip, white chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin, and peanut butter), rich brownies, creamy gelatos, and decadent macarons (six varieties!). 

Pro Tip: Can’t decide on what to order for dinner? Emerald Azzurra encourages sharing midmeal courses — typically risotto or pasta. They even have gluten-free options.  

3. Next-Level Shore Excursions 

While Emerald Azzurra features several included shore excursions during your voyages. Several stops featured a nice city tour, and we joined one of these in Sorrento that included a walk around the new and old districts with our friendly guide, Patty. Plus, we got to attend a gelato demonstration and tasting at Gelateria David to close out the tour. The things they can do with lemons in this region of the world are amazing.

Premium Offerings

I liked leveling up my cruise experience with the premium DiscoverMORE options.  

They cost $150 or more. We picked a kayaking expedition around Amalfi, and several of our fellow cruisers enjoyed small-group visits to spots like Pompeii, Positano , and Capri. 

4. Infrared Sauna & Elements Spa

All passengers on Emerald Azzurra are given access to the spa facility’s relaxing infrared sauna room. This is a nice perk and a great way to relax after a busy day ashore. The sauna uses red-light therapy, and it has five seats that allow the heat to warm up your spine and emanate through your body to ease tension. 

Spa manager Ozay and his team take wonderful care of cruisers, preparing herbal teas and waters to enjoy in the facility. 

The ship also offers a range of massages, such as hot stone and deep-tissue treatments, as well as facials. You can also stop by the salon for haircuts, styling, manicures, and pedicures.  

The wellness area is so nice that we made sure to schedule time there daily, often waking up to join Mahesh, who taught a morning yoga class, or hitting the attached fitness center for a workout (the gym has treadmills, a rowing machine, an elliptical, and weights). Then, we would return at the end of the day for time in the infrared sauna to relax and ease our muscles before getting ready for dinner and the rest of the evening. 

5. E-Bikes And Water Toys

The ship carries electric bikes that cruisers can use in port. They even get them ashore at destinations that require taking smaller boats in while the ship is anchored offshore. We biked in Monopoli to go to Porto Paradiso, a popular beach in a beautiful cove. At Giardini Naxos, we took a challenging ride up to Taormina (thank goodness for the e-assist feature).

When Emerald Azzurra anchors offshore at picturesque destinations, the marina is open and all the toys are put out in the water. We had a blast using the trampoline, laying on the floating mats, tooling around in the kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, and even trying out Seabobs for the first time. These are a kind of water scooter that propels you through the water — and even below it — like a dolphin. 

Pro Tip: The marina platform itself is a destination. When it’s open, it serves as a sundeck, where you can chill waterside, taking a dip in the sea as the need arises. 

6. Relaxing Outdoor Spaces 

Emerald Azzurra offers such lovely outdoor spaces that the ship truly feels like an intimate yacht chartered by a group of friends. We found ourselves spending hours outside during the day, having lunch at Aqua Cafe on Deck 6, which also features a large infinity pool with huge floating pillows for ultimate relaxation. 

I caught several of my fellow cruisers napping on the loungers and day beds that encircle the pool area. The Sky Deck one level up at the very top of the ship also has welcoming seating with incredible views over the seas. This is where you find the big hot tub, the Sky Bar, and more inviting seating areas ideal for lazing about as you sail with new friends. 

The Observation Lounge on Deck 4 is a quiet space with 270-degree views through the huge windows. The space also opens up to an outer deck area at the bow. Inside, you can enjoy a game of chess or read from the library of books and magazines.   

The deck outside is the location for yoga classes led by members of the spa team. We joined instructor Mahesh there for a wonderful session as the sun rose over Monopoli. 

With all of this, Emerald Azzurra delivers on the promise of that luxurious yacht life you’ve always wanted to enjoy.

Can’t get enough of the Mediterranean? Check out:

• 7 Best Mediterranean Cruise Lines Our Readers Love
• From Italy To Spain: 14 Things I Loved On Viking’s 8-Day Western Mediterranean Cruise
• 11 Things I Couldn’t Live Without On My Mediterranean Cruise, Plus 5 I Didn’t Need

John loves to explore the world while prioritizing fitness and active adventures. He specializes in cruise travel, with more than 100 sailings of all types under his belt. His passion is deep exploration and connection. He loves talking sports and craft beer with people in every destination he visits. John has been a writer and travel journalist for more than 20 years, regularly contributing to top travel magazines and websites.

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7 Good Reasons to Splurge on a Luxury Emerald Azzurra Cruise

Oct 3, 2022 | 0

An Emerald Azzurra Cruise Review

By Jason Frye

On my recent sailing aboard Emerald Cruises’ new Emerald Azzurra  super-yacht, there was something special in the air.

It wasn’t the anticipation of the inaugural sailing — we were on its second (in March 2022), though our Emerald Azzurra cruise still had that “new ship” smell — but the fact that the cruise marked a return to travel for many of the 57 passengers and the ship’s crew.

After two years away from the high seas and waterways, we were back. And traveling on a stunning and entirely different kind of ship.

Emerald Azzurra has a sleek silhouette, like the more forward-thinking design found on private yachts and larger expedition-style ships (like Scenic Eclipse , the older cousin ship to Azzurra ).

And though she’s small — 50 cabins for a maximum of 100 passengers — Azzurra feels glamorously spacious.

The sleek 100-pax Emerald Azzurra in Kusadasi. * Photo: Jason Frye

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Her passenger-to-space ratio is 53, where larger ships fall in the 30-40 range.

Onboard amenities borrow from expedition-style ships — as Azzurra’s Marina Platform and garage of watersports toys can attest — and from elite private-yachts, like the spacious spa, infrared sauna, and the bar-side pool on the Sky Deck.

And it doesn’t stop there.

The Azzurra’s Sky Bar. * Photo: Jason Frye

Emerald Azzurra has a decidedly modern look, with a plumb bow, crisp black and white paint, and streamlined shape that’s both sensual and suggestive of the ship’s hydrodynamics. And, frankly, she looks like the cool older sister to all but the most exclusive yachts in any port she calls on.

On space, the main dining room is 315 square meters, giving you around 50% more interior dining space per guest than the charter yachts you see on the Med and offering up about one-third more space than comparable ships (at least that’s what my back-of-the-envelope math tells me).

Azzurra Occupies its Own Micro-Niche

If you’re looking for luxury with fewer passengers than lines like Regent, Seabourn, or Silverseas, but you still want the attentive service and high-class amenities, then I think you should go for an Emerald Azzurra cruise.

This between-the-categories nature of Azzurra makes it a little hard to pin down. In a good way.

So, while Azzurra looks like a mini version of the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse , it doesn’t have the ice-strengthened hull (or stabilizers) to pull off a trip to the Arctic/Antarctic like the true expedition polar-rated Scenic Eclipse or the 196-passenger World Navigator .

Further, Azzurra accommodating a max of 100 pax carries half the passenger capacity of Scenic Eclipse, World Navigator, and similar expedition ships. But it’s also bigger than the 60-pax Sea Cloud — which is similar to Azzurra in size/pax count and has a similar approach to luxury with one dining venue, high execution, eye-catching ship and smaller ports — and most (charter-ready) small ships in the Med.

In this way, Azzurra really is a first-of-its-kind ship.

The ship — all sleek lines and modern styling — cut a fine figure docked in Aqaba, Jordan, where we would embark, but she was only part of what had us cruisers buzzing.

Snippets of overheard conversation revealed the rest: our itinerary .

For the next 12 days we’d sail from Jordan to Greece, calling on a pair of Ancient Wonders, stopping for a day in the Holy Land, and walking the streets of ruined ancient cities along the way.

Author Jason Frye in Ephesus, Turkey. * Photo: Lauren Frye

Once we were onboard, checked into our cruise and rooms, and free to explore the ship the topic of conversation turned to the Azzurra itself.

What a ship it is. Stylish, contemporary, and luxurious, it wowed at every turn, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Azzurra’s stern looking down on the Marina Platform. * Photo: gilliesandzaiser.com

Here are 7 ways to live the luxe life aboard an Emerald Azzurra cruise

1. pretend it’s your own private yacht.

Calling a cruise ship “spacious” seems like an oxymoron, but the Emerald Azzurra has room to spare. With six guest decks to explore and a maximum of 100 passengers, you’ll experience moments where you feel like you really could be on your own private yacht.

Cozy corners, sunny spaces and seats with a view abound in the ship’s public spaces. Tables near the open-air Aqua Café, poolside loungers, and al fresco barstools on the Pool and Sky Decks give you outdoor options.

Folks enjoying the outside decks while in port in Turkey. * Photo: Jason Frye

Meanwhile, the Amici Lounge and Bar on Deck 3 provides a sleek and comfortable place to gather indoors for talks, films, music and dancing, or just hanging out.

Emerald Azzurra’s Amici Lounge Bar. * Photo: Jason Frye

But it’s the dining room that really shows off the ship’s surplus of space.

The dual-space La Cucina dining room has 112 seats inside and another 55 on the Terrace (a partially-covered space overlooking the stern). If you’re not doing the math yourself, that’s 167 seats for 100 guests, which means plenty of elbow room at dinner.

The La Cucina dining area. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

Most importantly, the cabins embrace the “more-is-more” space philosophy. Of the 50 guest cabins onboard, only six are the typical stateroom — porthole/window, no balcony. The remaining 44 extend the room into the outdoors with a balcony or terrace.

The most plentiful category of accommodations onboard — the Balcony Suites — range from 285-306 sq ft, but the Owner’s Suites triple that with two-room, 1,162-1,192 sq ft cabins that include huge terraces and walk-in closets.

Jason’s balcony suite on Emerald Azzurra, #418. * Photo: Jason Frye

The Owners Suite lounge & balcony. * Photo: Jason Frye

2. Feast for the Eyes

Emerald Azzurra delivers an “all-eyes-on-you” experience. The exterior design is sleek and modern, like the ship you’d see in the opening scene of a James Bond movie.

With itineraries calling on ports along the Italian, Croatian, and Qatari coastlines, you’ll find yourself in those elegant ports surrounded by other gorgeous ships. But nothing like this.

Gleaming white, 360’ long, six decks high, and cutting a perfect silhouette, it looks like the luxury yacht of some tech billionaire or Emir.

The 6-deck-high Emerald Azzurra. *Photo: GilliesZaiser

The interior design is a pitch-perfect match to the exterior.

Ultra-modern and even (familiarly) futuristic, the ship’s designers chose bold, contemporary art to bring vivid blocks of color to the reception area and dining room.

The reception area art. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

Design onboard Emerald Azzurra isn’t just about form, it’s about function too, and in the cabins, the design stands out for its use of space.

Ample storage — from space to stow the standard empty luggage under the bed to the dual medicine cabinet and under-sink storage in the lavatory to the quartet of deep drawers (and this is only some of the storage) — helps you keep the cabin clutter-free, making it feel even roomier than it is.

Jason’s roomy Balcony Suite bathroom; he occupied #418. * Photo: Jason Frye

How roomy is it? All cabins are large enough for a cozy lounge chair and ottoman (we’re talking supple leather and minimalist design) as well as a built-in love seat.

And if you need to expand your Balcony Suite, just open the enormous sliding glass door and spread out onto the balcony where two more (all-weather) seats await.

 3. Feel Good About Your Emerald Azzurra Cruise Getaway

  When you travel, are you all about the rest or the relaxation? Emerald Azzurra delivers both and more (if you’re like me and want a little adventure or discovery thrown in the mix, stick around to hear about the itineraries).

The onboard gym is small but ably-equipped, and augmented with yoga programs led by one of the wellness staff.

Emerald Azzurra’s gym. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

A pair of massage rooms and selection of body treatments provide several ways to settle into vacation mode that can go beyond deep tissue massage or a hot stone treatment.

You may choose to splurge on an infrared facial or one of the other pricey esthetic treatments or a session in the chair at the salon (by way of note, several crewmembers were sporting fresh haircuts while we were onboard, and every one delivered by the stylists).

And if you find yourself sporting a tight back after a day touring, pay a visit to the infrared sauna where IR lights provide enough heat to loosen stiff muscles without having to strip down for a full massage therapy session.

Emerald Azzurra’s Infrared Sauna. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

4. Enjoy the Fancy Toys on an Emerald Azzurra Cruise

Not only will you travel like the rich and famous on Emerald Azzurra , you’ll have the chance to play like them too.

At the stern of the ship, the Marina Platform is part playground, part toy store.

In select ports, the crew deploys a floating platform off the stern of the ship and offer up a selection of water activities to guests. Snorkeling gear, double kayaks, standup paddleboards, and SEABOBs (a sort of all-electric underwater scooter-jet ski hybrid) are on offer, or you can make your way to the trampoline at the end of the floating platform for a few acrobatic leaps into the sea.

( Note, if it’s too windy or a port area is too industrial, the watersports platform and toys won’t be available .)

Once you catch a glimpse of your fellow guests paddling about, splashing and jumping into the water, and zipping below the waves on the SEABOBs, you’ll have no choice but to shimmy into your bathing suit and join in.

Azzurra’s Marina Platform. * Photo: gilliesandzaiser.com

Another angle on Azzurra’s Marina Platform. * Photo: gilliesandzaiser.com

5. Dine Like Royalty (or at least the Lower Nobility)

When you cruise on a luxury superyacht, you expect decadent cuisine and great wines. The two dining venues on Emerald Azzurra offer both attentive service and impeccable execution on the plate.

On our 12-night sailing, I fell in love with a half-dozen wines, ate 11 outstanding dinners (the one miss was my fault: I ordered something I don’t normally like and it turns out I still don’t like it), and went home thoroughly impressed with the galley and service crew.

Breakfast and lunch at La Cucina, the main restaurant, are served buffet style, augmented by an action station where you can get your morning eggs to-order and where you’ll enjoy pasta, seared tuna, or even a carved roast at lunch.

The buffet area of La Cucina. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

Options abound on the buffet lines, with healthy choices available at every meal — from fruit, yogurt, oatmeal and Wellness Shots (tasty concoctions of fresh juice, spices, and herbs) at breakfast to lighter options at lunch, the likes of salads as well as vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.

Philip Bruce, a fellow cruiser from England by way of Scotland, said, “the lunches have been fantastic. They’ve not missed a note and the soups, oh the soups have been excellent ,” and he’s spot on, the soups, a dish I’ll usually skip at lunch, are creative and tasty, and became a personal favorite at the midday meal.

A tasty seafood stew. * Photo: Jason Frye

Aqua Café also serves breakfast and lunch, but with a smaller, more spa-style menu. But the star of the lunchtime show (and a great afternoon snack) is the inventive flatbread menu.

More than a dozen of these simple, sharable, craveable not-quite-pizzas are up for order and they arrive at your al fresco table in minutes; toppings include artichokes, lemon and ricotta on the Levantine ; butternut squash, red onion and goat cheese on The Squash! ; and crispy English bacon and roasted tomatoes on The BLT.

The popular flatbread pizzas. * Photo: Jason Frye

Dinner is a decidedly different affair, with a four-course menu showcasing the best of what the galley can do.

Each night the options change (though there are “always available” dishes that include seared salmon, breaded eggplant “steak,” a Caesar salad, and more), but there’s always a pair of starters and soups, a dish for the table to share (think risotto and pasta dishes), a trio of mains, and three desserts. Plus, a vegetarian entrée is always available, and the kitchen is able to make accommodations for a variety of food sensitivities and allergies.

Among my favorite dishes were the tuna tartare tower, gnocchi with bleu cheese and walnuts, and a roasted broccoli soup.

Tuna tartare. * Photo: Jason Frye

I also loved the beef tenderloin with truffle butter, cacio e pepe (a “for the table” dish that I didn’t want to share), seared duck breast, and every dessert I laid my eyes on.

Duck at dinner. * Photo: Jason Frye

Seriously, I didn’t skip a dessert, and whether it was the sundae of the day or the passion fruit and chocolate slice, I was ready when the fourth course rolled around. In part that’s because the European-style portion sizing and controlled approach to each dish made each course a satisfying, filling experience without leaving me overstuffed and too full to enjoy the full meal.

Desserts were impossible to skip. * Photo: Jason Frye

One of the yummy desserts. * Photo: Jason Frye

There are two bars onboard as well, one in the Amici Lounge and the Sky Bar on Deck 7. They’re both full service with a selection of spirits, liqueurs, and mixers that will satisfy almost any cocktail order.

And that selection also adds to the camaraderie among cruisers as Philip, my Scottish friend, and I can attest to after an impromptu but vigorous Scotch Whisky and Bourbon tasting one evening.

The Amici Lounge. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

6. Adventure Awaits Around the World

When I said earlier the Emerald Azzurra looks like it belongs in a James Bond film, that was no joke.

The itineraries themselves add in enough adventure to transform you into your action hero of choice.

On our sailing we visited a pair of world wonders — the pyramids and sphinx at Giza, and Petra — and, frankly, I felt like Indiana Jones (not just because of the Tilley hat and my rugged good looks).

Camels in near the Giza pyramids. * Photo: Jason Frye

As we walked through the canyon leading to Petra proper, the anticipation built, and when we saw the façade of the famous Treasury Building and the camels and donkeys and hawkers there, I thought I’d walked into one of Dr. Jones’ escapades (thankfully I did not).

Jason & Lauren in front of Petra’s famous Treasury Building. * Photo: Jason Frye

In Santorini I looked back at our ship at anchor in the caldera and I thought I’d see Bond himself board the tender and head to shore.

The 100-pax Emerald Azzurra anchored off shore Santorini. * Photo: Jason Frye

In Turkey, I couldn’t believe we were walking through the ruins of Ephesus and Pergam. I wondered at the history of these places and at how I found myself here.

A day spent in Ephesus, Turkey. * Photo: Jason Frye

Not every itinerary will be a repeat of our Jordan-Greece journey, but they all promise to satisfy your lust for adventure.

Sailing the Greek and Turkish coastlines you’ll call on cities modern and ruined, the places made famous in myth, history, and religious texts.

Learning about the ruins of historic Cyprus on a tour. * Photo: Jason Frye

As you cruise in the Ionian Sea from Athens to Rome, you’ll be in the cradle of Mediterranean civilization and experience some of the most beautiful and storied coastline in the region.

When you join a cruise on the Adriatic coast you’ll visit Venice and a half dozen ports in Croatia, a playground for Italian tourists and those in the know, and the sight of locations recently made famous in HBO’s Game of Thrones .

And if you’re itching to see the Middle East , sailings around the Arabian Peninsula in 2023 on the 21-day Discover the Red Sea, Holy Land, Turkey & Greece   (longer, but the closest itinerary to our sailing) will have you calling on Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Oman, and the UAE; and Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Greece as you explore places seldom seen by (and in some instances, recently opened to) foreigners.

Camels in Petra. * Photo: Jason Frye

Keep in mind, Emerald Azzurra will also be spending time in the Caribbean during the winters, where the watersports platform and the generous open deck space will really shine.

7.  Easy to Stay Active

Whatever port you’re in, the day is yours. You’re not tied to the day’s excursions and you can do what I did a couple of times: go wander the streets of a new city or town, find a place to grab a bite and a drink, do a little shopping, and return to the ship satisfied with your day.

Making it easier to explore on your own are the ship’s small fleet of Gocycle e-bikes and the crew’s knowledge of the ports.

More than once I saw fellow passengers ask the tour director and crew about a place to go for a jog, a short hike (to one of the many statues, lighthouses, and sights on the hills above the ports), a leisurely walk, or for directions to the shopping district.

On top of this, EmeraldACTIVE excursions put the emphasis on the active part of leaving the ship with guided bike rides, hikes and walks that are more vigorous than your typical tour.

But if you’re worried you won’t meet your daily steps goal or get any exercise on the tours, don’t. I assure you that whatever you do (short of spending the day in the spa or by the pool), you’ll log an impressive number of steps (the least I had was in excess of 11,000 and that’s because my phone was charging in my bag).

Emerald Azzurra’s pool. * Photo: Jason Frye

Quick Emerald Azzurra Facts

Passengers: 100

Itineraries: Here’s a look at the 2023 cruise calendar for Emerald Azzurra and her upcoming sister Emerald Sakara, which is slated to debut in early 2023.

Starting Rates: From USD $4,586 per person for a 7-night Greek Isles and Turkish Coast cruise.

What’s Included on an Emerald Azzurra Cruise

• Port charges
• Airport transfers
• Wi-Fi onboard
• Excursions with local guides
• Use of Gocycle electric bikes
• Use of Marina Platform with watersports equipment (kayaks, standup paddleboards, snorkeling gear, Castoldi Zodiac, SEABOBs)
• Bottled water in cabin (restocked daily)
• Refillable keepsake water bottle
• All meals onboard
• Wine, beer & soft drinks at lunch & dinner
• 24/7 coffee & tea stations
• Gym, pool, infrared sauna

Tips for Your Emerald Azzurra Cruise

➡️visit the open bridge..

Emerald Azzurra has an open bridge policy, meaning you can visit the bridge just about any time (it’s closed for docking and more sensitive maneuvers), and you should. I missed out on our trip due to COVID concerns, but I peeked in through the window at the array of instruments and screens and the couch where curious passengers (like you and I) could sit and chat with the bridge crew.

➡️Use every inch of the ship.

Spend time lounging by the pool on Deck 6; enjoy a drink and take in the view at the Sky Bar and Spa Pool on Deck 7; let the Infrared Sauna work its magic on your muscles; and any time the Marina Platform is open, go and play.

➡️Don’t forget to dine al fresco .

There’s plenty of seating on the La Cucina Terrace (by the main dining room) and the Aqua Lounge (by the poolside Aqua Café), and you’ll find the scenery as delicious as the food.

Enjoying the view on deck. * Photo: Jason Frye

About the Author

Jason Frye is a freelance writer and the author of the travel guides Moon North Carolina, Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip, and Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park .

When he’s not sailing or road tripping, he calls coastal North Carolina home.

Instagram: @beardedwriter

Twitter: @beardedwriter

Jason Frye aka @thebeardedwriter

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© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.

About The Author

QuirkyCruise

Ted & Heidi are long-time travel writers with a penchant for small ship cruising. Between them they've traveled all over the world aboard hundreds and hundreds of small cruise ships of all kinds, from river boats to expedition vessels and sailing ships.

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The New Cruise Trend: Emerald Cruises’ Intimate, Stylish Superyachts

From private terraces to small ports and harbors, “emerald azzurra"—and soon “emerald sakara"—are the chic, at-sea experiences of your dreams..

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The grand “Emerald Azzura” at sea

If you think you know what to expect when it comes to ocean travel, think again. Following several recent explorations in the Red Sea, Emerald Azzurra —the groundbreaking superyacht from Emerald Cruises (recognized for its award-winning river cruises)—will deliver guests the balance of total relaxation and authentic onshore adventures that the cruise line is known for while heading to ports of call across the Aegean, Adriatic, and Mediterranean seas.

With routes designed to offer experiences that mix culture, history, and cuisine, each journey is always enriching. Visits to ancient wonders (like the Pyramids of Giza and Ephesus) combined with quaint ports and islands like Rhodes and Patmos make it possible to experience everything the high-style yet laid-back yachting lifestyle offers on this one-of-a-kind vessel without owning a ship yourself.

Emerald Azzurra reimagines the yacht cruising world by pairing personalized service with innovative design and luxury amenities like expansive suites, a spa, and fresh, Mediterranean-inspired dining. The ship delivers all this while also satisfying health and wellness enthusiasts with tours through the EmeraldACTIVE program, a fully-equipped gym, and e-bikes. And with a capacity limited to 100, guests relish the ample space aboard the six-deck yacht. As a result, each traveler can look forward to an intimate experience with carefully curated programming free of crowds and long lines. Here’s a look at more of the yacht’s exclusive offerings.

Enjoy modern luxury at sea

Reminiscent of what you might find at an elegant resort or hotel, this ocean liner boasts clean, contemporary design, unparalleled service from a knowledgeable crew, fine dining and beverage options, and a range of other first-class amenities. The well-appointed ship includes fine bedding and Egyptian cotton linens, complimentary Wi-Fi, a Sky Bar with a spa pool, a heated infinity pool, expansive views of the horizon, and nightly entertainment by an onboard musician and Cruise Director. Complemented by once-in-a-lifetime excursions at each destination, don’t be surprised if you want to move in.

The Sky Deck

Dig into fresh, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Crafted by a master chef, each meal at La Cucina Restaurant features locally sourced dishes and sommelier-paired wine, beer, and soft drinks. With multiple spots for dining, head to the back of the restaurant to soak in the ocean breeze from the large La Cucina Terrace or have a nightcap in the plush Amici Lounge.

Unwind at sea. Equipped with a spa, sauna, hairdresser, and workout facility with TechnoGym equipment (treadmills, rower, elliptical machine, free weights, and a full-body workout station), guests on the yacht won’t have to leave their self-care routines at home. Indulge in a massage or facial, take a dip in the infinity pool, enjoy the infrared sauna, book a one-on-one yoga or Pilates session, or get a few coaching tips during a personal training session. Then cool down with a daily rotating selection of fruit smoothies and energy juice shots available in La Cucina restaurant and at Aqua Café.

Dive into adventure. During each cruise, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the ocean through catered water sports and other activities that bring you closer to the natural world. Board a Zodiac to search for marine life, snorkel above a coral reef, and kayak your way through a sunny cove.

The heated infinity pool

Easy ocean access. Getting in and out of the water couldn’t be simpler thanks to a marina platform, available at select ports, that’s specially built for swim stops and watersports. Think paddle boarding or kayaking around Croatia’s mysterious sea grottos and snorkeling with the assistance of motorized SEABOBs through the vibrant color reefs of Rhodes—there’s even a flotation platform.

Explore coastal gems. The excitement doesn’t end on land. Emerald Azzurra’s touring options are handpicked by expert journey designers to include off-the-beaten-path shore excursions. Guests looking for self-guided exploration can hop on one of the lightweight e-bikes from Gocycle to take a thrilling ride through these fascinating ports of call. From the French Riviera to the Croatian coast to the Greek Islands and Turkey, meet locals from ancient communities, set out on a guided tour of historic landmarks and cultural highlights, and venture into bustling port cities and quaint seaside villages.

The fleet of Gocycle e-bikes on “Emerald Azzurra”

Discover your home away from home

Spacious and accommodating, Emerald Azzurra was created with the utmost comfort in mind. Its sleek and modern aesthetic incorporates designer furnishings throughout and recalls the most lavish superyachts. Throughout your voyage, you’ll find an abundance of thoughtful, innovative details that place this ship in a design category that’s all its own.

Posh accommodations. Forget claustrophobic portholes—this craft’s entry-level cabins feature picture frame windows and 88 percent have a balcony or terrace. Choose from a variety of stylish suites and staterooms with pillow menus and individual climate control. All guest accommodations are outfitted with Smart TVs and serve as a personal retreat from the onboard excitement. Unwind with access to international satellite TV, daily programming, and nautical positioning, all available at the click of the remote. Come bedtime, turn down any bright lights and rely on night-lit bathrooms to guarantee a restful night’s sleep.

The comfort of common spaces: Head to the stylishly appointed Observation Lounge and pour a warm drink at the coffee station, take a seat in one of the Dedon MBrace Wing Chairs, and gather with new friends around sleek L’Object games such as chess and tic tac toe. The yacht also features a guest laundry room equipped with complimentary washers and dryers, steamers, irons, ironing boards, and laundry baskets.

Generously sized dining areas. With more than twice the average dining space per guest than on other yachts of its size, Emerald Azzurra provides ample room to enjoy your meal in privacy or with newfound friends without the feeling of being crowded. Don’t forget to grab a cocktail at the Sky Bar while you watch the stunning Mediterranean sunset.

Sister yachts “Emerald Azzurra” and “Emerald Sakara”

Experience the yacht life

Sometimes the best things come in “small” packages. Stretching an impressive 360 feet in length, Emerald Azzurra is larger than your typical yacht, but it’s also petite enough to offer distinct advantages over big cruises. And Emerald Cruises will soon offer more opportunities and more places to revel in the intimate experience. With sister yacht Emerald Sakara joining the fleet in early 2023, Emerald Cruises will take its signature service to a brand-new destination, the Seychelles, on an eight-day itinerary in the Indian Ocean–before heading to the Red Sea and Mediterranean.

Just like Emerald Azzurra before, the new yacht’s custom size will also allow it to reach quaint ports and harbors that are typically only accessible by chartering a small boat, providing guests the opportunity to explore some of the most jaw-dropping coastal destinations that are unavailable to most travelers. Whether you’re admiring Cycladic architecture on the secret Greek hideaway of Amorgos, sampling the sights and sounds of the Italian Riviera, or—soon—island-hopping along the shimmering turquoise waters of the Seychelles, you’ll be able to get the most out of each location you visit.

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5 Things to Understand About Emerald Azzurra

Emerald Azzurra offers an upscale yacht experience in a relaxed, friendly environment. Photo: Dori Saltzman

Travel Market Report’s editor Dori Saltzman returned this weekend from a week onboard Emerald Cruises’ brand-new ocean-going yacht, Emerald Azzurra, the first of two the line has planned. Having sailed with Emerald on a river cruise, she was familiar with the line’s value-based sailing experience. But Emerald is marketing Emerald Azzurra as a luxury experience. So what would the experience be like?

Below are some of her observations and what travel advisors looking to sell the yacht to their clients should know.

Before we get into some of our observations, a few quick facts.

Emerald Azzurra is a 100-passenger yacht that has been sailing for a little less than two months. (On our sailing, there were 85 guests.)

The main highlights of the yacht are an aft marina, which, weather permitting, is opened when at anchor for swimming, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding; an aft hot tub and a forward infinity pool; a small spa with facials, massages, and body treatments, along with a small fitness center; and two dining venues, the main La Cucina restaurant and a pool café.

Our itinerary was port-intensive. We had no day at sea, and port stops were usually three-quarters to a full day in length. We had one overnight in Corfu, Greece.

1. River Cruise Experience at Sea The biggest surprise regarding Emerald Azzurra was how much like a river cruise it is. Having sailed on dozens of ocean-going ships, including one that’s technically a yacht, I wasn’t sure what Emerald’s take on the concept would be. From the destination experience to the dining, lounge-based social life, and crew onboard, it felt very much like Emerald took its river cruise experience and placed it onto an ocean ship.

The overall vibe was friendly and laid-back. Just like an Emerald river cruise. There were few pretensions, no dress code, the crew was friendly from the captain to the room stewards, and there was very little formality – though we never were able to get the waiters to call us by our first names.

For the most part, the yacht docks in small ports within a short walk of the main town (just like on a river cruise). In ports where tendering is required, the tenders usually go straight to town. In some ports, a shuttle was available to go to a nearby beach. As with Emerald river cruises, there was at least one complimentary excursion in each port – again, just like an Emerald river cruise, except with two exceptions. In Parga and on Cephalonia Island, the only excursions on offer were extra fee, though there was a free shuttle to a nearby beach for anyone interested in Cephalonia. Only two ports had more than one complimentary excursion.

It’s clear that Emerald is still experimenting with its shore excursion offerings on Emerald Azzurra. Unlike on the rivers, fewer guests seem interested in shore excursions so not as many are offered, and several alternate options were canceled due to lack of interest (see below). Quite a few people seemed content to have a leisurely morning on the ship and explore on their own a bit later.  

Dining onboard Emerald Azzurra is also river cruise style, with a small buffet for breakfast and lunch and one dinner seating starting at 7 pm after the evening’s presentation of the next day’s activities. There’s also a small café near the ship’s infinity pool, giving the ship a more ocean ship feel. The café was open for breakfast and lunch and offered the most delicious assortment of flatbread pizzas.  

Also reminiscent of the river cruise experience is the lounge-based entertainment. A guitar player/singer was the main entertainment playing before and after dinner, though the cruise director hosted a few theme nights. Most drew a small crowd, including trivia night, name that tune, a deck party, and his one-man show. The most ocean cruise-like of the theme nights was a love and marriage show. The only true bust was karaoke, but that was the night before disembarkation when most people were packing up or going to bed early.

2. Upscale, Not Luxury Despite Emerald’s marketing promising a luxury experience, Emerald Azzurra isn’t really luxury. Don’t get us wrong. It’s upscale, friendly, and sometimes personalized but it’s not luxury. Occasionally long waits for dinner, no room service except for the top suites, being sent to the one open bar on deck 7 to get a cold drink after getting back from a particularly strenuous excursion rather than having one delivered, this is not luxury service. Neither is no sit-down service for breakfast and lunch.

With that said, at least one of the dining room servers remembered my Coke Zero drink preference within 24 hours, everyone knew our names and the lounge bartender occasionally came to us rather than wait for us to go to the bar as we were told we were supposed to do.

And the food was always spot-on. I can’t think of another cruise I’ve been on where I couldn’t find fault with a single meal I ate.

The ship, itself, feels luxurious, with a sleek shape that reminds one of nothing less than a Russian oligarch’s private yacht. Leather seating in the lounge, a hot tub and infinity pool, Missoni towels, plush robes with a hood, a jump-off-the-back marina, all invoke the exclusivity and luxury of the yachting lifestyle.

With such a luxurious feeling, the lack of all-inclusiveness, a hallmark of Emerald Cruises, feels a bit more noticeable. Many of the excursion options carried a fee. Drinks in the minibar cost extra, even if you have the premium drink package. We did get the impression that everyone onboard had the premium package though, as we never saw anyone ask for their cabin number when ordering a drink outside of lunch and dinner. It’s unclear if that inclusion is only for the yacht’s inaugural season pricing or something that will be included permanently.

Serviced laundry also costs extra, but the vast majority of guests took advantage of the DIY launderette, which was free.

Emerald Azzurra is distinctly upmarket, but if your clients are looking for the type of luxury where they don’t need to lift a finger, Emerald Azzurra may not be the right fit.

3. Younger, International Demographic We don’t know if it’s the word “yacht” or the warm-weather destinations that Emerald Azzurra visits, but the demographic onboard skews younger than what you usually find on river cruises. On our one-week sailing, the ages ranged from mid-30s to 80s, but most people were between their early 40s and mid-70s. 

Cruisers are primarily English speaking with most coming from the U.K. On our sailing, there were only a handful of Australians, but Emerald often draws more. North Americans, most from the U.S., represented the second-largest group onboard our sailing.

We found that people grouped together more by geography than age, but everyone was friendly and we had conversations with at least half the 85 people onboard. It’s not easy being shy on a 100-passenger superyacht where most people want to meet and mingle. Let your introverted clients know that people are going to start conversations with them!

When considering which of your clients to offer Emerald Azzurra to, keep the younger age demographic in mind. The majority of those onboard wanted to get off and experience the destinations we visited. Most were relatively fit and not put off by lots of walking. (Being able to navigate stairs and get on and off tenders was essential for our Dubrovnik to Athens sailing.)

With that said, the ship does have elevator service to all decks, making the ship completely accessible. However, there’s no wheelchair access for tenders and just getting on and off the ship would be difficult for someone who can’t actually walk themselves up and down the gangway.

4. Active Vacationing Speaking of fit passengers, the Emerald Azzurra experience isn’t the best choice for the mobility-impaired or slow walkers – unless they’re okay with staying onboard and relaxing, which, to be fair, a decent number of guests on our sailing did opt for. 

Excursions, however, range from moderate to strenuous. We’d estimated we climbed or descended at least 4,000 stairs over the course of the week’s cruise excursions. There are no slow walking tours or panoramic bus tours, but depending on how long the yacht is in port, you could probably arrange such a tour for your clients.

The “easiest” options were probably the shorter town center walking tours (like the one in Kotor) and the food-related tours like a mussel cooking demo and tasting near Ancient Butrint in Albania. But even that tour was immediately preceded by a moderate walking tour of ancient Roman ruins, part of which was uphill and all was over uneven stone pathways. A Greek cooking class with a local chef in Corfu was canceled for lack of interest, but that would have been relatively easy as well.

5. No Guarantees There are never guarantees in cruising, regardless of ship size. We almost missed one tender port because of weather but the captain was able to reposition the ship to a more sheltered cove. However, the same was sadly not true for the vast majority of extra fee tours. Of eight so-called DiscoverMore tours, five were canceled. One, that Greek cooking class we mentioned above, has yet to run at all, as they’ve found it impossible to meet the 20-person minimum. (Understandable on a 100-person ship!)

One our sailing, all but one was canceled for lack of interest (ie Emerald had minimums to meet, which they couldn’t); our extra-fee kayaking trip was canceled by the operator citing rain and swells, which never actually materialized. That left cruisers with very few choices of what to do in each port. In one port, there were actually no included tours and only one extra fee option.

According to the shore excursion manager on board, the low numbers of options reflect the lack of interest passengers have so far shown in group excursions. Some, she said, wait until the last minute to decide to join a tour, but by then it’s too late as tour providers usually need at least 24 hours to finalize details.

Depending on what your clients are interested in, helping them to plan an optional tour or activity may help elevate their destination experience.

And, for tender ports, remind clients not to have their hearts set on visiting them. They’re always weather dependent.

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I Spent 7 Days in a Luxury Suite on a SUPER YACHT (Full Review)

Normally if you take a cruise your cabin will be one of hundreds or thousands of identical metal boxes, made and slid into the side of the cruise ship.

There isn’t a lot of variety between cabins and even across different cruise lines, they look fairly similar.

It wasn’t like that on my last cruise though, because I stayed in a suite on a luxury superyacht called Emerald Azzurra.

There were only 84 other guests on the ship and I saw and did things that I couldn’t have imagined pre-cruise, there were dramatic highs and lows and it definitely wasn’t what I expected.

Usually, when I cruise you’ll find me in the cheapest inside cabin, probably right at one end of the cruise ship and usually in a location that many would call “undesirable.” I really didn’t know what to expect when I boarded the ship in Athens.

This was so far out of my normal world. I knew that the cabin would be bigger than I was used to, but had no idea how they could make a cabin luxurious.

I was assigned cabin 502 right at the front of deck 5. The cabin is one of only 14 balcony cabins on this deck and we were located right next to the bridge.

I was nervous about feeling a lot of movement and feeling seasick being on such a small ship, but only time would tell how I would find the motion of the ocean.

When we embarked, we walked straight into the reception area and up two flights of stairs to deck 5. We didn’t have far to go to get to our cabin and that would quickly become one of my favourite parts about cruising on a yacht.

When we first found the cabin I was amazed by the size. Usually, cruise ship cabins are long and thin but the main part of the cabin felt almost as wide as it was long.

The cabin is a very impressive 29 square metres. That might not sound huge, but when you consider that this ship is only 110 metres long in total – and that the average cruise ship balcony cabin on the big ships is 18 metres squared – that is pretty impressive.

I loved the decor in the room and I quickly noticed that something was different from every cruise ship cabin I’ve been in before.

Usually, the cabins are just metal boxes and as a result, the walls are all magnetic. The walls of this cabin though had thick, padded material squares on top, this definitely made it feel more like a luxurious hotel room than a cruise ship cabin.

It was great for keeping out noise too, on cruise ships you can normally hear everything that your neighbours do, but we didn’t hear any noise from anybody else.

To find out more about the noise you may hear in your cruise cabin, read this article next:

Are Cruise Ship Cabins Soundproof? (Thin Walls, Balconies and Travelling Sound)

To the left, I noticed a big desk area with some magical-looking “QuietVox” Boxes. These were what we used when we went out on excursions. They meant that we could listen to our guide even when they weren’t close to us.

There were a couple of water bottles here – which we got to keep – and a few plug sockets.

There was a minibar under the desk, which we didn’t use during our cruise.

We did have the all-inclusive drinks package, but that still doesn’t include drinks in the mini bar – which I think is a bit odd.

This cruise definitely isn’t a budget option and given that we could have any drinks at the bars anytime, it felt a little weird that I couldn’t at least drink the soda from the minibar. (Not that we had very far to go if we wanted to go to the bar to get a drink!)

Beyond that was a kettle, coffee machine and a couple of jugs of water that were filled up for us every day.

There was a big TV that had lots of movies on it. On quite a lot of other cruise lines they’ll charge for movies, but all of the ones on here are free, so we watched quite a few during the cruise.

The TV also had the ship’s daily schedule, and it would be updated every evening. There was a bow cam on the front of the ship so we could see what was happening at the front of the ship. This was very cool when we went through the Corinth Canal.

I was looking forward to watching a sail away from the balcony, but first I headed into the bathroom to have a look around.

The bathroom was clean, comfortable and stylish and It was pretty similar to bathrooms I’ve had on cruise ships in the past. This one also had a bonus sprayer to wash your bum by the toilet, and lots and lots of storage.

We did have one problem with this bathroom, but more about that later.

Heading back into the cabin I decided to test out my bed before heading out on the balcony. The beds were incredibly soft and comfortable and the pillows were very fluffy, it was like being surrounded by a cloud.

To the side, there were a couple of little alcoves to the sides of the beds where I put things like my pyjamas and my phone.

There definitely wasn’t a shortage of plug sockets in the cabin, and I was very happy to see a universal socket meaning which meant that I didn’t have to use an adapter.

There weren’t any bedside tables but the shelf part here kind of took on that role. There were bedside lights here, and laying in bed and watching the sunset through the windows was incredible. It felt so peaceful.

Heading out to the balcony I was really impressed by its size. It was about as wide as other cruise ship balcony cabins, but it stretched quite a long way. It had two chairs and a table on it.

I of course, being the nosy person that I, am decided to peer around the end of my balcony and to my surprise, I could see the Bridge and the bridge bits on the side.

We were actually able to go out on this deck in front of the Bridge anytime. We could just walk into the bridge because the ship has an open Bridge policy.

Usually on a cruise ship, you aren’t able to go into the Bridge – and if you are it’s mostly just if you have paid to go on a tour.

The idea of just walking onto the Bridge and chatting to the Captain who is sailing the ship is something very special.

Find out more about that in the article below:

Can You Visit The Bridge on a Cruise Ship? – Real Experiences & Prices

I sat down in the comfortable chair and we were so close to the water. We weren’t moving so I couldn’t hear the sea, but as the cruise went on I’d often sit out here and listen to the waves. At night it was amazing, I could see all the stars.

There’s something very special about sitting there and looking out to at sea in every direction. Some people find that scary, but I find it very relaxing.

In front of the balcony door was a curtain and a big electric blind that came down when I pressed a button. You could look around the blind if it was down, which was good, as I like to have a look out in the morning, before opening the blind completely.

The blind was a very good blackout blind too, so there was never any light creeping in.

Our luggage soon arrived in our room and we started to unpack. There was a lot of storage in the cabin, with big drawers under the desk and two big wardrobe sections.

There was a great “bits and bobs” drawer too for all of the general stuff that you need when cruising – like hair bands and cables.

This is the first cabin I’ve ever seen with specific shoe storage racks. We definitely had more shoe storage space than shoes.

The safe was huge and could fit a laptop and more. It was top-loading and I think you’re less likely to accidentally leave something at the back if you can see it all.

Most safes are like just looking into a black hole – there could be anything in there !

Usually, I put my suitcase under the bed when I cruise, and as the cruise goes on I’ll put my dirty clothes into the suitcase.

I noticed that there were hard sides to the bed and I had read that our cabin steward would put our suitcases under there for us. My dad decided to put his under there himself because he’s a “DIY” kinda man, but I put mine in the wardrobe so I could keep putting my dirty clothes away. We had plenty of storage space to spare!

There was also a little sofa which I’d often lay on to catch up with my work, and a big chair over by the mirror.

Personally, I think it’s things like the giant mirror that really made the cabin feel luxurious, perhaps because mirrors aren’t cheap and they definitely aren’t easy to replace if they get broken.

Luckily nothing in our cabin, or the entire ship for that matter, was ever damaged and it all felt very new and sparkly.

Perhaps my favourite thing in the wardrobe – better than all of my own clothes – was the robe. These are provided in all of the cabins and they are HUGE, so soft and have a hood. Oh and pockets! What more could you ask for?

I was pretty impressed with the cabin visually but none of this was the thing that surprised me most, that was still to come.

Our cabin was cleaned twice a day and every single day of this cruise. I came back to a surprise here everyday, and sometimes a surprise twice a day!

Whenever I cruise I take our channel mascot Captain Hudson with me, he was created to raise money for a brilliant charity called “Mercy Ships” and this clever cat has raised over £28,000 for charity so far.

There are over 3000 of him in existence and usually, when he cruises he just sits and looks after the cabin.

On this cruise though every day when I came back to my room Captain Hudson had been up to something exciting.

One day I found him having a spa day, the next he was having afternoon tea with a friend and even reading a book in the evening.

I tried my best to create situations for my cabin steward to find too – but she was far more creative than me, I mean look at the little straw in the first picture – it has been cut down to size. Adorable!

I thought that this would be it for Captain Hudson’s adventures but I came back to even more on the last night of the cruise. More about that later. ..

Of course, even having amazing staff can’t fix every possible problem. I’m sure they would do almost anything, but there are some things that are out of their control like the weather.

I was worried about feeling bad movement due to the size of the ship and I definitely did feel that on this cruise. I was aware of the movement on about half the days – and one day things did get pretty rough.

I took my seasickness pills and felt fine but it definitely was like being on a rocky ocean ship.

I tried a new wristband that I had bought that’s meant to treat seasickness. It turns out that being electrocuted in the wrist really isn’t very pleasant. Sure, it distracts you from the seasickness, but at what cost?

Over by the door were two buttons that we would press if we wanted to not be disturbed, or if we wanted our cabin to be cleaned.

These would turn on lights outside the room so our cabin steward knew what we wanted. This was much better than the old-school paper signs, and the technology on the ship all worked well.

You’d hope that it would for a ship that was only a couple of years old, but even still, I’m always impressed by the little things like the nightlight in the bathroom that was on all the time.

It was red so it did make things look a little evil, but I appreciated it when using the bathroom at night.

We did find that the water would go everywhere after a shower because the shower was on the same level as the floor. There was no way you could put down the shower mat without it moving when you opened the door, releasing the water like a big wave everywhere.

I did find that a bit amusing because it’s a very common complaint on cruise ships that the whole bathroom gets wet after a shower. This just goes to show that even expensive yachts don’t always have this problem fixed.

Each night we also found a little chocolate on the pillow which was nice – but it wasn’t as nice as finding this surprise on my bed.

I came back one evening to find pictures of Captain Hudson and his adventures on the bridge, and in the kitchen – he even had a massage in the spa and I had no idea that he had left my cabin at all!

On the big cruise ships, you’ll usually find a crew-to-passenger ratio of around 3:1 or 2:1 if you are very lucky. On this ship, there were 76 crew members for 85 guests.

This meant that even toy cats were treated like royalty!

Emerald Azzurra does have a few oceanview cabins lower down and she has lots of bigger suites with huge balconies at the back.

There aren’t any inside cabins onboard. Most luxury ships don’t have any inside cabins.

Last year I did manage to find an inside cabin on a bigger luxury ship. When the price of the cruise dropped enough to come under my budget I decided to book it.

I really didn’t know how they could make an inside cabin luxurious, to find out how it was, and what I thought of the smallest bathroom I’ve ever had on a cruise ship, check out this video next:

Before You Go

A mainstream cruise line that says they offer a luxury experience is Celebrity. I was lucky enough to sail on the Celebrity Edge recently. Find out what I thought of her here:

Celebrity Edge Full Cruise Review (Food, Ship, Entertainment and More)

Celebrity Edge has a platform known as the Magic Carpet that sticks off the side of the ship. It is a bar, a restaurant, and is also lowered to be used as a tendering platform. Find out all about that here:

This Cruise Ship Has a Restaurant Sticking Off The Side! (Celebrity’s Magic Carpet)

Celebrity Edge has the controversial “Infinite Veranda” cabins instead of conventional balcony cabins. They have no actual outside space. Learn more about that here:

I Stayed in an Infinite Veranda Cabin on Celebrity Edge (Full Review, Balcony, Bathroom and More)

Free Insiders Cruise Line Guide

Ever wondered how the mainstream cruise lines compare? Cruise lines won’t tell you this, but I will.

This FREE guide shows you everything you need to know to find your perfect cruise line.

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• Emerald Cruises

Emerald Sakara

Former name: hull ew02.

Cruise line Emerald Yacht Cruises (Emerald Cruises)

• Bridgetown (Barbados)
• Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy)
• Marigot (St Martin Island France)
• Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice, France Riviera)
• Saint Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Emerald Sakara current position

Emerald Sakara current location is at Adriatic Sea (coordinates 44.11800 N / 15.21985 E) cruising en route to Zadar. The AIS position was reported 5 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Emerald Sakara

Emerald Sakara current cruise is 7 days, one-way from Dubrovnik to Venice . The itinerary starts on 17 Aug, 2024 and ends on 24 Aug, 2024 .

Specifications of Emerald Sakara

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Emerald Sakara Itineraries

Emerald Sakara Review

Review of emerald sakara.

The 2023-built Emerald Sakara cruise ship is a superyacht with max passenger capacity 100. This is the second of two newbuilds  in the Emerald Cruises fleet , as well as the company's second ocean-going vessel - with sisterships Azzurra (2022) and the larger Kaia (2026).

Sakara was constructed in Vietnam (by Halong Shipbuilding Company/HLS in Ha Long City ). HLS was contracted to build the hull and install all the yacht's machinery, while the interior fit-out was managed by a separate project team.

The vessel (IMO number 9948827) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311001261) and registered in  Nassau .

Inaugurated in August 2023 (postponed from February), Sakara is Emerald Cruises' 11th boat, having as fleetmates 9x riverboats and the sisterships Azzurra and Kaia.

The superyacht Emerald Sakara has max passenger capacity 100 (plus 76 crew/staff).

The vessel features a sleek, megayacht design (hull and superstructure), premium accommodations (ultra-modern hotel amenities), spacious restaurants, a large wellness complex (gym, infrared sauna, spa, massage rooms), two tender boats (used for passenger debarkation and embarkation in tender ports / without docking facilities), two Zodiacs (large-capacity motorized boats for coastal and inland expeditions), aft Marina platform (for launching watersports activities - swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, etc), a large infinity pool (with a stern-facing glass front), a dedicated pool deck (aft location, oval-shaped pool, sunbathing area with padded loungers, open-air Bar).

Emerald Sakara also carries its own electronic bikes (Gocycle brand) from the premium manufacturer Karbon Kinetics Ltd (2002-founded by Richard Thorpe/McLaren Cars design engineer).

Emerald Waterways is a new (2014-established) river cruise shipping company and brand owned by Scenic Group ( Scenic Tours Australia). Emerald Waterways riverboats are well-known as some of the best on the market newbuild ships with premium facilities and superb services provided by professionally trained staff and crew.

On February 1, 2020, Emerald Waterways introduced the new brand "Emerald Yacht Cruises". It officially started operations in 2022 (February) with the inauguration of the Azzurra superyacht, which was initially planned for July 2021.

The yacht's name (Sakara) is a Sanskrit word that means “thoughts become things”. Also similarly sounds Saqqara (Sakkara/Saccara) - the Egyptian kings' and royals' necropolis at Ancient Egypt's capital city Memphis/Menefer.

Decks and Cabins

Of all Emerald Sakara staterooms (50 total), 88% (44) are with a step-out balcony - excluding only Deck 3's Oceanviews (with windows).

Standard Balcony cabins are sized 29 m2 (310 ft2, including the veranda). The cabin balcony access is via floor-ceiling sliding glass doors. The veranda is furnished with two deckchairs and a small table.

The ship's largest passenger accommodations are the two Owner Suites (on Pool Deck 6) each sized 111 m2 (1195 ft2, including a large terrace). The smallest are the six Oceanview cabins (forward on Deck 3) each sized 19 m2 (205 ft2).

The boat has 7 decks , of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Two Lifts (midship Elevators) interconnect all decks.

All staterooms are with contemporary design, luxurious en-suite bathrooms (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, hairdryer, premium toiletries, bathrobes, slippers), twin beds (convertible to double / Queen-size, Egyptian cotton linens, quality pillows), bedside cabinets (with recessed lights), wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), mirrored writing desk (dressing table with chair), sofa, coffee table with chaise lounge chairs, mini-bar (refrigerator), phone, smart HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system / Internet, movies-on-demand), free Wi-Fi, individually controlled air-conditioning, bottled water (daily restocked), umbrella (used on land tours).

Bonus amenities (suite-only perks) include a walk-in closet, pillow menu, Welcome Gifts (bottle of champagne and fruit platter / upon arrival), mini-bar (daily restocked), coffee machine, tea-making facility, free laundry (2 items daily for Yacht Suites and Terrace, and 4 items daily for Owner Suites). Both Owner Suites additionally receive free room service (in-cabin dining) with served pre-dinner canapes and after-dinner sweets.

Shipboard facilities

The onboard food offering features local cuisine specialties (based on the visited ports along the current itinerary) and gourmet dishes (prepared with the freshest, locally sourced produce). The ship has 3 restaurants and 3 bars (lounges), including the pool deck's lounge. Breakfast and lunch buffets and a la carte dinners are served at Reflections Restaurant (full-capacity Dining Room on Deck 3).

Adjacent to the restaurant (aft) is The Terrace - an outdoor lounge that doubles as an alfresco dining venue (weather permitting). Onboard dining is complimentary and inclusive of beverages - soft drinks, beer and wine (by the glass) are waiter-served and free at all lunches and dinners.

Horizon Bar Lounge is the largest and serves as the main lounge. The Observation Lounge is a small indoor venue with bow-location (Deck 4).

On Pool Deck (deck 6) is located The Cafe (outdoor lounge served by its own bar).

Sky Bar (Deck 7) is an outdoor poolside bar that serves beverages and light snacks to Sky Deck's sundeck area (with Jacuzzi/spa pool).

On Wellness Deck (deck 2) are located the Medical Center (Infirmary served by a resident physician and nurses on 24-hour duty), Beauty Salon (hairdresser studio), Elements Spa, 3x Sauna Rooms (including an Infrared Sauna), and the Fitness (Gym Room fitted with professional training equipment. Aft is the Marina Deck (sundeck with seating) and the Marina Platform (for launching watersports activities) and the Garage (for watercraft and equipment). Also aft are stored the yacht's Tender Boats (3x) and the Zodiacs (2x).

Zodiacs are large-capacity, high-speed RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) used for coastal cruising, navigation on inland waterways and expedition landings.

Emerald Yacht Cruises Emerald Sakara's prices are inclusive of return flights (economy-class, from London Heathrow Airport), transfers (airport, and to/from the ship), port fees, airport taxes, all onboard meals, select drinks, onboard tipping (gratuities), shore excursions, enrichment program (lectures, media presentations, live performances), watersports (equipment and activities).

Ashore, passengers enjoy the complimentary EmeraldPLUS cultural program (professionally guided tours) and EmeraldACTIVE program (guided bicycle tours). Additionally, Emerald Yacht Cruises customers can book optional shore excursions (by the company's DiscoverMORE program) which come at extra cost.

Emerald Yacht Cruises sells fly-cruise deals which are ATOL-protected (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) and ABTA-protected (directly booked flights with non-ATOL airlines).

Itineraries

While certified for unrestricted passenger shipping operations in all regions (except polar), the yacht Emerald Sakara is custom-designed to navigate in warmer climates, like Southern Europe's Mediterranean (Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea), Red Sea (Arabia) and Indian Ocean (Seychelles), offering a unique superyacht cruising experience. The boat's smaller size (and water draft) allows it to visit ports that larger ships can't access.

Emerald Cruises' yachts offer seasonally (in spring and fall) cheap Transatlantic crossings between the Caribbean and Europe (RepositionCruises.com). Emerald Yacht Cruises also offers full ship charters for corporate and private clients.

Sakara's inaugural season was initially scheduled to start in February 2023, but was eventually postponed for August 2023.

• The boat's first voyage was scheduled to start on February 25, 2023. The 7-day "Tropical Charms of Seychelles" itinerary (roundtrip from Victoria, Mahe Island ) was planned to visit the islands Sainte-Anne , Cousin , Praslin , Grande-Soeur , Curieuse , La Digue and Aride .
• Bookings were opened on September 28, 2021.
• Sakara's 2021-announced inaugural 2023 season included a total of 32x Seychelles departures.

In Oct 2022 was announced that starting in November 2023, the boat would be deployed in the Caribbean with homeporting in St John's Antigua . The 7-night roundtrip from Antigua ("Eastern Caribbean and Grenadines Cruise" itinerary) visited Martinique (Saint-Pierre), St Vincent and The Grenadines ( Bequia/Port Elizabeth , Tobago Cays , Mayreau ), St Lucia ( Soufriere ) and Guadeloupe ( Terre-de-Haut ).

Sakara's inaugural season (2023) was entirely changed as the ship was deployed first in the Mediterranean (August through November) then in the Caribbean (Nov 2023 through March 2024).

The Maiden Voyage (Aug 5th) was a 7-day Mediterranean itinerary from Athens to Rome (Piraeus-Civitavecchia).

The first Transatlantic crossing started on Nov 7th (12-day from Lisbon to St John's Antigua) and is without any call ports.

The first Caribbean voyage departed on Nov 18th (6-day itinerary) from Antigua. The yacht also offers homeporting in/roundtrips leaving from San Juan Puerto Rico with the "West Indies Island Hopping Cruise" itinerary.

Inaugural cruise schedule (2023 Seychelles/canceled)

Next are listed the departure dates of Emerald Sakara's canceled program (2023) announced in 2021.

• (Feb 25, Mar 4, Mar 11, Mar 18) 10-day "Tropical Charms of the Seychelles" (roundtrip from Victoria-Mahe)
• (Apr 4) 11-day "Ancient Wonders of the Red Sea and Mythical Greece" (Jeddah Saudi Arabia to Piraeus-Athens Greece)
• (Apr 15) 7-day "Mediterranean Enchantment" (from Athens to Dubrovnik Croatia)
• (Apr 22, Aug 19, Oct 7) 7-day "Croatian Coast and the Best of the Adriatic" (from Dubrovnik to Venice Italy)
• (Apr 29, Aug 26, Oct 14) 7-day "Croatian Coast and the Best of the Adriatic" (from Venice to Dubrovnik)
• (May 6, Sept 2, Oct 21) 7-day "Highlights of Southern Italy" (from Dubrovnik to Civitavecchia-Rome)
• (May 13, Oct 28) 7-day "French and Italian Rivieras with Corsica" (from Rome to Nice France)
• (May 20) 7-day "French and Italian Rivieras with Corsica" (from Nice to Rome)
• (May 27, Sept 9) 7-day "Ionian Sea Adventure" (from Rome to Athens)
• (June 3, June 10, July 15, Sept 16, Sept 23) 7-day "Greek Islands and Turkish Coastlines" (roundtrip from Athens)
• (June 17) 14-day "Mykonos, Gallipoli and Essence of the Black Sea" (from Athens to Istanbul Turkey)
• (July 1) 14-day "Mykonos, Gallipoli and Essence of the Black Sea" (from Istanbul to Athens)
• (July 22, Sept 30) 7-day "Mediterranean Enchantment" (from Athens to Dubrovnik)
• (July 29) 7-day "Mediterranean Enchantment" (from Dubrovnik to Athens)
• (Aug 5) 7-day "Ionian Sea Adventure" (from Athens to Rome)
• (Aug 12) 7-day "Highlights of Southern Italy" (from Rome to Dubrovnik)
• (Oct 21) 17-day "Discover Western Mediterranean" (Dubrovnik to Lisbon)
• (Oct 28) 10-day "Charming Mediterranean" (Rome to Lisbon)
• (Oct 28) 7-day "French and Italian Rivieras with Corsica" (Rome to Nice)
• (Nov 7) 11-day "Ocean Voyage Lisbon to St. Johns" (Transatlantic relocation crossing/RepositionCruises.com)
• (Nov 18, Dec 16) 7-day "Eastern Caribbean and Grenadines" (roundtrip from Antigua/St Johns)
• (Nov 25, Dec 9, Dec 30) 7-day "Hidden Charms of the Caribbean" (Antigua roundtrip)
• (Nov 18, Dec 9, Dec 23) B2B/14-day "Discover the Caribbean in Depth" (Antigua roundtrip)
• (Dec 2) 7-day "West Indies Island Hopping" (roundtrip from San Juan Puerto Rico)

Photos of Emerald Sakara

Emerald Sakara ship related cruise news

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Emerald Cruises marked a significant maritime event with the official christening of their newest superyacht - Emerald Sakara, in a special ceremony...

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Kelly Craighead (CLIA's President and CEO/Cruise Lines International Association) has been selected to serve as the godmother of Emerald Sakara - the...

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•   show more news

Other Emerald Yacht Cruises cruise ships

• Emerald Azzurra
• Emerald Kaia

Emerald Sakara Wiki

In August 2020, Scenic Group (shipowner) contracted Viking Crew (part of the Dover UK -based Viking Maritime Group Ltd) as the vessel's crew managing company. Viking Crew is responsible for Scenic Cruises yachts' crew recruitment, management, deployment and placement, including officers and staff-crew from the onboard Engine, Hotel and Deck departments. Viking Crew was also contracted for the crew management of the superyachts Scenic Eclipse 1 (2019) and Scenic Eclipse 2 (2022).

Emerald Sakara's physical construction/assembly started with the keel-laying ceremony on October 27, 2021, held at Halong Shipyard ( Ha Long City, Vietnam ). The yacht was launched/floated out from drydock on April 25, 2023.

The vessel has volume 5175 GT-tons and DWT-Deadweight 1125 tons. The registered shipowner and management company is GMK CONSULTING LTD (2019-incorporated, Naxxar Malta-registered).

In April 2023 was announced that Emerald Sakara's godmother will be Kelly Craighead (President and CEO of CLIA/Cruise Lines International Association). Kelly Craighead is also the Vice Chair and Executive Director of CICF/Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation (1998-founded) which supports programs designed to improve the quality of life in communities often visited by cruise vessels.

The ship's first Masters were the captains Jonathan Edwards (who captained Emerald Azzurra in 2022) and James Griffith.

The christening ceremony was on December 9 (2023), held dockside in San Juan Puerto Rico , at Pier 4 East Cruise Terminal. The special event was led by the godmother Kelly Craighead and attended by Glen Moroney (Scenic Group's owner), Ken Muskat (Scenic Group's Managing Director USA), as well as travel agents, trade partners, international media representatives, and the embarking passengers.

The last set of sea trials was successfully conducted on July 2-3, 2023, and on July 6th (at 20:30 UTC) the ship left Vietnam (Halong Shipyard) on a relocation voyage (via Suez Canal ) to Europe. The relocation itinerary included bunkering stops (for supplies and fuel) in Port Klang Malaysia (July 12), and Suez Canal transit (July 28-29), arriving in Piraeus-Athens on July 31st.

Inaugural itineraries 2023

Next are listed Emerald Sakara's inaugural cruise itineraries by homeports and destinations/regions.

(MAIDEN VOYAGE) 7-day "Ionian Sea Adventure" itinerary from Athens to Rome

(homeporting in Athens) 7-day "Greek Islands and Turkish Coastline" itinerary

(inaugural Caribbean voyage) 7-day "Eastern Caribbean and Grenadines Cruise" itinerary

(inaugural) 7-day "Hidden Charms of the Caribbean Cruise" itinerary

(inaugural) 7-day "West Indies Island Hopping Cruise" itinerary

The 7-day itineraries "Hidden Charms of the Caribbean" and "Eastern Caribbean and Grenadines" are combinable into the 14-day B2B/back-to-back cruise "Discover the Caribbean in Depth".

Emerald Cruises Unveils 2025 Caribbean Yacht Itineraries

• August 20, 2024

Emerald Cruises has announced the launch of three new Caribbean itineraries for early 2025, according to a press release.

These new routes will be available on the company’s ships, the Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara.

The first itinerary, Caribbean Yachting Discovery, is an eight-day journey starting in St. John’s, Antigua, and concluding in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This route will take guests through some of the Caribbean’s lesser-known destinations, including Barbuda’s, Îles des Saintes and Guadeloupe.

The cruise also includes a stop at Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands.

Pricing starts at £4,369 per person and the first departure is set for Feb. 8, 2025.

Another offering, the Cruising the Leeward Islands itinerary, departs from Marigot, Saint Martin, on February 22, 2025. Over eight days, passengers will visit destinations like Anguilla, Virgin Gorda and Anegada.

The journey features a variety of activities, including exploring natural beach grottoes and a special beach BBQ with live entertainment on Anegada, the company said in a statement. The itinerary is priced from £4,853 per person.

The third itinerary, Eastern Caribbean with St. Barths, offers an eight-day cruise exploring the eastern Caribbean’s highlights. Departing on February 1, 2025, this route includes visits Gustavia, Nelson’s Dockyard in Falmouth Harbour and St. Lucia.

Prices for this itinerary start at £4,388 per person.

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I Cruised the Croatian Coast on a Ship With Just 38 Passengers — Here’s What It Was Like

The small, ultra-luxe 'MV Memories' was the best introduction to Croatia.

The Staterooms

• Bars & Restaurants
• Amenities & Entertainment

Cruise Itineraries

Shore excursions, family-friendly offerings.

Courtesy of Unforgettable Travel Company

Floating in the clear Adriatic near an uninhabited island off Croatia’s coast, I marveled as the sea changed hues from deep blue to turquoise and emerald as it reached the rocky shore. Our daily swimming stops quickly became my favorite part of the cruise, although I also loved arriving at different cities where we could just walk into the town or along the promenade that seemed to be a feature of each harbor. My contemplation of the Adriatic’s color was interrupted by laughter as one of my fellow cruisers gamely struggled once again to stand on his paddleboard, wobbled, and splashed into the sea.

Every morning aboard MV Memories , the captain found a secluded cove for the perfect swim; the Adriatic was cool enough to refresh without feeling chilly for more than the first few seconds. This delightful routine led to our three-course lunch, afternoon cruise time, and arrival at the next port. In some cities, there was a walking tour before we had the late afternoon and evening on our own for exploring and dinner.

Patricia Doherty/Travel + Leisure

Thirty-eight strangers quickly became friends as we mingled at breakfast and lunch tables, learning our fellow travelers’ names and where they were from. We were blessed with sunny, warm weather every day, so afternoons could be spent sunbathing on the upper deck, reading a book, napping on a cushioned lounge, or enjoying a cold gin and tonic in the shade (my choice most days). Arriving at a new city each day was exciting, as medieval towers, ancient city walls, and historic buildings greeted us. Walking tours provided background and an introduction to most of the cities, and then we were on our own for dinner and the evening. How cool it was to stay out late and then just walk back to the waiting ship for the night.

MV Memories instantly became a comfortable and welcoming home-away-from-home for the week, whether in our well-appointed cabin, on the sun deck, or relaxing in a shaded lounge chair. "The vessels we operate were built in 2021, and we’re proud to have the youngest fleet of ships in Croatia. This really enhances the cruising experience for guests as the staterooms they rest their heads in, the dining areas they eat in, and the expansive lounge and sundeck areas around the ship all feel new and modern, like a luxury boutique hotel," Graham Carter, chief commercial officer at Unforgettable Travel Company, told Travel + Leisure.

"Unforgettable specializes in balcony ships, and most of our vessels have upper deck cabins with private balconies, so our guests can relax and watch the islands go by from the comfort of their balcony," Carter added. "We also operate the longest vessels in Croatia, which stand at 170 feet, compared to most vessels in Croatia, which are around 150 feet. This additional space means our cabins are slightly larger than most.”

Dreamer4787/Getty Images/Courtesy of Unforgettable Travel Company

Carter pointed out another advantage of the ship’s size: "The benefit of exploring the Croatian coast on a small vessel like ours is the ability to get into smaller hidden destinations off limits to bigger ships or even yachts. As our vessels are all registered in Croatia, we can dock directly in smaller ports overnight, giving our guests the ability to enjoy excursions and dinner on shore each evening without the rush of having to get back to the ship before it leaves."

Every detail during the week felt both luxurious and comfortably casual at the same time. Each day offered surprises — like an unexpected pizza party one late afternoon — along with what quickly became familiar. Alex and Vlada, our hosts, made everyone feel welcome and pampered, and, like the other guests, felt like old friends by the end of the cruise — which came way too soon. I wholeheartedly agree with Carter’s comment: “We find that guests board as complete strangers, and by the captain’s dinner at the end of the week, it’s like a happy family where everyone knows one another, and they’re swapping phone numbers on the last day.”

Here are more details about our seven-night cruise along the coast of Croatia aboard MV Memories .

MV Memories

• All 19 cabins feature spacious storage, terry cloth robes, showers with great water pressure, convenient charging ports, individual air conditioning controls, and either balconies (11 upper deck) or portholes (eight lower deck).
• For our daily dips in the Adriatic, the main deck platform with two ladders made it easy to dive in and climb out. There were also paddleboards, styrofoam floats, kayaks, and a jet ski for a fun ride with one of the crew.
• The breakfast buffet included fresh fruit, juices, baked goods, eggs, vegetables, meats, pancakes, and a menu offering individually prepared dishes, plus brewed coffee and delicious cappuccino from an excellent (all-day) coffee machine. 
• The two hosts who served breakfast, lunch, and our special dinners, as well as all day and evening cocktails, were excellent, and their hospitality and friendly, professional style created the perfect atmosphere.
• Our Cruise Director was personable, organized, and fun, keeping everyone informed about plans and joining our group for the walking tours and bus trips.

The 19 staterooms each measure between 161 and 183 square feet of efficiently used space. They have a desk, nightstand with two drawers, twin or full beds, spacious closet, small sofa, safe deposit box, life jackets, and a window (or porthole on the lower deck). The bathrooms have a shower, sink, hair dryer, and toilet, and each cabin has individually controlled air conditioning. Free, dependable Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.

Nearly identical in design, the MV Bellissima and MV Memories , Unforgettable Travel’s Croatia Signature cruise ships, were launched in 2021. They feature state-of-the-art technology and modern design details. MV Memories offers one Superior VIP Deck Cabin and 10 VIP private balcony cabins. MV Bellissima features 11 VIP private balcony cabins; both ships have eight lower deck porthole cabins.

Bars & Restaurants

A buffet breakfast is served daily in the main dining room from 8 until 9:30 a.m.; coffee and tea are available from 7 a.m. There’s a daily three-course lunch with a delicious soup, salad, or risotto starter, main course, and dessert. Two dinners — the welcome dinner and captain’s dinner — are provided, and wine is offered along with meals. A full bar with a lounge area is on the main deck; on the sun deck, there’s a large bar in the shaded area. Dining is informal, with no dress code. Alex, our head bartender, hosted a wine and olive oil tasting aboard the ship one afternoon.

Amenities & Entertainment

During cruising — or anytime on the ship — guests can find lounge chairs, a jacuzzi, and shaded and sunny areas on the upper deck. The main deck features the restaurant and a covered outdoor lounge with sofas. The ships offer many places for sunbathing, quiet time, or gatherings. Board games, playing cards, and novelty games are available for guests.

From May to October, the ships cruise between Split and Dubrovnik with adults-only, seven-night cruises.

Several shore excursions took guests inland from the Adriatic coast to see more of Croatia. We traveled on plush, air-conditioned buses to Krka Waterfalls National Park, the Blue Cave on the Island of Bisevo, Mljet National Park, a winery, and an oyster farm in Ston. In addition, walking tours were offered in Split, Hvar, Old Town Korcula, and Dubrovnik. Tour guides were professional, informative, and entertaining.

The Signature Croatia Cruises are adults only; guests must be at least 18.

Unforgettable Travel Company offers seven-night cruises for $2,295 per person, including breakfast, lunch, private transfers, all excursions, and Wi-Fi. Flights are not included. For further information on 2025 departures, visit https://unforgettabletravel.com/ or call +1-844-879-7838. 

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