Emerald Cruises marked a significant maritime event with the official christening of their newest superyacht - Emerald Sakara, in a special ceremony held at San Juan Puerto Rico.
Kelly Craighead, President and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), presided over the christening at the Port of San Juan’s Pier 4 East terminal. Reflecting on the event, Craighead remarked that the dedication of Emerald Sakara was extraordinary, and she was honored to be an ambassador for the entire CLIA team in the esteemed maritime tradition of godmother.
"The stunning luxury of Emerald Sakara, complemented by Emerald Cruises’ commitment to environmentally responsible tourism, exemplifies CLIA’s advocacy for sustainable tourism and preservation of cruise destinations around the world for future generations.”
The ceremony, attended by Glen Moroney, owner of Emerald Cruises’ parent company Scenic Group, and Ken Muskat, Scenic Group managing director for the USA, drew travel agents, trade partners, embarking cruise guests, and media from around the world. The traditional champagne bottle breaking took place onboard the vessel, accompanied by music performed by a local cultural band.
Glen Moroney highlighted the unique approach of Emerald Cruises in the cruise industry, emphasizing their involvement in every aspect of shipbuilding, from concept and design to engineering and crew employment. Moroney expressed his satisfaction with having Kelly as the godmother of Emerald Sakara, praising her can-do attitude and leadership at CLIA during the industry's recent challenges.
Emerald Sakara embarked on her maiden voyage from Piraeus-Athens Greece to Civitavecchia-Rome Italy, in August 2023.
Sakara will join the sistership Emerald Azzurra for the winter 2023-2024 season, both being deployed in the Caribbean and Central America.