Emerald Cruises & Tours has introduced its new superyacht Emerald Kaia following a successful passage through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, after which the vessel commenced her inaugural voyage from Limassol, Cyprus. The launch comes shortly after the completion of river trials for Emerald Astra, a new Emerald Star-Ship scheduled to join the fleet on the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers in May 2026.
The company’s founder and chairman, Glen Moroney, indicated that the commissioning of Emerald Kaia and the forthcoming debut of Emerald Astra represented key milestones for Scenic Group as it marked four decades in the travel industry. He noted that the group’s practice of designing, building, and operating its own vessels continued to support innovation across both luxury yacht and river cruising, while maintaining a focus on engineering standards and the overall guest experience.
Designed for approximately 128 guests, Emerald Kaia reflects the brand’s approach to small-ship cruising, combining the atmosphere of a private yacht with contemporary design and expanded onboard amenities. Public areas and suites incorporate curated artworks and bespoke interior finishes, while outdoor decks and lounge spaces have been arranged to strengthen the connection between guests and the surrounding coastline.
According to James Griffiths, General Manager of Oceans Operations for Scenic Group, the vessel represents the next stage in the evolution of Emerald Yacht Cruises. He explained that the design introduces additional space, expanded wellness facilities, and new dining concepts intended to maintain the intimate and relaxed character associated with the brand’s yacht operations. The arrival of the first guests on board was described as confirmation that the development of the new vessel had achieved its intended objectives.
Dining facilities aboard Emerald Kaia include several newly designed venues. The signature restaurant, La Cucina, incorporates an open-plan kitchen concept intended to allow closer interaction between guests and the culinary team, while offering both indoor and outdoor seating. The Soleá Bar & Bistro, positioned beside the Vitality Pool, provides Mediterranean-inspired cuisine throughout the day with panoramic sea views. A smaller venue, the Night Market Grill, has been designed as a private dining space for up to eight guests, featuring menus inspired by Asian market cuisine.
Wellness facilities form a central feature of the yacht’s design. The Wellness Deck includes salt therapy lounges, a cold-plunge pool, and a spa offering a range of treatments, alongside adjacent fitness areas and a marina platform that allows direct access to the sea.
Accommodation on board consists of suites with floor-to-ceiling windows intended to maximise natural light and views. Interconnecting suites have also been introduced, providing greater flexibility for families and groups while maintaining private living spaces.
Following her inaugural sailing, Emerald Kaia will spend the Mediterranean summers of 2026 and 2027 operating itineraries across the Adriatic Sea, including voyages between Venice and Dubrovnik. During the winter season the yacht will reposition to the Indian Ocean, where she will operate cruises in the Seychelles between December 2026 and March 2027.
These voyages will range from 8 to 20 days and include the company’s Safari & Seychelles itinerary, which combines cruising in the Seychelles with land-based safaris in Kenya’s Masai Mara, Samburu Game Reserve, and Lake Nakuru National Park. The popularity of this programme has already led to the addition of further departure dates.
Emerald Kaia will eventually be joined by two additional sister yachts, Emerald Raiya in 2027 and Emerald Xara in 2028, expanding the Emerald Yacht Cruises fleet to 5 vessels alongside Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara.