March 9 marked the official merge of Emerald Waterways and Emerald Yacht Cruises under a single brand, Emerald Cruises.
The new Emerald Cruises brand will feature yacht and river cruising via its new website EmeraldCruises.com. Travelers can now visit the singular site to research based on their preferences for travel type or destination, check availability, compare ships, and book their yacht or river cruise online.
Since its launch nearly 7 years ago, Emerald Waterways has seen steady growth. In 2013, Australia-based Scenic Group revealed they would be launching a new, premium river cruise line that is aimed at younger, active travelers and packaged for exceptional flexibility and value, filling a gap in the river cruise market.
In April 2014 Emerald Waterways was born with the launch of 2 new riverboats - Emerald Star and Emerald Sky. Currently, the line sails 8 branded "Star-Ship" vessels on rivers across 15 different countries and 2 continents, with its 9th ship, Emerald Luna, scheduled for inauguration in summer 2021.
In early-2020, the cruise line announced it is adding intimate yacht cruising to its portfolio with the 100-passenger, 5-star luxury superyacht, Emerald Azzurra. Scheduled to launch in January 2022, Emerald Azzurra is expected to sail the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Red, Adriatic, and Aegean Seas. In 2023, the Black Sea is to be added to her schedule.