Emerald Astra

The 2026-built MS Emerald Astra cruise ship is a newbuild riverboat constructed in Hardinxveld-Giessendam (Holland). Astra is Emerald Waterways’ 10th Star-Ship, with sisterships Emerald Star, Emerald Sky, Emerald Sun, Emerald Dawn, Emerald Destiny, and Emerald Luna.

Emerald Astra cruises on the rivers Rhine, Main, and Danube.

Emerald Waterways, established in 2014, is a new river cruise line owned by Scenic Tours. Like the Viking River Cruises Longships, Emerald Waterways vessels incorporate innovative design features, positioning them as an attractive alternative to small-ship ocean cruising. The line expands itinerary and departure options for travelers seeking all-inclusive European luxury riverboat vacations.

Cabins

Most of Emerald Astra’s staterooms are fitted with drop-down windows that convert the seating area into an indoor balcony space.

The ship has 91 staterooms in 8 categories, accommodating 180 guests served by 52 crew members.

All cabins, except the single-occupancy ES (Emerald Single Stateroom), are designed for double occupancy (maximum 2 guests per cabin).

Seventy-five percent of all accommodations are Balcony Suites (with indoor or step-out verandas).

All staterooms feature standard complimentary amenities: queen beds (convertible to twins, except Single cabins with one bed), bedside tables, mirrored bed panels, private en-suite bathroom (WC, sink, shower cubicle, mirrored cupboards, mirror above the basin, clothesline, luxury bath products including shampoo, soap, conditioner, body lotion), walk-in closet (large wardrobe with hangers), personal safe, direct-dial phone, flat HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, on-demand movies, and “View From the Bridge” real-time webcam views), mini-bar (stocked with beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks / all at extra cost, except in Owner’s Suites), individual climate control, 220V power outlets, umbrella, shoe cleaner, and two sets of earplugs.

Shipboard facilities

MS Emerald Astra has 4 passenger decks (3 with cabins), Horizon Bar Lounge with outdoor Terrace seating (Deck 3 forward), Reflections Restaurant (Deck 2 forward), aft Deck 3 indoor swimming pool/night cinema (with retractable roof), wellness facilities (Gym, Spa, Beauty Salon, massage room), and a Sun Deck featuring the Wheelhouse, games area (giant Tic-Tac-Toe, 3-hole Mini-Golf Putting Green), Walking Track, Sky Barbecue, shaded seating, and passenger-use bicycles.

A passenger elevator connects all cabin decks.

The ship has two restaurants (Reflections/MDR and The Terrace/alfresco) and two bars: Sky Bar (on the sundeck) and Horizon Bar & Lounge. The Horizon Lounge also offers casual lunches with hot entrees, cold cuts, soups, and a salad bar.

The Reflections Restaurant, the main dining venue, offers open seating with table service. It also has a buffet station at dinner and an omelet station at breakfast.

The Terrace is an informal alfresco dining space for breakfast and lunch.

The Horizon Lounge, with floor-to-ceiling windows, doubles as a casual lunch venue.

Weather permitting, special buffet lunches and dinners are occasionally hosted outdoors.

The most innovative feature is the aft dual-purpose space, which serves as a heated indoor pool with retractable roof by day and transforms into a cinema by night, screening classic films and recent releases.

Itineraries

Emerald Astra’s inaugural cruise program starts with the Maiden Voyage on May 3, 2026, and features the following itineraries:

11-day “Rhine Castles and Moselle Vineyards” from Basel to Amsterdam (Moselle-Rhine)

14-day “Rhine Castles and Moselle Vineyards and Lucerne-Zurich” cruisetour from Amsterdam to Zurich

8-day “The Majestic Rhine” from Basel to Frankfurt (Rhine-Main)

15-day “Splendours of Europe” from Amsterdam to Budapest (Rhine-Main-Danube)

Note: CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats can be found in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.

The vessel’s construction (hull and superstructure, ENI number tba) was carried out at the Vahali Shipyard in Zasavica (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). The Dutch shipbuilding company Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek Vahali BV, founded in 1923, owns and operates shipyards in Serbia (Belgrade and Zasavica) as well as in the Netherlands (Gendt). Vahali Shipyard Zasavica was officially opened in 2013. After construction in Serbia, the vessel was towed to the Netherlands for final outfitting at Scheepswerf Vahali in Gendt.

Note: CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats can be found in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.