Emerald Kaia

The 2026-built Emerald Kaia cruise ship (currently under construction) is a superyacht with a maximum passenger capacity of 128. She is the third newbuild in the Emerald Cruises fleet.

Kaia is the company’s third ocean-going yacht, joining her sisterships Raiya (2027) and Xara (2028), as well as the smaller sisters Azzurra (2022) and Sakara (2023).

Like her sisters, Kaia is being built in Vietnam by Halong Shipbuilding Company (HLS, Ha Long City). HLS is responsible for the hull construction and machinery installation, while the interior fit-out is handled by a separate project team.

The vessel (IMO 1031446) will sail under the Bahamas flag (MMSI tba), registered in Nassau.

Scheduled for inauguration in May 2026, Kaia will be Emerald Cruises’ 12th vessel.

The superyacht Emerald Kaia accommodates up to 128 passengers and 92 crew/staff. Her design features a sleek, megayacht-style hull and superstructure, premium staterooms with ultra-modern amenities, spacious restaurants, and a large wellness complex (gym, infrared sauna, spa, massage rooms). She carries two tender boats (for operations in ports without docking facilities), two Zodiacs (large-capacity RIBs for expeditions), and has an aft Marina Platform for watersports (swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, etc). Highlights also include a large infinity pool (Aqua Pool with stern-facing glass front), a Pool Deck with an infinity-style spa pool, sundeck with padded loungers, and an open-air bar.

Emerald Kaia also carries her own fleet of Gocycle electronic bikes, manufactured by Karbon Kinetics Ltd (founded in 2002 by Richard Thorpe, former McLaren Cars design engineer).

Emerald Waterways, established in 2014, is a river cruise brand owned by Scenic Group (Scenic Tours, Australia). The brand is recognized for its modern riverboats offering premium facilities and excellent service.

On February 1, 2020, Emerald Waterways launched "Emerald Yacht Cruises," officially starting operations in February 2022 with the inauguration of the Azzurra superyacht (initially scheduled for July 2021).

The yacht’s name “Kaia” is of Scandinavian origin, meaning “pure.” The word also has roots in Hebrew, Greek, Japanese, and Hawaiian languages, with the same meaning.

Decks and Cabins

Of all Emerald Kaia staterooms (64 total), 88% (56) feature private step-out balconies, excluding only Deck 3’s oceanview cabins (with windows).

Standard Balcony cabins measure 32 m2 (345 ft2, including veranda). Balconies are accessed through floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and are furnished with two deckchairs and a small table.

The largest accommodations are the two Owner Suites (Pool Deck 6), each measuring 131 m2 (1410 ft2, including terrace).

Next in size are four aft-facing suites with wraparound balconies: two Yacht Suites (82 m2/880 ft2, on Observation Deck 4) and two Terrace Suites (77 m2/830 ft2, on Panorama Deck 5).

The smallest are the eight Oceanview cabins (forward on Deck 3), sized 21-23 m2 (225-245 ft2).

The yacht has seven decks, six of which are passenger-accessible, with accommodations on four decks. Two midship elevators interconnect all decks.

All staterooms are designed with a modern, luxurious style, offering en-suite bathrooms (WC, shower, vanity, hairdryer, premium toiletries, bathrobes, slippers), twin beds convertible to Queen-size, Egyptian cotton linens, wardrobe, safe, writing desk with chair, sofa, coffee table, mini-bar, phone, smart HDTV, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, bottled water (replenished daily), and an umbrella for shore tours.

Suite-only perks include walk-in closets, pillow menus, welcome gifts (champagne and fruit platter), daily restocked mini-bars, coffee machines, tea-making facilities, and free laundry (2 items daily for Yacht/Terrace Suites, 4 items daily for Owner Suites). Owner and Terrace Suites also enjoy complimentary room service with served canapés and sweets.

Shipboard Facilities

Dining highlights include local specialties and gourmet cuisine made with fresh, locally sourced produce. The yacht has four dining venues (La Cucina Dining, La Cucina Terrace, Night Market Grill, Aqua Café) and three bars/lounges (Aqua Café, Amici Lounge, Marina Lounge). Meals are inclusive, with complimentary soft drinks, beer, and wine by the glass served at lunch and dinner.

Main restaurant La Cucina (aft on Deck 3) is complemented by La Cucina Terrace (alfresco dining, open kitchen), Night Market Grill (Asian cuisine private dining room, 8-seat capacity), the Boutique Shop, Lobby/Reception, and Amici Bar & Lounge (main entertainment venue, forward). Aqua Café (Deck 6 aft) offers an outdoor lounge and bar, while Sky Bar (Deck 7) serves the sundeck with its infinity spa pool, loungers, and private cabanas.

On Wellness Deck 2 are the Medical Center (24-hour doctor and nurses), Beauty Salon, Elements Spa (three massage rooms), three saunas (including infrared), a Salt Therapy Lounge, a cold water Hydrotherapy Pool, and the Fitness Center (indoor/outdoor gym with opening hull door and professional equipment). Aft is the Marina Deck (sundeck with padded seating), retractable Marina Platform (for watersports), and Garage (for watercraft and equipment). Also aft are the yacht’s 3 tender boats and 2 Zodiacs (high-speed RIBs for coastal cruising, inland waterways, and expedition landings).

Two lifeboats are mounted port and starboard midship on Deck 5.

Emerald Yacht Cruises prices are inclusive of return flights (economy-class, London Heathrow), transfers, port fees, taxes, onboard meals, select drinks, gratuities, shore excursions, enrichment programs (lectures, performances), and watersports.

Ashore, guests enjoy the complimentary EmeraldPLUS cultural program and EmeraldACTIVE guided bike tours. Additional excursions are available through the DiscoverMORE program (extra cost).

Emerald Yacht Cruises’ fly-cruise packages are ATOL- and ABTA-protected.

Compared to Azzurra and Sakara, Kaia is ~10% larger (10 m/33 ft longer, with higher capacity and tonnage). This allowed for expanded venues, redesigned facilities, a larger Sky Deck (510+ m2/5500+ ft2 with Sky Bar, spa pool, sunbathing, cabanas), more staterooms, and ~10% larger cabins. New features include a forward Observation Sun Deck (with a spa pool and private cabanas) and an enhanced Marina Deck (with lounge, open-air gym, and expanded watersports platform).

Itineraries

Although certified for worldwide operations (except polar regions), Emerald Kaia is designed for warm-climate cruising in the Mediterranean (Adriatic, Aegean), Red Sea, and Indian Ocean (Seychelles). Her smaller size and shallow draft allow access to ports unavailable to larger ships.

Emerald Cruises also offers seasonal (spring and fall) Transatlantic crossings between the Caribbean and Europe, as well as full-ship charters for private and corporate clients.

Kaia’s inaugural season begins April 4, 2026, with the date being rescheduled from May 6th. The original 15-day maiden voyage, “Discover the Best of the Croatian Coast,” was a roundtrip from Dubrovnik. The itinerary included overnight stays in Dubrovnik, Split, Venice, and Hvar, plus calls to Zadar, Opatija, Piran, Rovinj, Sibenik, Trogir, Vis, and Korcula.

The 2026 program was first announced in April 2024, and offered eight voyages. Bookings opened April 10th (for loyalty members) and April 22nd (for the public). All sailings followed the 14-night/15-day “Discover the Best of the Croatian Coast” itinerary, departing roundtrip from Dubrovnik (May 2, Aug 8, Aug 22, Sep 26) or Venice (Jun 20, Aug 1, Aug 15).

The new Maiden Voyage April 4th) is a 10-night/11-day Aegean Sea itinerary (titled "Cyprus to the Acropolis") from Limassol (Cyprus) to Piraeus-Athens (Greece).

In August 2020, Scenic Group (shipowner) contracted Viking Crew (part of the Dover, UK-based Viking Maritime Group Ltd) as the vessel’s crew management company. Viking Crew is responsible for Scenic Cruises’ yacht crew recruitment, management, deployment, and placement, covering officers and staff across the Engine, Hotel, and Deck departments. Viking Crew also manages the crews of the superyachts Scenic Eclipse 1 (2019) and Scenic Eclipse 2 (2022).

The vessel has a volume of 5755 GT and a deadweight of 1230 tons. The registered shipowner and management company is GMK CONSULTING LTD (incorporated in 2019, Naxxar, Malta).

Emerald Kaia’s hull construction began with the steel-cutting ceremony on August 22, 2024, at Halong Shipyard (Ha Long City, Vietnam). The ceremony was attended by Nguyen Tuan Anh (General Director of Halong Shipbuilding Yard) and Ivo Skelin (Scenic Group Asia’s General Manager of Nautical and Technical Operations).

Physical construction started with the keel-laying ceremony on December 27, 2024. The event was attended by Glen Moroney (Scenic Group’s Founder and Chairman) and the team of MKM Yachts Ltd, Scenic’s subsidiary specializing in the construction of luxury cruise ships, polar-class vessels, and superyachts in Croatia.

Emerald Kaia is scheduled for completion and delivery in April 2026.