Emerald Raiya

The 2027-built Emerald Raiya cruise ship (currently under construction) is a superyacht with a maximum passenger capacity of 128. She is the fourth newbuild in the Emerald Cruises fleet.

Raiya is the company’s fourth ocean-going vessel, joining her sisterships Kaia (2026) and Xara (2028), as well as the smaller-sized Azzurra (2022) and Sakara (2023).

Like her sisterships, Raiya is being built in Vietnam by Halong Shipbuilding Company (HLS) in Ha Long City. HLS was contracted to construct the hull and install the machinery, while a separate project team is responsible for the interior fit-out.

The vessel (IMO number tba) will sail under the Bahamas flag (MMSI tba) and be registered in Nassau.

Set to be inaugurated in December 2027, Raiya will be Emerald Cruises’ 14th vessel.

The superyacht Emerald Raiya accommodates up to 128 passengers and 92 crew/staff.

Her design is sleek and megayacht-like, featuring premium accommodations with ultra-modern amenities, spacious restaurants, a large wellness complex (gym, infrared sauna, spa, massage rooms), two tender boats for embarkation and debarkation in ports without docking facilities, two Zodiacs for coastal and inland expeditions, an aft Marina platform for watersports (swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, etc.), a large infinity pool with a stern-facing glass wall, and a dedicated pool deck with an oval spa pool, sun loungers, and an open-air bar.

Emerald Raiya also carries her own electronic bikes (Gocycle brand) from Karbon Kinetics Ltd (founded in 2002 by Richard Thorpe, a former McLaren Cars design engineer).

Emerald Waterways, established in 2014, is a river cruise company owned by Scenic Group (Scenic Tours Australia). Its riverboats are well-regarded as modern newbuilds with premium facilities and outstanding service.

On February 1, 2020, Emerald Waterways introduced the new brand "Emerald Yacht Cruises," which officially launched operations in February 2022 with the debut of the Azzurra superyacht (originally scheduled for July 2021).

The yacht’s name, Raiya, has Arabic and Japanese origins, meaning Gratitude, Thunder, and also Property, Treasure, Fragrance, Breeze, and Blessed by the Supreme.

Decks and Cabins

Emerald Raiya offers 64 staterooms, 88% (56) of which have private step-out balconies, excluding only the Oceanview cabins on Deck 3.

Standard Balcony cabins measure 32 m2 (345 ft2, including veranda), with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors leading to a furnished veranda with two chairs and a small table.

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

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

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

The ship has 7 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 4 contain cabins.

Two midship elevators connect all decks.

All staterooms feature a contemporary design, luxurious en-suite bathrooms (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, hairdryer, premium toiletries, bathrobes, slippers), convertible twin-to-queen beds with Egyptian cotton linens, bedside cabinets with recessed lights, wardrobes, electronic safes, mirrored writing desks with chairs, sofas, coffee tables, minibars, phones, smart HDTVs with infotainment and Internet, free Wi-Fi, individually controlled air-conditioning, bottled water (restocked daily), and umbrellas for land tours.

Suite-only perks include a walk-in closet, pillow menu, welcome gifts (champagne and fruit platter upon arrival), a daily restocked minibar, coffee machine, tea-making facilities, and free laundry (2 items daily for Yacht and Terrace Suites, 4 items daily for Owner Suites). Owner and Terrace Suites also enjoy complimentary room service with pre-dinner canapés and after-dinner sweets.

Shipboard Facilities

The dining program combines local cuisine specialties from visited ports with gourmet dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The ship has four dining venues (La Cucina Dining, La Cucina Terrace, Night Market Grill, Aqua Cafe) and three bars/lounges (Aqua Cafe, Amici Lounge, Marina Lounge). Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style, while dinner is a la carte at La Cucina Restaurant (aft on Deck 3).

La Cucina Terrace, adjacent to the Dining Room, offers alfresco dining (weather permitting) and an open kitchen concept. Midship are the Night Market Grill (Asian private dining, 8 seats), Boutique Shop, and Lobby/Reception. Forward is Amici Bar & Lounge, the ship’s main entertainment venue.

Dining is all-inclusive, with complimentary soft drinks, beer, and wine (by the glass) at all meals.

Amici Bar Lounge is the main social hub, while the Observation Lounge (Deck 4, bow) is a more intimate indoor space. Aft on Pool Deck 6 is Aqua Cafe, an outdoor lounge with its own bar.

Sky Deck 7 hosts the Sky Bar, an outdoor poolside venue offering beverages and light snacks, surrounded by a spa pool, sun loungers, sofas, chairs, and three private cabanas for rent.

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 Panorama Deck 5.

Emerald Raiya cruise fares include return economy flights (from London Heathrow), transfers, port fees, airport taxes, onboard meals, select drinks, gratuities, shore excursions, enrichment programs, and watersports equipment and activities.

Ashore, passengers benefit from the complimentary EmeraldPLUS cultural program and EmeraldACTIVE guided tours, with optional DiscoverMORE excursions available at extra cost. Packages are ATOL- and ABTA-protected.

Compared to Azzurra and Sakara, Raiya is about 10% larger (10 m/33 ft longer, higher tonnage and capacity), allowing expanded venues and redesigned facilities. The Sky Deck (510+ m2/5500+ ft2) now features the Sky Bar, spa pool, sunbathing areas, and private cabanas. Passenger cabins are ~10% larger on average.

The bow Observation Deck (Deck 4) now has an outdoor sundeck with a spa pool and cushioned furniture. The Marina Deck features an expanded sundeck with luxury loungers, a Marina Lounge, an open-air gym, and more watersport activities launched from the retractable platform.

Itineraries

Certified for unrestricted operations in all regions except polar areas, Emerald Raiya is designed for warm climates such as the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean. Her size and shallow draft allow her to access ports unavailable to larger ships.

Emerald Cruises offers seasonal Transatlantic repositioning voyages between the Caribbean and Europe, as well as full ship charters for corporate and private clients.

Raiya’s inaugural season was initially scheduled to start with the Maiden Voyage on April 8th, 2027, from Valletta to Athens. The first season features Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean itineraries from Piraeus-Athens, visiting ports in Greece and Turkey. However, in Aug 2025, the inaugural cruise date was postponed to June 19th (8-day "Greek Islands & Turkish Coastlines" itinerary).

Her winter deployment (Dec 2027–Mar 2028) is in the Seychelles (roundtrip from Victoria, Mahe), followed by summer 2028 deployment in the Red Sea from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Bookings for Emerald Raiya cruises opened in June 2025.

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 the recruitment, management, deployment, and placement of Scenic Cruises’ yacht crews, including officers and staff from the Engine, Hotel, and Deck departments. Viking Crew was also contracted to manage the crews of the superyachts Scenic Eclipse 1 (2019) and Scenic Eclipse 2 (2022).

The vessel has a gross tonnage of 5,755 GT and a deadweight of 1,230 tons. The registered shipowner and management company is GMK CONSULTING LTD (incorporated in 2019 and registered in Naxxar, Malta).

Emerald Raiya is scheduled for completion and delivery in December 2027.