Emerald Xara

The 2028-built Emerald Xara cruise ship (currently under construction) is a superyacht with a maximum passenger capacity of 128. She is the fifth newbuild in the Emerald Cruises fleet.

Xara is the company’s fifth ocean-going vessel, joining the sisterships Kaia (2026) and Raiya (2027), as well as the smaller sisterships Azzurra (2022) and Sakara (2023).

Like her sisters, Xara is being built in Vietnam by Halong Shipbuilding Company (HLS) in Ha Long City. HLS is responsible for constructing the hull and installing all machinery, while the interior fit-out is managed by a separate project team.

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

Scheduled for inauguration in April 2028, Xara will be Emerald Cruises’ 15th vessel.

The superyacht Emerald Xara accommodates up to 128 passengers and 92 crew.

Her design features a sleek megayacht-style hull and superstructure, premium accommodations with ultra-modern amenities, spacious restaurants, a large wellness complex (gym, infrared sauna, spa, massage rooms), two tender boats (for use in ports without docking facilities), two Zodiacs (RIBs for coastal and inland expeditions), an aft Marina platform (for watersports such as swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and kayaking), a large Infinity Pool (Aqua Pool with stern-facing glass wall), and a dedicated Pool Deck (aft, with oval-shaped spa pool, sunbathing area with loungers, and an open-air bar).

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

Emerald Waterways is a young brand, established in 2014 and owned by Scenic Group (Scenic Tours, Australia). The company’s riverboats are recognized as some of the finest on the market, offering premium facilities and excellent service by professionally trained staff and crew.

On February 1, 2020, Emerald Waterways introduced the new brand “Emerald Yacht Cruises,” which officially launched in February 2022 with the debut of the Azzurra superyacht (initially planned for July 2021).

The yacht’s name, Xara, is of Greek origin and means “Joy” or “Happiness.”

Decks and Cabins

Of all Emerald Xara staterooms (64 total), 88% (56) have private step-out balconies, with only Deck 3 Oceanview cabins featuring large windows instead.

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

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

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

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

The yacht has 7 decks, 6 accessible to passengers, with cabins on 4 decks. Two midship elevators connect all decks.

All staterooms feature a contemporary design and include en-suite bathrooms (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, hairdryer, premium toiletries, bathrobes, slippers), twin beds (convertible to Queen-size, with Egyptian cotton linens and quality pillows), bedside cabinets (with recessed lights), wardrobe, electronic safe, mirrored writing desk with chair, sofa, coffee table with chaise lounge chairs, mini-bar (refrigerator), telephone, smart HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system with Internet and movies-on-demand), free Wi-Fi, individually controlled air-conditioning, bottled water (replenished daily), and an umbrella for land tours.

Suite-only amenities include walk-in closets, pillow menus, Welcome Gifts (champagne and fruit platter on arrival), daily restocked mini-bars, coffee machines, tea-making facilities, and complimentary 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

Dining focuses on local specialties inspired by visited ports and gourmet cuisine prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The ship offers 4 dining venues (La Cucina Dining, La Cucina Terrace, Night Market Grill, Aqua Café) and 3 bars/lounges (Aqua Café, Amici Lounge, Marina Lounge). Breakfast and lunch buffets, plus à la carte dinners, are served at La Cucina Restaurant (aft on Deck 3).

Aft on Emerald Deck/Deck 3 is the main restaurant, La Cucina Dining Room. Adjacent is La Cucina Terrace, an alfresco lounge with open kitchen. Midship is the Night Market Grill (Asian private dining room, 8-seat capacity), the Boutique Shop, and the Lobby/Reception. Forward is the Amici Bar & Lounge, the main entertainment venue.

All dining is complimentary, including beverages—soft drinks, beer, and wine (by the glass) are served free at lunch and dinner.

Amici Bar Lounge is the largest and main lounge. The Observation Lounge is a smaller bow-facing indoor lounge on Deck 4. Aft on Pool Deck/Deck 6 is Aqua Café (outdoor lounge with bar). The Sky Bar on Sky Deck/Deck 7 is an outdoor poolside venue serving drinks and snacks to the sundeck, which features loungers, cabanas, sofas, chairs, and an infinity-style spa pool.

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 midship on Panorama Deck/Deck 5.

Emerald Yacht Cruises fares include return flights (economy-class, from London Heathrow), transfers, port fees, airport taxes, onboard meals, select drinks, gratuities, shore excursions, enrichment programs (lectures, performances), and watersports equipment. Guests also enjoy complimentary EmeraldPLUS cultural tours and EmeraldACTIVE guided bike tours. Optional DiscoverMORE excursions are available at extra cost.

Fly-cruise packages are ATOL-protected (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) and ABTA-protected when booked directly with non-ATOL airlines.

Compared to sisterships Azzurra and Sakara, Xara is ~10% larger (10 m/33 ft longer, with greater passenger capacity and tonnage), allowing expanded venues and redesigned facilities. The Sky Deck was enlarged to 510+ m² (5500+ ft²), adding the Sky Bar, infinity spa pool, and more sundeck space with private cabanas. Passenger staterooms are more numerous and ~10% larger.

The Observation Deck gained a forward sundeck with spa pool and outdoor seating, directly accessed from the Observation Lounge. The Marina Deck was expanded with additional sun loungers, a Marina Lounge (serving snacks and drinks), and an open-air gym with watersports launched from a retractable platform.

Itineraries

Emerald Xara is certified for unrestricted passenger operations worldwide (except polar regions) and is custom-designed for warmer climates such as the Mediterranean (Adriatic and Aegean seas), the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean (Seychelles). Her smaller size and shallow draft allow access to ports unavailable to larger ships.

Seasonally, Emerald Cruises offers affordable transatlantic crossings (spring and fall repositioning cruises) and full-ship charters for corporate and private clients.

Xara’s inaugural season is scheduled to begin in April 2027 (exact maiden voyage date tba) in Europe/Mediterranean, followed by a Caribbean deployment from October 2027 through March 2028.

Bookings for Emerald Xara cruises will open in June 2025.