Emerald Cruises

Founded in 2013 as Emerald Waterways, Emerald Cruises is an award-winning travel operator specialising in deluxe river cruises and luxury yacht cruising.

Our extensive fleet of Star-Ships are custom-built to sail Europe’s iconic Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Rh?ne, and Douro rivers, as well as the majestic Mekong River in Southeast Asia, with each vessel hosting a range of stylish innovations.

Unwind in your contemporary suite or stateroom, sample the finest cuisine in our elegant dining venues, relax on our spacious Sun Deck, and enjoy the river breeze from our indoor heated pool with retractable roof, which transforms into an evening cinema*.

Emerald Azzurra, our groundbreaking luxury yacht, and her twin sister, Emerald Sakara, have been designed to dock in the smaller ports of the Mediterranean, the Adriatic coast, the Caribbean, Central America, the Red Sea and Seychelles providing unique access to extraordinary destinations that other vessels simply cannot achieve.

With a maximum capacity of just 100 guests, every inch of our ocean-faring yachts has been designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind. Cruise in luxury, where state-of-the-art amenities and refined finishing touches elevate your experience of the world's oceans.

Unwind in our opulent dining and lounge spaces, relax in our stunning on board infinity-style Aqua Pool, and enjoy our unique Marina Platform, which provides simple and safe access to the sea.

Whether you’re travelling by river or ocean, your luxury vessel will dock in the heart of the amazing destinations we visit, be it the banks of the Danube with the backdrop of Budapest’s breathtaking Parliament Building, Ho Chi Minh City with its vibrant culture right on your doorstep, or in coastal cities such as Dubrovnik, Mykonos, Sorrento, Venice, and Istanbul.

And, wherever you travel, you’ll benefit from our promise of generous inclusions, entitling you to included excursions, handpicked by our journey planners, as well as our special EmeraldPLUS experiences and EmeraldACTIVE** guided bike tours^, hikes and activities.

Not only that, exquisite on board dining, complimentary drinks with lunch and dinner, transfers to and from your vessel, and all gratuities are taken care of, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy yourself.

* Emerald Radiance in Portugal features a spa-style serenity pool and Emerald Harmony in Southeast Asia has an outdoor pool in lieu of an evening cinema

**EmeraldACTIVE not available on Southeast Asia river cruises

^ Emerald Radiance in Portugal and Emerald Harmony in Southeast Asia do not have on board bikes

Emerald Cruises' Ships

More about Emerald Cruises

1561 Cruises · 12 Ships

Cruise Regions

  • Mediterranean
  • Middle East
  • Indian Ocean
  • Caribbean
  • Africa
  • Mekong
  • Australasia
  • Rhine
  • Dutch Waterways
  • Danube
  • Rhine/Danube
  • Rhine/Moselle
  • Black Sea/Med
  • Douro
  • Rhone/Saone
  • N Europe

View cruises with this operator:

Reasons to Book

Luxury Yacht Cruising

See the world from a new perspective. Set sail on a cruise that immerses you in luxury and allows you access to fascinating ports and harbours that only small vessels can reach. Be one of only 100 guests with a dedicated crew of 76.

Lounge on an open-air deck as the soaring sea cliffs of Italy, the dazzling islands of Croatia, or the lush landscapes of the Caribbean or Seychelles drift by.

Anchor in picturesque bays where the marina toys offer an exciting watersports playground. Or retreat to your luxuriously modern suite to unwind and recharge.

From design innovations to exceptional service and locally inspired cuisine, we welcome you to a new era of luxury small ship cruising.

On Board Luxury | Within the sleek interiors of our yachts, discover a striking combination of deluxe bohemia. From the elegance of La Cucina Dining or the outdoor ambience of La Cucina Terrace, when you dine with us, the atmosphere and cuisine is world-class. Likewise, when you unwind in our Elements Spa & Wellness Centre or immerse yourself in the serenity of your private suite, you’ll feel a world away from your every day

First-Class Service | At Emerald Cruises, you’re in good hands from the moment you book your cruise to the day you step aboard and begin your journey. From the expertise of our highly experienced captains to the global culinary skills of our on board chefs, our dedicated crew will ensure that your time on an Emerald Cruises luxury yacht will be exceptional. They’ll anticipate your every need, answer all your questions and be there when you need them most.

Marine Playground | Imagine your captain anchoring in a quiet corner of the Mediterranean, so you can head down to the Marina Platform and dart across the iridescent sea with some of our water toys. Snorkel along the surface admiring the vivid sea life, or dive deeper with a SEABOB. Feeling a little more laid-back? Take a dip in our infinity-style Aqua Pool on the Pool Deck for swim-up views of towering cliffs rising out of the Mediterranean Sea. 

Private Sanctuary | Both Emerald Sakara and Emerald Azzurra feature just 50 luxury suites and staterooms, 88 percent of which offer a private balcony or terrace. With a maximum of 100 guests, both vessels offer a new type of exclusive cruising experience, with plenty of space for everyone. Inside your private retreat, you’ll find complimentary bathrobes and slippers, an umbrella and a personal safe and telephone. Enjoy on-demand entertainment on your flat screen HDTV and settle in and make yourself comfortable with individual climate control in your stateroom or suite.

Generous Inclusions | At Emerald Cruises, we make sure everything is taken care of. Once you step aboard you don’t need to think about airport taxes, transfers, port charges or gratuities. When you dine with us, you’ll enjoy a selection of sommelier-paired wines and beers. You’ll also enjoy immersive travel experiences as part of EmeraldDISCOVERY, as well as welcome extras like state-of-the-art coffee and tea stations, Wi-Fi, and Gocycle electric bicycles for memorable onshore adventures.

Luxury Yacht Experts | At Emerald Cruises, we want you to feel like this is your very own luxury yacht. As one of only 100 guests, you’ll enjoy personalised service from our team of 76 crew. On board, the open-air infinity pool is surrounded by deluxe day beds perfect for enjoying a cocktail from the nearby Aqua Café. A wellness deck complete with spa, infrared sauna and gym helps to support your health and fitness goals, while the top deck Sky Bar provides a magnificent spot to watch the sun set

Small Ship River Cruising

As small ship experts, we know that our minimal guest numbers, relaxed ambience, and high level of personal service, provide the perfect setting from which to enjoy Europe’s network of iconic rivers. The small ship lifestyle brings you to the heart of each destination for an intimate look at the local life along the riverbanks. Revolutionary in design, life on board our deluxe Emerald Cruises Star-Ships, promises contemporary comfort and unique innovations, while our suite of generous inclusions delivers exquisite dining experiences, exceptional service, and handpicked immersive itineraries.

Small ship experts | We are small ship experts championing the intimate and spacious lifestyle that takes you into the very heart of each destination we visit. Each of our eight award-winning boutique Star-Ships sailing the European riverways has an excellent staff-to-guest ratio, striking the perfect balance and ensuring there’ll always be someone available to answer your questions. Always underpinned by exceptional service and an incredible range of onshore excursions, small-ship cruising promises a unique and memorable voyage. 

Award-winning Star-Ships | Sail the riverways of Europe in complete contemporary comfort on board our award-winning Star-Ships. Each Star-Ship possesses unique innovations and characteristics, while all boast a wealth of amenities, spacious public spaces, stylish suites and staterooms, and elegant interiors that define our fleet. Life on board our floating boutique hotels promises ultimate relaxation, with world-class cuisine, blissful spa treatments, and numerous refined spaces from which to enjoy the spectacular surroundings.

EmeraldDISCOVERY programme | Our EmeraldDISCOVERY programme provides a platform for authentic adventures. Every itinerary features included excursions handpicked by our journey planners. Alongside these included excursions, EmeraldPLUS provides insight through social events, tours, on board performances, and workshops. EmeraldACTIVE offers exciting and active ways to explore, and our DiscoverMORE programme, available at an additional cost, unlocks immersive experiences and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Stylish suites and staterooms | With our choice of suite and stateroom grades, you can select your perfect sanctuary of peace and relaxation. With every suite and stateroom benefitting from an en-suite bathroom, revitalising shower, luxury ESPA toiletries, and plush beds, you can be sure of a comfortable and restful getaway. Special little touches ensure your stay is truly exceptional.

Our wellness team | Health and wellbeing are a priority across our collection of river cruises. Stay active on board with our well-equipped gym, or join your activity manager and wellness coach in a range of daytime fitness classes as part of our EmeraldACTIVE programme. In the wellness area, indulge in a choice of spa and beauty treatments, returning from exciting onshore excursions to peace, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Superior service, exceptional people | Your on board experience is underpinned by superior service and exceptional people. Our passionate and dedicated team are always on hand, helping to guarantee a river cruising experience in which your every need is met. The wealth of knowledge and expertise of our crew is evidenced daily, from the encyclopedic knowledge of your helpful cruise director to the patent talents of our culinary experts.

Members Club

We’re proud to provide you with the best luxury small cruise ship experience, sailing to exciting destinations such as Europe, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean & Central America, the Mediterranean & Adriatic Sea, the Red Sea & Middle East, and the Seychelles.

The continued support of our returning guests means a great deal to us, and as a thank you, we created the EmeraldEXPLORER loyalty club, allowing you to get the most out of every river or yacht cruise you take with Emerald Cruises.

Building up points couldn’t be any easier.

Upon returning from your first cruise, you’ll automatically become a member of our EmeraldEXPLORER loyalty club, entitling you to exclusive benefits, including savings on future cruises, advance notice of new itineraries, and much more.

Our structure is not only designed to recognise your time spent with us, but how much you spend. So, the higher the category of your suite, the more points you’ll receive per day.

And, for every subsequent cruise you take with us, you will earn additional EmeraldEXPLORER points.

Loyalty tier benefits

EmeraldEXPLORER’s loyalty club has three tiers: Silver, Gold, and Diamond, with the benefits increasing with each tier you progress to. Take a look at all the exclusive benefits that await you.

EmeraldEXPLORER Silver

Upon returning home from your first cruise with us, you’ll automatically become a Silver member. This means you’ll receive a Welcome Home voucher to the value of £100 per person, and we’ll send you exclusive members-only savings and offers, advance notice of brochure releases, every edition of our EmeraldEXPLORER magazine, and invitations to our events. To move up to our Gold membership, all you have to do is collect 5,000 EmeraldEXPLORER points.

EmeraldEXPLORER Gold

Upon returning home from your cruise with us, Gold members will receive a Welcome Home voucher to the value of £150 per person, and we’ll send you exclusive member-only savings and offers, advance notice of brochure releases, every edition of our exclusive EmeraldEXPLORER magazine and invitations to our events. To move up to our Diamond membership, all you have to do is collect 10,000 EmeraldEXPLORER points.

EmeraldEXPLORER Diamond

Upon returning from your cruise with us, Diamond members will receive a Welcome Home voucher to the value of £200 per person that is mailed to your home in a lovely Welcome Home package. You’ll continue to receive your members-only savings and offers, advance notice of brochure releases, every edition of our exclusive EmeraldEXPLORER magazine and invitations to our events as a Diamond status member.