Emerald Cruises to launch three new ships in 2027

Emerald Cruises will introduce two superyachts and one river ship to its fleet in 2027.

The purpose-built river vessel, called Emerald Lumi, will be the brand’s first to sail on the Seine in France with round-trip sailings from Paris slated for 2027.

The new superyachts, Emerald Raiya and Emerald Xara, will debut in winter 2026-27 and winter 2027-28 respectively, with full itineraries and booking details to be made available in June this year.

Each will have capacity for 128 passengers and offer all-suite accommodation.

Raiya will have its inaugural season in the Seychelles before sailing the eastern Mediterranean in summer 2027 and returning to the Seychelles in winter 2027-28.

Xara will start its sailings in the Mediterranean in summer 2027 and then operate in the Caribbean for winter 2027-28, where it will be joined by Emerald Kaia, Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara.

The three new ships will follow the launches of Emerald Kaia and Emerald Astra, which are due for April 2026.

Emerald Cruises will also preview details of its 2027-28 deployment to "support increasing demand from the charter and group market", with particularly focus on its luxury superyacht fleet. 

Selected yacht voyages will have early access and planning support for agents to enable advance planning and custom group offers.

Glen Moroney, chairman and founder of Emerald Cruises parent Scenic Group, said: “This is a transformational moment for Emerald Cruises.

“From our first yachts to today’s growing fleet, our vision remains clear: to deliver curated experiences in some of the world’s most captivating destinations – both by ocean and river.”

Pictured: Rendering of Emerald Kaia, Raiya and Xara