Emerald Waterways will officially enter the yacht cruising market with the launch of its first custom-built ocean-going superyacht called the Emerald Azzurra.

Emerald Azzurra is the first vessel under the new Emerald Yacht Cruises brand and will sit alongside Emerald Waterways as the two brands making up the newly formed Emerald Cruises portfolio.

The new 110-metre-long Emerald Azzurra is being built in Ha Long City (Vietnam) and will be launched in July 2021, sailing a series of 47 itineraries.

On sale from today (1 February 2020), the new sailings will explore destinations including the Red Sea – Israel, Jordan and Egypt – and the Mediterranean – Greece, Montenegro, Italy, France, Cyprus, Turkey, Malta and Spain – offering guests an intimate, boutique yacht cruising experience.

As well as exploring the major highlights in these regions, guests will also have access to the smaller ports and harbours, including Kotor (Montenegro), Santorini (Greece) and Amalfi (Italy), which can only be reached by small yacht.

Onboard, guests can enjoy local flavours and cocktails whilst taking in the views from one of the three different bars and restaurants. Eighty-eight per cent of cabins include a balcony, and the yacht features an onboard wellness centre (including spa, gym & sauna), three tenders and a Zodiac for shore landings.

Emerald Azzurra also features a marina platform to allow easy access to snorkelling, paddleboarding or swimming at one of the many swim stops.

As with other Emerald Waterways experiences, the cruise price includes return flights, guest transfers, all tipping and gratuities, breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition, guests will receive complimentary wine at dinner, soft drinks and beer at lunch and dinner, plus excursions and experiences.

Onshore, guests will enjoy the popular EmeraldPLUS cultural experiences and a range of included EmeraldACTIVE excursions and have the opportunity to book additional DiscoverMORE optional excursions to tailor their cruise.

David Winterton, Emerald Cruises Director of Marketing & Global Brand Curator, commented: “We are thrilled to be introducing a new sister brand to Emerald Waterways. We have ambitious growth plans for the UK and can’t wait for past river cruise guests and new customers alike to join us onboard our new ocean-going yacht.

“At just 110 metres in length, we are excited to be offering an intimate experience on board, with just 50 cabins and onshore due to the fact we will have access to small ports and harbours that large ships can’t access.

“As a brand, we always act swiftly in response to our guest’s demands to ensure we are continually evolving our offer. We chartered a river ship on the Mekong River before building Emerald Harmony, and we have done the same by chartering small ships in Croatia last year before committing to building Emerald Azzurra.”

Highlights of the new programme include:

  • The eight-day Cyprus, Turkey and Greece Delights itinerary departing from Limassol and calling at Paphos (both Cyprus), Fethiye, Bodrum, Kusadasi (all Turkey), Mykonos and Santorini, before arriving in Athens (all Greece) for the flight home. Price starts from £3,285 per person (based on 31 July 2021 departure)
  • The eight-day French & Italian Rivieras with Corsica itinerary, departing from Civitavecchia (Rome), Porto Ercole (Italy), Bonifacio (Corsica), Calvi (both France), Portoferraio, Portofino (both Italy), and Menton before departing in Nice (both France). Price starting from £2,965 per person (based on 14 August 2021 departure)
  • The 12-day Ancient World Wonders itinerary departs from Limassol (Cyprus) and calls at Haifa (Tel Aviv, Israel), Ashdod (Jerusalem, Israel), Alexandria, Port Said and Sharm el-Sheik (all Egypt) before departing in Aqaba (Jordan). Price starts from £5,245 per person (based on 28 December 2021 departure). All prices include relevant discounts, return flights, transfers, the cruises as stated above, all tipping and gratuities, all onboard meals and selected drinks**, excursions and experiences.

Part of the Scenic Group, Emerald Waterways currently operates nine Star-Ships in 19 countries and charters two small ships sailing the Adriatic coast.

Glen Moroney, owner and Chairman of the Scenic Group, adds, “Emerald Waterways has been operating award-winning river cruises in Europe since 2014. The launch of Emerald Yacht Cruises and the stunning new Emerald Azzurra is a logical extension of the Emerald Cruises portfolio, adding intimate yacht cruising of the Mediterranean to its Emerald Waterways Europe river cruise offering.”

The launch of the new Emerald Yacht Cruises brand comes hot on the heels of sister brand Emerald Waterways unveiling a new river ship for 2021, together with a brand-new European itinerary travelling through the Netherlands and Belgium calling in at Hasselt for the first time, as well as Amsterdam, Antwerp and Rotterdam.

The new Star-Ship, Emerald Luna, is set to sail in spring 2021, offering a wealth of culturally immersive itineraries along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.

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