2022 is set to be a bumper year for Emerald Cruises, with the inaugural season of its new river cruise Star-Ship, Emerald Luna, and the first of the brand’s ocean-going luxury superyachts, Emerald Azzurra, launching in the Spring. Furthermore, the company’s award-winning European river cruise collection will be bolstered with the addition of two new special interest cruises that will set sail for the first time next year.
The launch of Emerald Cruises’ first custom-built ocean superyacht – Emerald Azzurra
Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Cruises’ first superyacht, will embark on its inaugural sailing in the Spring. The superyacht will carry just 100 guests in 50 deluxe suites and staterooms – of which more than 80 per cent feature a balcony – taking guests to ports and harbours only accessible to small yachts.
Emerald Azzurra boasts a variety of areas to dine and relax and an onboard Wellness Centre, complete with a spa, gym and sauna for the ultimate indulgence. The superyacht’s Marina Platform is designed for easy access to watersport activities, including snorkelling, paddleboarding, swimming, Zodiacs, and the yacht’s three onboard tenders. The luxuriously appointed superyacht’s inaugural sailing is The Best of the Red Sea itinerary, sailing round trip from Aqaba (Jordan).
Guests will visit Saint Catherine’s Monastery, which contains the world’s oldest still-functioning library, embark on a glass-bottom boat trip at Naama Bay in Sharm el-Sheikh, and enjoy a guided tour of Timna Park & Eliat’s underwater observatory. Prices for the eight-day inaugural itinerary on 11 March start from £4,020 per person. After her inaugural sailing, Emerald Azzurra will sail the western and eastern Mediterranean, as well as the Adriatic coast.
A new Europe river Star-Ship – Emerald Luna
Setting sail in April 2022, Emerald Luna will become the 9th Star-Ship in Emerald Cruises river cruising fleet. Emerald Luna will feature a contemporary, elegant design to transport guests along Europe’s rivers in complete style and ease. From the three-tier atrium to the heated swimming pool that seamlessly transforms into a cinema, every inch has been meticulously designed to maximise space and comfort.
During her inaugural sailing, Emerald Luna will sail from Amsterdam on 8 April 2022 with the eight-day Holland & Belgium in Bloom river cruise. On the journey, guests will visit sites such as Keukenhof Gardens’ 79 acres of kaleidoscopic tulip fields and Arnhem’s Airborne Museum, where guests will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of British parachutists during WWII.
Other highlights include a guided bike tour of the peaceful and scenic Waterland in the Netherlands, a tour to the Zaanse Schans windmills, and a tour of Rotterdam followed by a local tasting before returning to Amsterdam. Prices for the eight-day sailing start from £1,445 per person.
New special interest Europe river cruises for wine lovers and culture enthusiasts
For those looking to broaden their palate and gain their amateur sommelier certificate, Emerald Cruises will also sail the first of its eight-day Wines of the Moselle river cruise in 2022.
Sailing from Frankfurt to Bernkastel onboard Emerald Sun, highlights include a visit to Schloss Vollrads castle and wine estate, where guests will take a guided tour of the castle, glass in hand, and learn about the estate’s Rieslings and its 800-year-old history, with a different wine at each station.
Additionally, guests will travel to Eberbach Abbey, one of the world’s best-preserved medieval monasteries, founded in 1136 by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Burgundy), and enjoy a guided tour and wine tasting, as well as visiting a family-owned winery in Koblenz for a tasting and an adventure hike of the property grounds. Prices start from £2,395 per person staying in a Panorama Balcony Suite, departing 21 August 2022.
In addition, Emerald Cruises brand new eight-day Danube, Spa, Arts & Culture cruise will launch next year. Sailing from Budapest to Passau by way of Bratislava and Vienna, guests have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of central Europe and the way of life of the people who inhabit the region.
Get a glimpse into the national stories of Hungary during a traditional folklore show in Budapest and luxuriate like an emperor or empress in a Szentendrian spa, dating back to before the Roman era, in a region that was home to many of Hungary’s Renaissance artists. Experience authentic Slovakian culture by enjoying a home-hosted coffee and a slice of cake with a Slovakian family in Bratislava.
Behold, first-hand, paintings from some of history’s most gifted artists, on an art tour of Vienna, which includes a visit to the Kunsthistoriches Museum, with paintings from Raphael, Vermeer, Rembrandt and Velasquez, before travelling back in time on a visit to medieval structures such as Dürnstein Castle, Schallaburg Castle, or the Baroque Melk Abbey. Prices start from £2,945 per person departing 27 August 2022 onboard Emerald Sky.
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