by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 3:05 PM ET, Tue April 9, 2024
Scenic Group is making a multimillion-dollar investment in its fleet. The parent company of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises plans to launch a new ocean yacht, called the Emerald Kaia, and will update its European river ships and discovery yachts.
Emerald Kaia will debut in April 2026 and will be available for booking starting tomorrow. The new vessel will accommodate up to 128 guests and will feature an expanded Sky Deck, a new internal Sky Lounge, enhanced dining venues, a reimagined gym and an expanded spa.
The ship’s cabins and suites will also be 10 percent larger than those found on Emerald’s existing yachts, Emerald Sakara and Emerald Azzurra. Once complete, the vessel will sail in the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean Seas to the Seychelles.
"Emerald Kaia, with its significant design and amenity enhancements, marks a pivotal expansion for our fleet,” says Glen Moroney, chairman and founder of Scenic Group. “It builds on the strengths of Emerald Sakara and Emerald Azzurra, allowing us to offer unmatched superyacht experiences along the world's most captivating coastlines."
In addition to the new vessel, Scenic Group also plans to launch a design update to the 18 river ships in the Scenic and Emerald Cruises fleet. Crews will refresh the ships’ main decks with new furniture, new layouts and new day-to-night features to better align the river ships with the company’s yachts.
“The design update of our river fleet integrates the elegance and innovative features of our ultra-luxury and luxury ocean yachts into our river cruise ships, elevating and enhancing the guest experience onboard,” says Karen Moroney, Scenic Group’s director of project design. “It's a testament to our dedication not just to luxury, but to leading the way in sustainable and thoughtful design within the industry.”
The company will also update its two discovery yachts, Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II.
Scenic Eclipse will enter dry dock in April ahead of its Mediterranean season. There, crews will add many of the features that debuted on Scenic Eclipse II, such as the Senses Spa. They’ll also update the outdoor dining venues and the Discovery Team space.
Scenic Eclipse II, meanwhile, will be getting a new submersible called Scenic Neptune II and four SEABOBs.
“Our collaboration with Triton Submarines on the custom design of our new submersible reflects our commitment to continuous innovation and leading the way in ultra-luxury yacht cruising,” says Jason Flesher, director of discovery operations for Scenic Group.
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