by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 10:35 AM ET, Mon March 9, 2026
The Scenic Group fleet is growing.
The company is adding three new river ships to its portfolio—one for Emerald Cruises, and two for Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours.
“Our commitment to an additional three new river ships for the Scenic and Emerald Cruises brands reflects our confidence in the strong demand for our unique approach to luxury cruising,” says Glen Moroney, chairman and founder of Scenic Group.
Emerald Nova will launch June 2027 on the Douro River, joining Emerald Radiance in Portugal with two itineraries. Scenic Aria will launch September 2027 on the Douro River, joining Scenic Azure in Portugal and operating both signature itineraries. Scenic Spirit II will launch in early 2028 on the Mekong River, flowing through Vietnam and Cambodia.
Scenic Aria and Emerald Nova are open for sale and Scenic Spirit II is available for pre-registration.
The newly announced vessels build on Scenic Group’s previously confirmed new ships, including Emerald Astra launching in May 2026 on the Rhine, Main and Danube, and Emerald Lumi, debuting on France’s Seine River in 2027.
Combined with the launch of new yachts Emerald Kaia from April 2026, Emerald Raiya in 2027 and Emerald Xara in 2028, as well as Scenic Ikon in 2028, this commitment represents Scenic Group’s most significant fleet growth phase in nearly a decade.
“With Scenic Ikon in build for delivery in 2028 and five Emerald Cruises yachts and river ships already confirmed, this announcement marks the next phase of our strategic fleet growth,” says Moroney. “By bringing the design and construction of these new river ships under the expertise of our team at MKM Yachts, we can apply the same exacting standards, innovation and design principles that have underpinned Scenic Group’s success for the past 40 years.”
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