Hollywood, FL (April 2023) – Final fit-out operations are near completion on Emerald Cruises’latest ocean-going yacht, Emerald Sakara, as it prepares for upcoming sea trials. Work is also on schedule to see the stylish interior completed and fully outfitted before the first guests arrive for the inaugural sailing. The debut sailing – the eight-day Ionian Sea Adventure from Athens to Rome on August 5, 2023 – is less than three months away.
Emerald Sakara, the second luxury yacht to join the Emerald Cruises fleet, was custom built by The Halong Shipbuilding Company in Vietnam and follows quickly in the wake of identical sister-yacht, Emerald Azzurra, which launched in March 2022.
Both the Emerald Sakara and Emerald Azzurra feature just 50 luxury suites and staterooms, 88 percent of which have a private balcony or terrace. With a maximum of 100 guests on a given journey, Emerald Sakara, like her sister yacht, offers a new type of exclusive cruising experience, exploring ports and harbors only accessible to small yachts.
“Karen and I have overseen the development and construction of Emerald Sakara and having visited the shipyard recently can say it certainly exceeds our expectations,” said Glen Moroney, Chairman and founder of The Scenic Group, Emerald Cruises’ parent company.
“Being able to add to the Emerald Cruises fleet so swiftly is a sign of the reception our new yachts have received from guests and our travel partners. Emerald Sakara opens up a whole world of new destinations that are sure to spark greater demand.” Karen Moroney is co-owner and head of product services for Scenic Group.
Onboard, Emerald Sakara’s Wellness Center comes complete with spa (where various body therapies are available), gym and state-of-the-art infrared sauna; while the Sky Bar, infinity pool and comfortable public areas on the top decks provide the perfect place to relax and watch the world go by.
The yacht’s marina platform was designed with watersports in mind. Guests can plunge into activities like swimming; borrow the gear to snorkel, paddleboard or take one of the SEABOBs out for a spin; or dive in with a little help from the deployable water-trampoline.
After Emerald Sakara’s August debut, the yacht will embark on a summer season exploring the coastal waters of Italy, Greece, Türkiye and the Adriatic. From there, it’s off to cross the Atlantic where the Emerald Sakara will winter in the Caribbean and Central American sun. The first Eastern Caribbean and Grenadines sailing is scheduled to depart on November 17, 2023. The yacht will be christened on December 2 in San Juan, Puerto Rico by her godmother Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA
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The inaugural eight-day Ionian Sea Adventure begins on August 5, 2023, in Rome (Civitavecchia) and heads to Athens (Pireaus), stopping at picturesque ports along the way. Guests can live it up with the glitterati on a guided walking tour of Capri, sample Sorrento’s famed gelato in one of many seaside towns or take in the colorful terraced houses of the Amalfi Coast as they kayak along the blue water. Other tempting excursions include a relaxing afternoon river tubing in Alcantara, hiking through olive groves in Cephalonia, and stepping back in time on a tour of the ancient ruins at Delphi.
Emerald Cruises guests can enjoy special savings on 2023 and 2024 Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara sailings. Details can be found at www.emeraldcruises.com/offers/2023-yacht-cruise-collection.
Emerald Cruises offers a diverse lineup of river and yacht cruises on three continents. Emerald Azzurra, the line’s first ocean-going vessel which debuted in March 2022, is a 100-guest, luxury yacht sailing the warm waters of the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, and new for the 2023/2024 season, the Caribbean and Central America. In November 2022, Emerald Azzurra was named Best New Luxury Ship in Cruise Critic’s 2022 Editors’ Picks Awards. Emerald Sakara, the brand’s second luxury yacht, launches in 2023. On the rivers, Emerald Cruises sails eight branded Star-Ships in Europe and one on the Mekong. The brand offers innovatively-designed ships, outstanding service and a focus on active shore excursions and onboard wellness offerings through their signature EmeraldACTIVE program. Emerald Cruises is part of Scenic Group, which includes Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Mayflower Cruises & Tours and Evergreen Tours in Australia.
Emerald Cruises can be found on Twitter at @emerald_cruises, on Facebook as EmeraldCruisesGlobal and on Instagram as @EmeraldCruises.global.
Additional information can be found by contacting your local travel advisor; on Emerald Cruises’ website, www.emeraldcruises.com; or by calling the consumer/travel agent reservations line at 844-428-8389. Digital brochure downloads are available on the website.