Emerald Kaia Begins Mediterranean Service as Brand’s Largest Yacht

Emerald Cruises introduced the 128-guest Emerald Kaia to Mediterranean service on April 4, 2026, adding a larger yacht design with expanded marina and outdoor facilities. The Scenic Group brand’s new vessel began passenger operations with an 11-day sailing from Limassol, Cyprus, to Athens.

The yacht is 9.88 metres longer and 1.44 metres broader than its 100-guest predecessors. Emerald Azzurra, the brand’s first ocean yacht, entered service in March 2022, followed by Emerald Sakara in August 2023.

Emerald Kaia’s deployment centres on warm-water cruising, with eight- and 15-day Adriatic itineraries scheduled during the Mediterranean summers of 2026 and 2027. The wider programme includes Mediterranean and Red Sea voyages, with routes passing through the Suez Canal.

Between those summer seasons, the ship is scheduled to operate in the Seychelles from December 2026 through March 2027. Emerald has listed voyages lasting eight to 20 days for the Indian Ocean deployment.

On board the larger design

The marina platform provides direct access to the water, with an adjacent indoor/outdoor gym. Emerald said guests can swim from the platform, while its pre-delivery plans included a larger watersports area and an inflatable slide among the yacht’s water toys.

Above the marina, the outdoor arrangement includes a pool deck and two decks with spa pools. The observation sun deck has shaded seating and sun loungers alongside an additional spa pool that Emerald identified as a new feature of the larger design.

The sky deck combines private cabanas with a lounge extending between indoor and outdoor areas. Emerald’s deck plan also shows a separate sky bar and lounge, alongside the marina lounge.

Emerald’s pre-delivery specification provided for private verandas on 88 per cent of guest cabins. Some suites have connecting doors so families or groups can link their accommodation.

The largest advertised category, the owner’s suite, covers 131 square metres and includes a private terrace with a two-person spa pool. Yacht suites measure 82 square metres and have wraparound balconies, while the 77-square-metre terrace suites occupy aft locations and also offer wraparound balconies.

Dining facilities include a restaurant with an open kitchen and an adjoining terrace. A separate grill accommodates eight guests for private meals.

From Halong Bay to Venice

Ha Long Shipbuilding built Emerald Kaia in Halong City, Vietnam, to a design developed by Scenic Group’s MKM Yachts division. The 7,000-gross-ton vessel measures 119.88 metres in overall length, with a beam of 17.44 metres and a design draught of 4.6 metres.

The Bahamas-flagged yacht is classed by the Croatian Register of Shipping and has a published maximum speed of 15.5 knots. Its accommodation comprises 64 passenger cabins and 52 crew cabins.

The register’s delivery particulars list capacity for 136 passengers, higher than Emerald’s marketed guest complement, and a crew complement of 104.

Emerald Kaia completed sea trials in Halong Bay in January 2026. The company said the initial open-water tests checked performance, manoeuvrability and overall seaworthiness before the project moved into final commissioning.

Delivery followed in February. The yacht left Halong Bay on February 13 and travelled through the Red Sea and Suez Canal before reaching its inaugural embarkation port. A christening subsequently took place in Venice in June.

Two further yachts are planned with Emerald Kaia’s design and onboard offering: Emerald Raiya is scheduled to enter service in 2027, followed by Emerald Xara in 2028. Those deliveries would take Emerald’s ocean fleet to five ships. Its planned operating programme also includes the Caribbean.

See current Emerald Kaia fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.