VESSEL REVIEW | Emerald Kaia – Scenic Group's 128-guest luxury yacht suitable for warm-water cruising

The Scenic Group’s Emerald Cruises brand introduced the luxury yacht Emerald Kaia to Mediterranean service on April 4, 2026.

Emerald Kaia was built by Ha Long Shipbuilding in Halong City, Vietnam, to a design developed by the Scenic Group’s MKM Yachts division. The ship is registered to the Bahamas.

Emerald’s commercial capacity of 128 guests compares with a passenger capacity of 136 in the Croatian Register of Shipping’s delivery particulars. Those particulars also give a crew complement of 104.

The ship’s intended operating programme covers warm water cruising, with Mediterranean and Adriatic summer itineraries followed by deployment to the Seychelles.

Improved capacities over earlier ships in operator's fleet

Emerald Kaia has an overall length of 119.88 metres (393.3 feet), a length between perpendiculars of 110.05 metres (361.05 feet), and a beam of 17.44 metres (57.22 feet). She also has a moulded depth of 8.2 metres (27 feet), a design draught of 4.6 metres (15 feet), and a maximum speed of 15.5 knots.

The closest comparisons are Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, which can each accommodate 100 passengers. The former entered service in March 2022, followed by the latter in August 2023. The new ship is 9.88 metres (32.4 feet) longer and 1.44 metres (4.72 feet) broader than either predecessor.

The accommodation comprises 64 passenger cabins and 52 crew cabins.

Emerald announced the completion of sea trials in Halong Bay in January 2026. The company said the first open-water trials verified how the yacht performed, its manoeuvrability and its seaworthiness overall, allowing the project to proceed into its final commissioning phase before delivery and the inaugural season.

Delivery followed in February 2026. Emerald said the ship departed Halong Bay on February 13, subsequently transiting the Red Sea and the Suez Canal before beginning her inaugural passenger voyage from Limassol in Cyprus.

The first sailing was an 11-day itinerary from Limassol to Athens, departing on April 4. The ship was subsequently christened in Venice in June, with Scenic Group.

Full range of amenities ideal for tropical environments

Emerald’s published arrangement identified an observation sun deck, a sky deck with a spa pool, a pool deck, and a marina deck and lounge.

The observation sun deck incorporates a further spa pool, along with shaded areas and loungers for sunbathing. Emerald described the additional spa pool as a new feature of the larger design.

The sky deck arrangement includes private cabanas and a lounge spanning indoor and outdoor areas. A separate sky bar and lounge is also listed among the communal spaces.

Direct access to the water is provided by the marina platform. Emerald placed an indoor/outdoor gym beside the platform and said guests can swim directly from it.

Pre-delivery design descriptions also specified an expanded marina area for watersports and an inflatable slide among the water toys.

Emerald’s pre-delivery specification called for private verandas on 88 per cent of passenger cabins. Selected suites have interconnecting doors, allowing families or groups to combine separate accommodation units.

The largest advertised accommodation category is the owner’s suite, which boasts 131 square metres (1,410 square feet) of area as well as a private terrace with a spa pool for two.

The yacht suites each cover 82 square metres (880 square feet) and have wraparound private balconies.

The terrace suites are listed at 77 square metres (830 square feet) and occupy aft positions. These also feature wraparound balconies.

The dining configuration includes a restaurant with an open kitchen and adjoining terrace. A separate grill can accommodate eight guests for private dining.

First in a new class

Emerald’s deployment programme assigns Emerald Kaia to the Adriatic during the Mediterranean summers of 2026 and 2027, with eight- and 15-day itineraries. The broader published programme also includes Mediterranean and Red Sea voyages, including routes through the Suez Canal.

The ship is scheduled to reposition to the Indian Ocean for Seychelles sailings from December 2026 to March 2027. Emerald listed itineraries of eight to 20 days for that deployment, extending the operating season beyond the Mediterranean summer.

The Scenic Group’s announced fleet expansion includes two additional ships sharing Emerald Kaia’s design and onboard offering.

Emerald Raiya is scheduled to enter service in 2027 and Emerald Xara will follow in 2028. Those additions will bring the Emerald oceangoing fleet to five ships with planned operations across the Mediterranean, Seychelles, and Caribbean.