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.
The newbuild has capacity for 128 guests and has 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 accommodation comprises 64 passenger cabins and 52 crew cabins.
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
The ship features 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 an additional spa pool, along with shaded areas and loungers for sunbathing.
The sky deck arrangement includes private cabanas and a lounge spanning indoor and outdoor areas. A separate sky bar and lounge is also included among the communal spaces.
Direct access to the water is provided by the marina platform. An indoor/outdoor gym is placed beside the platform and guests can swim directly from it.
An expanded marina area is available for use water sports. An inflatable slide is included among the water toys.
There are private verandas on 88 per cent of passenger cabins. Selected suites have interconnecting doors.
The largest 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 meanwhile each cover 82 square metres (880 square feet) and have wraparound private balconies.
The terrace suites each have a total area of 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 has assigned Emerald Kaia to the Adriatic during the Mediterranean summers of 2026 and 2027, with eight- and 15-day itineraries. The broader 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.
The Scenic Group’s announced fleet expansion includes two additional ships of similar design and onboard offering. Emerald Raiya is scheduled to enter service in 2027 and Emerald Xara will follow in 2028. Those additions will bring Emerald's oceangoing fleet to five ships with planned operations across the Mediterranean, Seychelles, and Caribbean.
