Emerald Cruises Celebrates Float-Out of Newest Luxury Yacht Emerald Sakara

Emerald Cruises’ newest ocean yacht, the Emerald Sakara, celebrated a successful float-out this week as it finishes its interior construction prior to its debut in August of this year.

The float out is an important construction milestone when building any ship; it’s the first time the ship touches the water and signals the final stages of its construction.

Emerald Sakara, whose godmother is CLIA president and CEO Kelly Craighead, is being built in Vietnam by the Halong Shipbuilding Company; it is the identical sister yacht to the Emerald Azzurra, which debuted in March 2022. The ship features 50 suites and rooms, the majority of which offer private balconies or terraces. With room for only 100 guests, the luxury yacht offers a private cruising experience with the ability to visit destinations that larger cruise ships cannot visit.

The ship debuts August 5 on an 8-day voyage from Athens to Rome, then continues sailing along Italy, Greece, Turkey and the Adriatic Sea. During the winter, the yacht will island-hop in the Caribbean and Central America, with the first itinerary there beginning November 17 and visiting the Grenadines.

“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,” said Glen Moroney, Chairman and founder of The Scenic Group, Emerald Cruises’ parent company. “Emerald Sakara opens up a whole world of new destinations that are sure to spark greater demand.”