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You Favor a Laid-Back AtmosphereIn sync with the modern and contemporary décor of Emerald's ships, the atmosphere on board is easygoing. That means you can leave the cocktail frocks and full suits at home, as there are no formal nights on the itinerary. Even the welcome dinner and farewell gala never rise above "smart casual." Jeans are appropriate; but avoid shorts and flip-flops. Sail with small cruise ship experts and benefit from our attentive level service, as we bring you closer to some of Europe’s most exciting destinations.
Why sail with Emerald Cruises?
Service onboard Emerald Azzurra is warm and thoughtful but at times inconsistent. Drink orders might be taken by a server as you lounge around the pool, but you are asked to order your own drinks at the bar in the Amici Lounge. Some meals were accompanied by constantly refreshed wine, while another night, entrees were seriously delayed.
More about Emerald River Cruises
THE 23 BEST Princess Cruises to Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 23 BEST Princess Cruises to Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:50:07 GMT [source]
The standout feature is the heated swimming pool with a retractable roof and 180-degree view at the aft of the ship, which is transformed into a cinema at night -- complete with fresh popcorn and cocktails. The area was a new-to-river feature when it was unveiled on Emerald's first ship and the line continues to develop it, adding aqua aerobics in 2019. All cabins — except for six ocean-view rooms — onboard Emerald Azzurra are suites, with no single or studio stateroom options. The buffet lunch includes a homemade soup — a popular option as evidenced by the line.
Journey through Europe
A pasta station and several hot main courses are available for the midday meal as well. A variety of fresh salad greens and salad ingredients such as quinoa, apple, and nuts are offered. Desserts include a selection of cheeses, pastries, and a dessert of the day such as a warm Belgian waffle with cherry compote. The sister ships look much the same with their contemporary decor and clean lines and comfortable yet stylish furniture.
The small ship size lends itself to getting to know other passengers, so don’t be surprised to leave with a WhatsApp group chat containing all your new cruise friends. Guests can while away an afternoon in the games area by testing their golf skills on the putting green, or challenge friends to a game of Tic-Tac-Toe on the lawn. Buffet breakfast includes an omelet station, vegetarian and meat options, as well as pastries, cereals, and breads.
Award-winning Star-Ships
These usually consist of guided bike tours (on a fleet of e-bikes available on every ship), but can also include hiking and canoeing. Depending on your itinerary, EmeraldACTIVE tours might overlap with the daily tour, making it impossible to participate on both tours. E-bikes are also limited, so the guided bike tours are available on a first come, first served basis.
You’ll notice how a limited number of guests, an excellent staff-to-guest ratio, and the purpose-driven design and layout of our yachts offer you a comfortable and luxurious yacht cruise experience. The new luxury cruise ship will offer 64 suites, 88 percent of which feature private balconies, with capacity to accommodate 128 guests, in addition to 92 crew members. The Emerald Sun has just four decks open to passengers, and three are accessible by elevator. Unfortunately, like all other river liners, you’ll need to take a short set of stairs to get to the sun deck at top of the boat, and that’s where you’ll find the vast majority of the boat’s outdoor space. Otherwise, much of the boat feels accessible, with wide hallways, reasonably spacious rooms, and ramp-like gangways at ports.
If you purchase a Premium Drinks Package, drinks, including cocktails, are available at any time. The Amici Lounge is the main bar on deck 3, the Emerald deck, and this is where nightly port talks and evening entertainment takes place. The Pool Lounge offers coffee drinks and cold beverages, while the Sky Bar at the top of the ship serves beer, wine, and mixed drinks. This is also where the cocktail demo was hosted during our sailing, with a lemon drop martini, pina colada, and Midori sour featured. A drink of the day is highlighted in the daily program; on our Mediterranean Enchantment itinerary it included refreshing concoctions like an Aperol spritz or gin fizz. The only smoking area on the ship is located near Sky Bar on deck 7 starboard.
You can also elect to purchase drink packages and premium tours to elevate your experience to one that's on par with an all-inclusive cruise. But if your preference is to embark on a luxury all-inclusive experience, other cruise lines -- like Emerald's sister brand Scenic -- are a better fit. There’s also a walking track around the edge of the sun deck, as well as a small putting green.
Emerald Dawn has a small gym, hair salon and massage room, and there is a walking track and putting green on the sun deck. In 2019, Active Managers will help passengers take advantage of fitness classes and active excursions so people can keep fit while they travel. However, if a guest feels like rewarding a member of the crew for exceptional service, a cash tip is okay. The sun deck provides a walking track spanning the perimeter to keep up with daily steps. In warm weather, complimentary yoga/Pilates and wellness sessions are held on the rooftop space.
On sunny days passengers can sit out on The Terrace, a sheltered open-air area at the front of the ship. Cruisers can also take food to eat upstairs on the sun deck, where an alfresco barbecue lunch is served at least once a week, weather permitting. Navigating the gangway or tenders when the ship is at anchor could be challenging for someone with mobility issues. Not to mention that all of the excursions offered on the sailing were labeled at a moderate or strenuous activity level; many itineraries forgo the panoramic bus tours for hiking along ancient ruins. The ship’s almost pyramidal shape is immediately eye-catching, and interiors are sleek in muted grays and blues — save the welcome pops of color provided by the graphic Missoni towels on the pool decks. Emerald Azzurra certainly looks luxurious (it’s a superyacht, after all), and locals might mistake you for a celebrity or wealthy foreign power as you walk down the gangway.
Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Although cabins on Emerald's river ships have names like Panorama Balcony Suite or Grand Balcony Suite, they are more akin to virtual verandahs with floor-to-ceiling windows that lower electronically to a halfway point. Emerald Cruises operates eight river ships,[9] one yacht,[10] two chartered river ships,[11] and two chartered yachts. A luxury yacht cruise should highlight the very best of each destination and provide everything you need to have the most enjoyable time.
In the evening, many women change in to casual dresses, though you'll also see plenty of women in dress pants or capris. Emerald Star attracts mostly retired Australians and North Americans, both from the United States and Canada, as well as a smattering of folks from the United Kingdom. The average age is between 65 and 70 years old; during the height of the summer the demographic skews toward the lower end of the range, while at the start and end of the season, it skews older. Also useful is the "do not disturb" switch, which illuminates a red light outside the cabin door and saves hanging a sign on the door handle. If a guest needs a beard trim or would like their hair styled, they can make an appointment with the salon hairdresser, also located on the vista deck. The salon offers the essentials in a mini-salon environment to add a little something extra for a special occasion.
