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This New Yacht Is Sailing to Gorgeous, Lesser-known Ports in the Caribbean Sea — and I Was on Board With 'Below Deck's' Chef Ben

Emerald Cruises' new Emerald Sakara ship brings guests to smaller ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, with an onboard marina and the occasional Bravo-lebrity.

Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler , Skift , and The Huffington Post .

emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

The Staterooms

Bars and restaurants, where emerald sakara sails, shore excursions, amenities and entertainment, family-friendly offerings, accessibility.

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

With a couple dozen guests looking on, chef Ben Robinson was showing how to slice and dice a fresh red snapper. “You kind of feel him — but you don’t fondle him,” said Robinson, the fan favorite from the Bravo reality show Below Deck, who’s always ready with a quip. As he pulled a perfect filet off the bone, he explained how to salt the fish and that there’s no more important relationship than the one you have with your fishmonger. “My advice is to always be friendly,” he noted. “I like to support my mom-and-pop [businesses]. If you become familiar with them, they’ll say, ‘Hey, I got this in this morning.’”

The cooking demo, which also featured a ceviche how-to and tips on knife sharpening, was one of many “Chef Ben” moments on my trip aboard Emerald Sakara . It’s the newest 100-passenger vessel from Emerald Cruises, which launched in the fall of 2023, a sibling vessel to the Emerald Azzurra .

During an eight-day voyage in March from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, the reality personality was definitely one of the star attractions. Robinson spent several evenings in the galley, creating special dishes such as a panko-crusted veal striploin stuffed with pesto.

He also hosted a well-attended Q&A about his life in the kitchen — and spent plenty of time connecting with fans, many of whom booked the trip specifically to chop it up with Below Deck alum.

“We definitely booked because of Ben,” said Shannon Welnel , a Montana-based travel advisor who had lots of praise for his cuisine — and the yacht-like atmosphere on board the 100-passenger ship. Other guests I spoke with admitted they hadn’t seen much Below Deck, but were intrigued by the chance to chill with a Bravo-lebrity.

Emerald Sakara

  • With a max of just 100 passengers, Emerald Sakara feels at times like a private yacht, with no lines and no crowds, and outstanding service from a highly experienced crew.
  • Minimalist rooms recall the stripped down aesthetic of Miami Beach or Mykonos, Greece, with pops of color from Missoni Home accents and a sleek-yet-functional bathroom with plenty of storage space.
  • While this small ship has but one restaurant and one poolside cafe, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to meals, whether you’re hitting the breakfast or lunch buffet or choosing from the dinner menu.
  • The onboard marina, which is open in favorable weather conditions, offers watersports and swimming off the stern of the ship.
  • Easy to understand and mostly inclusive pricing covers meals, beverages at mealtime, many tours, and surprisingly speedy Wi-Fi.

The intimate-ship vibe was also one reason the chef wanted to hop aboard. “This definitely has more of a yacht vibe than any other [ship] I've been on,” Robinson told me one afternoon. “A hundred passengers is not a lot,” he said. “I've been on boats with 2,500 passengers, and you really do feel like you're anonymous. But here, the service is great, and you really are treated as an individual and someone important. And you kind of lose that on the big boats.”

While Robinson doesn’t have immediate plans to join another Emerald cruise, he told me that there were plenty of parallels between his life on megayachts and what the Sakara offers its guests. “It’s been incredible,” he said.

I had to agree. The Sakara certainly has much to offer, both in spite of its smaller size and because of it. While it’s available to book by the cabin, like any cruise ship, it still manages to feel at times like a private yacht, particularly when it sails to less-commonly visited ports such as Culebra, on Puerto Rico, or St. Bart’s. In the latter, we dropped anchor near Eric Schmidt’s yacht, Whisper , and had the whole day to explore the glitzy island and its capital, Gustavia. (After a drive around in the morning, I managed to catch the beautiful sunset from the lovely little Shell Beach, right in town.)

“The benefit of being on a small cruise ship like this one is that we can enter small ports and areas where others can’t,” said Robert Kuznin, the captain of Sakara , who previously worked with several cruise lines, including Paul Gauguin, Seabourn, and Virgin Voyages. “For example, when we dropped anchor in Esperanza Bay,” he explained about our stop at the island of Vieques, “there were only two meters under the keel — and that was the shallowest I’ve ever been!”

Courtesy of Emerald Cruises

The ability to go places that larger ships can’t was also on display one morning on St. Kitts, one of the final stops of my trip. It was still early in the morning, but already four mega-ships were docked in Basseterre, the island’s capital. Instead of tying up next to them on the busy cruise pier, we dropped anchor just off the beach in South Friar’s Bay, a long sweep of sand in the island’s southern reaches. There were no crowds to contend with, no paperwork hassles, no touts offering dodgy cab rides. A five-minute tender ride to the beach was all it took to meet our local guide. Time from leaving the breakfast buffet to our first stop? About 25 minutes. Even the most efficient mega-ship would struggle to make that happen — and they can’t drop anchor right off the one of the best beaches on the island. 

Other moments aboard Sakara felt like something out of Below Deck . One afternoon, I made my way to the yacht’s marina, a platform at the stern stocked with lounge chairs, refreshments, and water toys such as a floating trampoline and inflatable sea kayaks. I jumped off the stern into the Caribbean and then tried out the ship’s Seabob, a floating gadget that’s like a cross between a Jet Ski and an electric scooter.

As I continued my joy ride, I could see another vessel anchored just north of us. Turns out, it was David Geffen’s private yacht , Rising Sun . Of course, we were there first.

Here’s a closer look at all the amenities of the Emerald Sakara , which sails seasonally in coastal waters in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Laurent BENOIT/Courtesy of Emerald Cruises

Welcome to your starship: the stripped down, white-and-gray cabins on Sakara feel sci-fi chic, particularly when the accent lighting is switched on. They’re also, thankfully, spacious and super functional, with ample storage space (including a safe), a small minibar, a coffee station, and a clever headboard built-in that’s a great spot for your charging devices and water bottle. Most of the 50 rooms and suites have verandas; ocean-view staterooms are the exception. Bathrooms are just big enough, with plenty of storage, and are stocked with Espa products and a hair dryer. My cabin, 421, was a 300-square-foot balcony suite toward the aft of the ship on deck four: I never once heard noise from the surrounding cabins or in the hallway, though I did occasionally notice sounds and vibrations from the vessel, something that is common on even the largest of ships. A note on power plugs: my stateroom had U.S.-style outlets throughout as well as USB-A charging ports on either side of the bed, a nice touch.

Because Sakara is smaller than most cruise ships, it can’t compete on sheer volume of bars and restaurants. Still, the food on board is solid. La Cucina is the only true dining room, with both indoor and outdoor seating; it has somewhat limited hours compared to the round-the-clock dining options on bigger vessels. That being said, I certainly didn’t go hungry: a breakfast buffet is complemented by traditional à la minute options such as omelets and pancakes; lunch is also buffet style with a carving station. Dinner is more restaurant style, with options from an ever-changing daily menu plus always available classics such as Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, grilled salmon, and spaghetti bolognese on offer. (Many dietary restrictions and preferences can be accommodated.)

On my voyage, chef Robinson put together several special plates, including what might’ve been the best dish of the week: a sesame-crusted seared yellowfin tuna with celeriac puree. The Below Deck star also put together a panko veal striploin roulade one night and, another evening, offered a citrus-cured hamachi with, in a touch of molecular gastronomy, “mango spheres.” Elsewhere on board, a poolside cafe, Aqua Café, has quick bites like burgers and flatbreads, as well as sweets and coffee pulled from a Cimbali espresso machine. The cocktails served in the Amici Lounge and the Sky Bar were consistently excellent, mixed by a talented team of pros who’ve previously worked on Seabourn ships and in some of Dubai’s top hotels. One weaker spot was the selection of wine on board: pours at mealtimes are included, but they didn’t rock my boat. A short list of “chairman’s wines,” available at extra cost, included a couple by-the-bottle finds such as 2013 vintage Cristal ($650) and some mid-tier Bordeaux and Burgundy options.

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

Though small, this ship isn’t an expedition yacht. Rather, it’s specifically designed for warm-weather coastal cruising, meaning it spends the lion’s share of its time in places such as the Caribbean and, in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months, the Mediterranean. My trip aboard was spent entirely in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, where passages between ports were short and the seas were often calm. (We did occasionally encounter some swells of up to two meters, or 6.6 feet. I saw many guests wearing medicated patches to prevent motion sickness throughout the trip.) Sakara typically spends a season of several months in a given region, with a variety of cruise lengths offered, ranging from six to 24 days. In 2024, the ship will spend April through November in the Mediterranean. Sakara will return to the Caribbean at the end of the year, through April 2025.

Tours off the ship were a strong suit for Emerald, at least on my voyage. Most stops offered a variety of activities, ranging from a simple transfer to a nearby beach to a full-on, multi-hour tour. Usually, I found myself ashore with a very small group of folks — fewer than a dozen — and all the guides Emerald arranged were true pros. Passengers raved about a kayak paddle through the bioluminescent bay on Vieques, something I sadly didn’t try myself. I did, however, enjoy a short guided hike on the island of St. John, to the pristine beach along Salomon Bay, which was all but deserted. The organization of excursions felt flawless to me, thanks no doubt to the crew and shore excursion manager, Pilar Atencio. Worth a mention, too, were Atencio’s detailed briefings on what to expect each day. While these sorts of “port talks'' are common on ships of all sizes, they felt particularly useful on Sakara because of how intimate our groups were; many passengers made a point of attending the pre-dinner talks every night, for info on what to expect about our anchorage, historical background on each island, and detailed info about what each tour offering would entail.

Call it small but mighty: Sakara has all the essentials, which is a bit of feat for a ship this size. A cozy spa has wellness and beauty treatments, as well as a small hairstyling and facial studio; morning yoga and stretching are available on deck. The fitness center, with a few cardio machines, a Peloton bike, and a variety of weights and other gear gets the job done. The smallish pool and a top-deck whirlpool were lovely — though I spent most of my time in the ocean: the Sakara ’s marina deck is a key feature, and it was open several afternoons during my trip. It’s like the greatest pool party you’ve ever been to, complete with piña coladas, sea kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and a trampoline, right off the stern of the ship. It is, truly, as much fun as it sounds like, though it is subject to the whims of weather and ocean currents. Also available in some destinations are e-bikes from Gocycle, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis; during my trip, several guests gave them a spin on the island of Vieques. Sakara also carries a ton of snorkeling gear and beach towels, which passengers can borrow whenever they like. In terms of performances, this isn’t the vessel for Broadway-style shows, but guitarist Jamie Ferguson and voyage director Nathalie Millet added plenty of live music to the trip.

The youngest passengers I spoke with on my cruise were in their 20s — and they were traveling with their parents. Sakara is perhaps the perfect ship for families traveling with adult children, since it offers such a diverse array of activities to suit different tastes and activity levels, while visiting intriguing destinations. The ship is also intimate enough that everybody can gather easily for meals — or a swim off the stern — without fighting the crowds common on larger vessels. On the other hand, Sakara is probably not the best choice for families with younger children: there’s no kid-specific programming, and you’re likely to be the only ones aboard with little ones. “Emerald Cruises yachts are recommended for people aged 12 and up, and they must be accompanied by and share a cabin with an adult aged 18 or [older],” a spokesperson shared with T+L.

Sakara is probably best described as somewhat accessible: the ship has elevators to all decks and the crew was, on my trip, very accommodating to those with mobility challenges. There are handrails throughout, and bathrooms feature shower grab bars. That being said, several areas of the ship — the outdoor dining terrace, for example — require navigating at least one step even once you’ve reached the deck in question by elevator. “Due to the nature and size of the ships, wheelchairs and scooters are not allowed to be used on board,” a spokesperson told T+L. When the ship is at anchor, it’s only possible to go ashore by tender or Zodiac, both of which could be challenging for those with limited mobility. As Emerald’s FAQ explains: “Guests with limited mobility will require help from a companion, since the crew is limited.” Also of note: many announcements are made only by loudspeaker with no hearing-impaired alternative.

Seven-night sailings on Emerald Sakara start from $2,775 per person, and you can book at emeraldcruises.com .

Our luxury yachts

Discover our pair of award-winning luxury yachts, Emerald Azzurra & Emerald Sakara.

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A new way to cruise

Join us on board our brand-new luxury yachts, as we explore everything that they have to offer. Get some sun on the Pool Deck or even go for a dip. Enjoy a bite in one of our eateries, and experience complete relaxation in the Elements Spa^. ^At additional cost

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Introducing our groundbreaking yachts.

Why sail on an Emerald Cruises luxury yacht?

At Emerald Cruises, your enjoyment comes first. Every aspect of our superb yachts is designed around you, from the contemporary accommodation and social spaces to our crew’s attentive level of service. Sail with small cruise ship experts.

Award-winning luxury

Our fleet of yachts are boutique floating hotels that provide guests with luxurious surroundings, a wealth of amenities, and unique innovations such as the spectacular Marina Platform and state-of-the-art infrared sauna.

An Emerald Cruises yacht sailing in the blue waters of Calvi, Corsica, France

Small ship yacht cruising expertise

Emerald Cruises specializes in providing a small cruise ship experience. 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.

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In the heart of the action

Our luxury yachts are custom-designed to sail into smaller ports and harbors. This allows our fleet to dock in the heart of fascinating port towns, meaning you’ll enjoy a more in-depth cruise that takes you closer to the action.

An aerial shot of an Emerald Cruises yacht docked in the heart of Bonifacio, Corsica, France

Contemporary suites & staterooms

Escape to your private sanctuary of serenity. With our range of suites and staterooms, there’s a cabin option to suit all preferences and budgets, whether you need plenty of space to stretch out or you’re longing for a cozier accommodation.

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A wealth of generous inclusions

Your yacht cruise should also provide complete peace of mind. This is why we cover port charges, all meals on board with accompanying beverages, complimentary Wi-Fi, and cover all gratuities on board and onshore. You’ll also benefit from a first-class English-speaking crew, and enjoy excursions led by knowledgeable, local guides.

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Our yacht fleet

Emerald azzurra, emerald sakara.

Red sky with an Emerald Cruises yacht sailing in Calvi, Corsica, France

Discover fine dining on board

Enjoy the most delectable dishes in the opulent surrounds of the La Cucina Dining. Let the tastes of freshly sourced ingredients on your palate, and enjoy complimentary beverages with each meal.

Unwind or catch up with friends in our onboard social spaces

From the chilled and relaxed vibe of the Amici Bar & Lounge to the open-air surrounds of the Pool Deck and the serene Observation Lounge, you’ll find plenty of spaces on board to enjoy the company of new-found friends or to take a moment for yourself.

Explore our innovative yachts

Take in stunning vistas from the Observation Deck. Swim under the sun in the infinity-style Aqua Pool or take a leisurely dip in the Spa Pool. Unwind in the innovative infrared sauna and, on selected days, enjoy swim stops off the Marina Platform.

Find your sanctuary of serenity

The suites and staterooms on board our yachts are modern sanctuaries with inspired décor and contemporary designs. Enjoy all the amenities you’d expect from a world-class hotel including luxury ESPA toiletries, Wi-Fi, and a queen or twin-sized bed.

Discover exciting destinations across the world

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Emerald Cruises Announces Build of New Yacht, Emerald Sakara

  • September 28, 2021

emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

Emerald Cruises has announced the build of a second superyacht, the Emerald Sakara, which will be welcomed to the brand’s yacht cruising fleet in 2023.

The Emerald Sakara – a Sanskrit mantra meaning “thoughts become things” – will also travel to a new sailing destination for Emerald Cruises: Seychelles.

The Emerald Sakara will join sister-superyacht Emerald Azzurra sailing the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Red and Black Seas. The addition of a second yacht adds additional capacity to keep up with the strong demand for the brand’s ocean-going itineraries, which saw Black Sea sailings sell out within two weeks of being released, despite the global pandemic.

The launch of the 100-guest Emerald Sakara will also introduce a brand-new destination for Emerald Cruises – Seychelles in the Indian Ocean – when she embarks on her maiden voyage. The eight-day Tropical Charms of the Seychelles itinerary will explore Port Victoria (Mahé Island), Sainte-Anne Island, Cousin Island, Praslin Island, Grande-Soeur Island, Curieuse Island, La Digue Island and Aride Island.

Construction is underway on the new 110-meter-long Emerald Sakara in Ha Long City, Vietnam, with the steel already cut. Like her sister-superyacht, 88 percent of Emerald Sakara’s 50 cabins will feature balconies. The superyacht will also boast more space per guest than similar vessels of her size.

Guests will enjoy a large infinity pool, spa, gym and marina platform with a number of marina toys available, including paddleboards and snorkeling equipment. All guests will enjoy Emerald Cruises’ inclusive pricing which comprises all onboard meals, complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, as well as a number of excursions and onboard activities.

The second luxury superyacht is expected to launch in Q1 2023, with bookings on sale starting Sept. 28, 2021, alongside further details on the Emerald Sakara’s schedule of 32 departures.

“We’ve received enormous interest in yacht cruising since announcing the launch of Emerald Azzurra, and we’re thrilled to be able to announce the building of our second luxury superyacht, Emerald Sakara. The yacht’s name is Sanskrit for the idea of ‘thoughts becoming things,’ and refers to the philosophy that positive thoughts can manifest into reality. We love this idea, which underscores Emerald Cruises’ brand promise of making our guests’ dreams of taking a luxury yacht vacation for an exceptional value come to life,” said David Winterton, global director of brand and marketing, Emerald Cruises. “Just like we did eight years ago on the rivers, we are bringing our own style of innovative and contemporary cruising to the world’s celebrated oceans, and we cannot wait to welcome guests onboard our two superyachts to explore some of the world’s most incredible regions with them.”

The Emerald Sakara is the 11th vessel in the Emerald Cruises fleet – joining nine river cruising ships and the brand’s ocean-going superyacht Emerald Azzurra, which is due to commence sailing on Jan. 28, 2022, with the eight-day Best of the Red Sea itinerary.

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Ship of the month: Emerald Sakara

Author: Kaye Holland

Published on: 10 August 2023

Updated on: 10 August 2023

A second luxury yacht for Emerald Cruises, Sakara makes her debut this month (August), joining sister ship Emerald Azzurra on 5-star journeys around the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Adriatic

Her name comes from the Sanskrit for ‘thoughts become feeling’, and she’s the vision of designer Karen Moroney, whose inspiration was the super-yachts of Monte Carlo. Accommodating just 100 guests – with 76 crew to pamper them – Sakara can explore the smaller ports and hidden coves that guests on big ships don’t even get to hear about. And when she drops anchor, a marina platform at the stern means she’s perfect for an impromptu dip in those balmy waters.

1. Suites Blow the budget on one of the vast (110m2) Owner’s Suites (above) and you get a separate bedroom and lounge, plus a huge private balcony with the best view on the ship. But even the (comparatively) lowly Oceanview Staterooms are a generous 19m2.

2. Dining Emerald is known for its first-class cuisine, and main restaurant La Cucina (above) is a celebration of fresh, seasonal and local produce. Sun shining? You can enjoy the same menu, plus alfresco breakfast or lunch, at La Cucina Terrace on the open deck.

3. Sky Deck Fancy a taste of the billionaire lifestyle? You’ll feel on top of the world – and the ship – as you sip an expertly mixed cocktail at the Sky Bar. With the Spa Pool just a few steps away, it’s the perfect place to while away a lazy afternoon.

4. Elements Spa Sakara’s wellness centre is a temple to relaxation with a huge menu of spa treatments, massages and bespoke facials. There’s also a state-of-the-art infrared sauna (above) and a well-equipped gym offering fitness classes.

5. Observation Lounge Sometimes, all you want to do is to sit and watch the waves. Overlooking the bow of the ship, Sakara’s elegant Observation Lounge offers a grandstand view as you cruise your way around the Caribbean or the Med.

6. Aqua Pool Just back from a shore excursion? The infinity-style Aqua Pool could be your next destination. Once you’ve had a splash, it’s time to kick back on the super-comfy Paola Lenti day loungers and Kettal lounge chairs – all tailor-made for dreamy relaxation.

FAST FACTS 100 guests

50 suites & staterooms

3 restaurants

6 passenger decks

Celestyal adds more 2025 departures due to demand

Cunard reveals daytime activities onboard queen anne, cruise radar: everything you need to know about the cruise industry right now, death knell prepared for famed ss united states, star onboard: jason donovan, regent seven seas cruises partners with aston martin aramco formula one® team, saga announces new river cruise ship for 2025, carnival cruise line to add fourth excel-class ship, riviera travel to launch two new ships in 2025, avalon waterways to make garonne and dordogne debuts in 2025, follow us on socials, about kaye holland.

Kaye is a London-based wordsmith who has written for a range of publications including The Times , The Independent , The I , Culture Trip , The Sun , and ABTA among others. In June 2022, Kaye joined the Real Response Media where she looks – together with Lucy Abbott – after the World of Cruising website. Want to get in touch? Kaye can be reached at: [email protected]

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Emerald Sakara coming in 2023 as sister-superyacht to Emerald Azzurra

Post date: Sep 28 2021

Date: Sep 28 2021

By: Travelweek Group

VANCOUVER — Emerald Cruises has announced the build of a second superyacht,  Emerald Sakara , which will be welcomed to the brand’s yacht cruising fleet in 2023.

Emerald Sakara – a Sanskrit mantra meaning ‘thoughts become things’ – will join sister-superyacht Emerald Azzurra sailing the Med, Adriatic, Red and Black Seas.

The company says the addition of a second yacht adds additional capacity to keep up with the strong demand for the brand’s ocean-going itineraries, which saw Black Sea sailings sell out within two weeks of being released, despite the pandemic.

The launch of the 100-guest Emerald Sakara will also introduce a new destination for Emerald Cruises – the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Emerald Sakara’s maiden voyage, the eight-day Tropical Charms of the Seychelles itinerary, will explore Port Victoria (Mahé Island), Sainte-Anne Island, Cousin Island, Praslin Island, Grande-Soeur Island, Curieuse Island, La Digue Island and Aride Island.

emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

Construction is underway on the new 110-metre-long Emerald Sakara in Ha Long City, Vietnam, with the steel already cut. Like Emerald Azzurra, 88% of Emerald Sakara’s 50 cabins will have balconies. Emerald Sakara will also boast more space per guest than similar vessels of its size. Amenities will include a large infinity pool, spa, gym and marina platform with paddleboards, snorkelling equipment and more. Emerald Cruises’ inclusive pricing comprises all onboard meals, complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, as well as a number of excursions and on board activities.

Emerald Sakara is expected to launch in Q1 2023, with bookings on sale starting today, Sept. 28, 2021.

“We’ve received enormous interest in yacht cruising since announcing the launch of Emerald Azzurra, and we’re thrilled to be able to announce the building of our second luxury superyacht, Emerald Sakara. The yacht’s name is Sanskrit for the idea of ‘thoughts becoming things,’ and refers to the philosophy that positive thoughts can manifest into reality. We love this idea, which underscores Emerald Cruises’ brand promise of making our guest’s dreams of taking a luxury yacht vacation for an exceptional value come to life,” says David Winterton, Global Director of Brand & Marketing, Emerald Cruises.

“Just like we did eight years ago on the rivers, we are bringing our own style of innovative and contemporary cruising to the world’s celebrated oceans, and we cannot wait to welcome guests on board our two superyachts to explore some of the world’s most incredible regions with them,” he added.

Emerald Sakara is the 11th vessel in the Emerald Cruises fleet, joining nine river cruising Star-Ships and Emerald Azzurra, which is due to commence sailing on Jan. 28, 2022 with the eight-day ‘Best of the Red Sea’ itinerary.

Digital brochures are available at  emeraldcruises.ca .

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emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

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emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

VESSEL REVIEW | Emerald Sakara – Luxury yacht-style cruise ship for Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries

emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

Switzerland-based cruise operator Emerald Cruises recently took delivery of a new luxury yacht designed for serving Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries.

Built at the Vietnam facilities of Ha Long Shipbuilding, Emerald Sakara is the second luxury yacht to join the Emerald Cruises fleet. As with its 2022-built sister ship Emerald Azzurra , the newer vessel is intended to be a modern yacht-like passenger cruise ship for operation on international voyages while being able to visit a greater number of harbours compared to their larger counterparts.

The vessel has a length of 110 metres, a beam of 16 metres, a draught of 4.2 metres, and a gross tonnage of 5,175. Suite and single stateroom accommodations are available for 100 passengers in 50 cabins while 76 crewmembers and other personnel are housed in 41 cabins.

emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

The guest facilities are found on seven decks and include lounges, a bar, a cafe, an observation area, a pool, restaurants, a gym, a medical centre, a sauna, a salon, and a boutique shop. At the stern is a deployment and recovery ramp for watersports equipment such as kayaks, rubber expedition boats, and paddleboards.

The main machinery consists of two 1,490kW high-speed diesel engines each driving a fixed-pitch propeller to deliver a speed of 16 knots. Electrical power is meanwhile supplied by three diesel generators. Also fitted are two rudders, two retractable fin stabilisers, and a bow thruster.

Emerald Sakara will sail under the flag of Bahamas and is homeported at Nassau. The ship is presently in the Mediterranean serving itineraries that include stops in Venice and the Croatian cities of Dubrovnik, Sibenik, and Zadar.

emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

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emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

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emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

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  • Emerald Cruises celebrates official christening of luxury yacht...

Emerald Cruises celebrates official christening of luxury yacht Emerald Sakara in San Juan, Puerto Rico

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Emerald Cruises marked a significant maritime event with the official christening of their newest superyacht - Emerald Sakara , in a special ceremony held at San Juan Puerto Rico .

Kelly Craighead, President and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), presided over the christening at the Port of San Juan’s Pier 4 East terminal. Reflecting on the event, Craighead remarked that the dedication of Emerald Sakara was extraordinary, and she was honored to be an ambassador for the entire CLIA team in the esteemed maritime tradition of godmother.

"The stunning luxury of Emerald Sakara, complemented by Emerald Cruises’ commitment to environmentally responsible tourism, exemplifies CLIA’s advocacy for sustainable tourism and preservation of cruise destinations around the world for future generations.”

The ceremony, attended by Glen Moroney, owner of Emerald Cruises’ parent company Scenic Group, and Ken Muskat, Scenic Group managing director for the USA, drew travel agents, trade partners, embarking cruise guests, and media from around the world. The traditional champagne bottle breaking took place onboard the vessel, accompanied by music performed by a local cultural band.

Glen Moroney highlighted the unique approach of Emerald Cruises in the cruise industry, emphasizing their involvement in every aspect of shipbuilding, from concept and design to engineering and crew employment. Moroney expressed his satisfaction with having Kelly as the godmother of Emerald Sakara, praising her can-do attitude and leadership at CLIA during the industry's recent challenges.

Emerald Sakara embarked on her maiden voyage from Piraeus-Athens Greece to Civitavecchia-Rome Italy , in August 2023.

Sakara will join the sistership Emerald Azzurra for the winter 2023-2024 season, both being deployed in the Caribbean and Central America.

IMAGES

  1. Emerald Cruises launches its newest superyacht Emerald Sakara

    emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

  2. Emerald Sakara Cruises 2023

    emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

  3. Emerald’s new superyacht Emerald Sakara

    emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

  4. Emerald Sakara Completes Successful Sea Trials

    emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

  5. EMERALD SAKARA KOMMT AM 5. AUGUST

    emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

  6. Emerald Cruises grows yacht cruising portfolio with build of Emerald

    emerald sakara yacht owner wikipedia

COMMENTS

  1. Emerald Sakara Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

    The 2023-built Emerald Sakara cruise ship is a superyacht with max passenger capacity 100. This is the second of two newbuilds in the Emerald Cruises fleet, as well as the company's second ocean-going vessel - following the sistership Azzurra (2022). Sakara was constructed in Vietnam (by Halong Shipbuilding Company/HLS in Ha Long City).HLS was contracted to build the hull and install all the ...

  2. All About Emerald Sakara

    The sister to Emerald Azzurra, which debuted in March 2022, the 100-passenger Emerald Sakara gives you all the amenities of a larger cruise ship with the deluxe vibe of a private yacht. Heading ...

  3. This New Yacht Is Sailing to Gorgeous, Lesser-known Ports in the

    With a max of just 100 passengers, Emerald Sakara feels at times like a private yacht, with no lines and no crowds, and outstanding service from a highly experienced crew. Minimalist rooms recall ...

  4. Emerald Cruises

    History. Emerald Waterways was founded in 2013 by Glen Moroney, as a division of Scenic. It offered its first cruises on the rivers of Europe in 2014 on the 180-passenger Emerald Sky.. In 2018, the company announced its first non-European ship, the 84-passenger Emerald Harmony, to provide cruises between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia. ...

  5. Emerald Cruises' New Emerald Sakara Christened by CLIA ...

    In attendance were Captain Rob O'Leary, captain of Emerald Sakara, local travel advisors and US trade partners, embarking guests and media from around the world.Kelly Craighead christened Emerald Sakara with a traditional champagne bottle breaking ceremony, followed by an exciting surprise for all in attendance— flyboarders emerged from behind the yacht, providing a celebratory finish to ...

  6. Emerald Sakara Cruise Ship Review

    Identical to its sister ship, the 361-foot-long, 100-passenger Emerald Sakara was custom-built in Vietnam's Ha Long shipyard in 2023. The vessel looks and feels like a luxurious private yacht ...

  7. Our Luxury Yachts

    Explore Emerald Cruises fleet of luxury yachts. Enjoy an abundance of space on board, sumptuous dining options & uniquely designed suites. Discover more. ... The sister yacht to the award-winning Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara mirrors the luxury surrounds of her sister to perfection. Relax on board as our crew provides an unparalleled service ...

  8. Emerald Cruises Announces Build of New Yacht, Emerald Sakara

    September 28, 2021. Emerald Cruises has announced the build of a second superyacht, the Emerald Sakara, which will be welcomed to the brand's yacht cruising fleet in 2023. The Emerald Sakara - a Sanskrit mantra meaning "thoughts become things" - will also travel to a new sailing destination for Emerald Cruises: Seychelles.

  9. World of Cruising

    Updated on: 10 August 2023. A second luxury yacht for Emerald Cruises, Sakara makes her debut this month (August), joining sister ship Emerald Azzurra on 5-star journeys around the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. Her name comes from the Sanskrit for 'thoughts become feeling', and she's the vision of designer Karen Moroney ...

  10. Godmother announced for Emerald Cruises' newest ship Emerald Sakara

    April 18, 2023 , Cruise Industry. Kelly Craighead (CLIA's President and CEO/Cruise Lines International Association) has been selected to serve as the godmother of Emerald Sakara - the second new superyacht of Emerald Cruises - set for launch in August 2023. The naming ceremony is scheduled for December 2, 2023, in San Juan Puerto Rico.

  11. Emerald Sakara

    The new 110-metre Emerald Sakara, a sister ship to Emerald Azzurra, will begin operation in a new destination for Emerald Cruises - the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean in early 2023.Custom-built to access ports only the smaller vessels can reach, this spacious vessel provides guests with first-class service and an intimate atmosphere with a maximum of 100 guests onboard.

  12. Emerald Sakara in 2023 as sister to Emerald Azzurra

    VANCOUVER — Emerald Cruises has announced the build of a second superyacht, Emerald Sakara, which will be welcomed to the brand's yacht cruising fleet in 2023. Emerald Sakara - a Sanskrit ...

  13. VESSEL REVIEW

    Switzerland-based cruise operator Emerald Cruises recently took delivery of a new luxury yacht designed for serving Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries. Built at the Vietnam facilities of Ha Long Shipbuilding, Emerald Sakara is the second luxury yacht to join the Emerald Cruises fleet. As with its 2022-built sister ship Emerald Azzurra, the newer vessel is intended […]

  14. Emerald Cruises to build a 2nd superyacht, Emerald Sakara

    The 2nd luxury superyacht is scheduled to launch in Q1 2023. Emerald Sakara is the 11th ship in the fleet of Emerald Cruises joining 9 river cruising Star-Ships and the line's ocean-going superyacht Emerald Azzurra, which is expected to commence sailing on January 28, 2022 with the 8-day Best of the Red Sea itinerary.

  15. Inside and out, Emerald Sakara is all about space

    Seen from shore, the Sakara is easy to brag about. Its low-slung profile and long, retro bow give it a rakish allure. At 110 meters, it is the same length as a 2008 yacht built in Germany for the ...

  16. A look at Emerald Cruises' second luxury yacht, Emerald Sakara

    Passengers aside, there was quite a lot riding on Emerald Azzurra when it launched in 2022. As Emerald Cruises' first-ever luxury ocean cruising yacht, Emerald Azzurra represented a new stream for the company, which has built its glowing reputation in river cruising. Given Emerald Cruises' pedigree as a part of Scenic Group, however, the luxury element of the 100-passenger Emerald Azzurra ...

  17. Emerald Cruises' Newest Luxury Yacht, Emerald Sakara ...

    After Emerald Sakara's August debut, the yacht will embark on a summer season exploring the coastal waters of Italy, Greece, Türkiye and the Adriatic.From there, it's off across the Atlantic where both Emerald Sakara and Emerald Azzurra will winter in the warm waters of the Caribbean and Central America.The first Eastern Caribbean and Grenadines sailing is scheduled to depart on November ...

  18. Emerald Cruises' newest superyacht Emerald Sakara completes sea trials

    Joining the Emerald Cruises fleet as the second 100-passenger ocean-going yacht, following the introduction of Emerald Azzurra in March 2022, Emerald Sakara will spend the summer season sailing the coastal waters of Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the Adriatic. She will later reposition herself to the Caribbean, sailing alongside her identical ...

  19. History of Moscow

    Early history (1147-1283) The first reference to Moscow dates from 1147 as a meeting place of Sviatoslav Olgovich and Yuri Dolgorukiy. At the time it was a minor town on the western border of Vladimir-Suzdal Principality. In 1156, Kniaz Yury Dolgoruky fortified the town with a timber fence and a moat.

  20. Fire of Moscow (1812)

    An 1817 map. Areas of Moscow destroyed by the fire are in red. Faber du Faur Moskau 1812. During the French occupation of the city, the 1812 Fire of Moscow persisted from 14 to 18 September 1812 and all but destroyed the city. The Russian troops and most of the remaining civilians had abandoned the city on 14 September 1812 just ahead of French Emperor Napoleon's troops entering the city after ...

  21. Emerald Cruises celebrates official christening of luxury yacht Emerald

    Emerald Cruises marked a significant maritime event with the official christening of their newest superyacht - Emerald Sakara, in a special ceremony held at San Juan Puerto Rico.. Kelly Craighead, President and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), presided over the christening at the Port of San Juan's Pier 4 East terminal.

  22. Moscow

    Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia.The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million residents within the city limits, over 18.8 million residents in the urban area, and over 21.5 million residents in the metropolitan area. The city covers an area of 2,511 square kilometers (970 sq mi), while the urban area covers 5,891 square ...

  23. Moscow Urban Renewal Initiative

    The Moscow Urban Renewal Initiative (Russian: Инициатива обновления городов Москвы) is a vast public works program commissioned by Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It began in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2032. [1] The plan includes the demolition of 5,171 ...