The Azzurra is here! Emerald has officially entered the ocean cruising market with the addition of its stunning luxury yacht. This 100-passenger ship is a huge milestone for the already well-respected river cruise line, and we are here with your first look.
The Yacht
The Azzurra is small. The vessel houses 100 guests and 68 crew members. This is the ideal size to allow entry to smaller ports and anchorages and minimizes the lines and tender times. Additionally, the small capacity guarantees excellent guest-to-crew ratios, nearly 2:1. This translates to higher service standards onboard.
In addition to the 50 accommodations, The Emerald Azzurra is home to 6 bars and restaurants, a spa, a forward observation deck, a marina, and an infinity pool. Emerald has packed a lot into a small package. The designers melded art-deco and mid-century modern styles to create a chic luxury ambiance onboard. The color palette uses combinations of grey and white color palettes, with Emerald’s trademark light green, limestone, and even a little chrome sprinkled in here and there to capture the viewer’s eye.
Overall the ship feels like the next evolution of the brand. The Azzurra builds on the premium river offerings while finding a price point and quality tier that won’t cannibalize Emerald’s sister brand, Scenic’s clientele. This yacht represents an experience seasoned Emerald cruisers should aspire to as the brand’s top product while being an excellent choice for anyone looking to try the yacht-style experience.
The Accommodations
Emerald Azzurra features 50 accommodations. The introductory category is the 200-hundred-square-foot, Ocean View Stateroom. This is the basic accommodation for guests looking to get on board but spending little time in the room. As such, it has everything you would need but not a lot of added amenities. The bathrooms are well laid out with name-brand soaps and lotions. A queen-sized bed with a large picture window provides a comfortable place to rest your head, watch TV, or relax with a view in-between excursions or activities.
The Azzurra’s next level of accommodation is the Balcony Suites. These are the most plentiful accommodation on the ship. They are 286 square feet and are located on the third and fourth decks. These will be the standard accommodation to target if you want to have the quintessential yacht experience without additional extravagance. Remember that we are comparing these accommodations to the others onboard, so when we say “standard experience” we mean that there are better suites on this ship but this is a great mid-level option.
The Deluxe Balcony Suites are rare, there are only 2 on the ship, but they are definitely worth your time. These balcony suites come with additional square footage, share decks with the pool, and have a door separating the bedroom from the living space. This last feature is one of our favorites in cruising as in most cases to get this type of private sleeping area is reserved for the highest category suites on the vessel.
Next up we move into the premium suites, The Terrace Suite is 645 square feet including a massive private, wraparound balcony with two access points from the studio-style living space. Our favorite interior feature of this room is the bed that faces directly out of the full-length glass doors to the terrace.
The Yacht Suites on deck four are similar in size and layout to the Terrace Suites, but offer additional square footage and in-suite amenities. Located in the aft portion of the ship, guests will be welcomed to their suite with a bottle of sparkling wine and canapes upon arrival. This suite also features an outward-facing bed that looks over an expansive wrap-around balcony.
The Owner’s Suite is the largest and most luxurious accommodation on the yacht. This opulent suite features a total of over 1,100 square feet. Located on deck 6 to maximize your panoramic view, this is Emerald’Azzurra’s “killer app.” This top suite features a massive balcony, separate living and sleeping areas, interior and exterior dining areas, and additional amenities onboard. This is as good as it gets on the Azzurra and it really can’t get much better in our opinion. Expect an article dedicated entirely to this suite soon.
Public Spaces
The Emerald Azzura features multiple bars and restaurants. The main dining room is Reflections on deck three. It hosts buffet-style breakfast and lunch as well as a la carte dining inspired by the ports the ship will visit. After your meal, you can enjoy views from the terrace. The other buffet option is La Cucina. In the evenings, make your way up to the Horizon Bar and Lounge for drinks, entertainment, and outstanding views. We will be sure to do a deep dive into the restaurants in future posts.
The wellness facilities onboard include a fitness center, salon, Elements Spa, and infrared sauna. These are relatively large facilities for yacht-style ship and should be viewed as a great additional feature for guests to enjoy. It is clearly a point of emphasis for Emerald.
The Azzurra also houses a Marina deck and Marina for convenient use and storage of watersports equipment. The Marina also makes tendered ports a breeze by providing ease of access for entry and exit of the tenders.
Emerald Azzura is already sailing in the Mediterranean and Adriatic and will move to the Caribbean after the European Season. Emerald has already ordered a second yacht. The Emerald Sakkara is under construction and will join the fleet in 2023. It is clear that this is the new direction for the future of the brand and we’re here for it. With only 100 spots onboard the sooner you book your cruise the better chance you will have at a premium suite and the itinerary you prefer the most.
Luxury Cruise Connections ’ expert team of travel advisors is an excellent resource when planning your vacation. We have years of experience selling, educating, and matching guests with the brands, suites, and staterooms that fit the needs of each specific guest. We believe the luxury experience should begin from the moment you inquire about cruising.
