Emerald River Cruises

The elegant dining experience available on an Emerald Cruises' river ship is always utterly delightful. With each delectable dish made with the freshest ingredients, and menus drawing on the local cuisines of the regions you’re sailing through, truly exquisite culinary experiences await. Even when you’re cruising along the river to your next exciting destination, you’ll feel immersed in the area around you, no matter where in the world your incredible river cruise experience takes you.

While you’re enjoying an Emerald journey to some of the world’s most remarkable regions, you’ll find the following dining experience available onboard:

• Reflections Restaurant - the premier dining venue onboard, and somewhere setting the benchmark when it comes to quality, you’ll enjoy a changing menu of dishes inspired by local flavours and familiar favourites here – all carefully prepared by a talented culinary team with the finest ingredients
• Sky Barbecue - an outdoor barbecue area on the Sun Deck, this is the perfect place to enjoy something tasty while soaking up the sunshine and admiring the stunning scenery surrounding you
• Horizon Bar & Lounge - while not a dedicated dining venue, you can enjoy light bites and tapas-style snacks throughout the day when you’re enjoying the welcoming atmosphere of the Horizon Bar & Lounge
• The Terrace - a stunning forward-facing outdoor space, The Terrace offers everyone a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the main lounge spaces onboard and gives you a chance to enjoy delicious light bites throughout the day al fresco*
• Lotus Lounge - an intimate lounge space where light bites and snacks are available to order and enjoy throughout the day, the Lotus Lounge is the perfect place to relish in the remarkable views of the region around you**

While you won’t find a traditional room service system in place onboard Emerald river ships, guests in the Owner’s One-Bedroom Suite and Grand Balcony Suite will have the option to order continental breakfast items, pre-dinner canapes, and after-dinner sweet treats to be served in their suite.

* this dining venue is only available on Emerald's European river cruises.

** this dining venue is only available on Emerald’s South East Asian river cruises.

Offering elegant river cruises where appreciating the destinations you’re visiting is often at the forefront of the experience, the entertainment options available onboard Emerald's river ships are understated and largely low-key; you’re not going to find any dramatic stage productions or dazzling Broadway-style shows here.

However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do when the sun sets; far from it, in fact. Throughout your river cruise, you’ll find an interesting entertainment programme available in the Horizon Bar & Lounge, featuring local performers, resident musicians, and more. The beating heart of your Emerald Cruises river ship, this venue features an entertainment space with room for live music performances and intriguing talks, a dance floor perfect for late-night dance parties, and a well-stocked bar which will keep all your favourite refreshments flowing. If you’re looking for something entertaining to enjoy after an exciting day on the river, this will be where you’ll find it.

Children over the age of 12 are allowed on Emerald voyages, and guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must share their accommodation with an adult while onboard. However, there are no dedicated children’s facilities or services available onboard.

Emerald River Cruises’ voyages whisk you away on unforgettable adventures throughout Europe and South East Asia, with the latter primarily featuring sections of the impressive Mekong River.

On European itineraries, you’ll find sailings featuring sections of several major waterways in Central Europe, from the Rhine in Germany and the Danube in Eastern Europe to the Seine in France and Duruo River in Portugal. While cruising these rivers, you’ll have the chance to explore major cities like Budapest, Amsterdam, Vienna, and Munich alongside a range of interesting smaller ports of call.

Meanwhile, on South East Asian itineraries, you’ll be afforded the unique opportunity to explore the Mekong River, a major waterway that flows through parts of China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The destinations you’ll call at on these voyages include Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Min City, Tan Chau, Oudong, and more.

Shore Excursions

With Emerald River Cruises’ incredible selection of immersive shore excursions, you’ll have the chance to discover the world through authentic experiences and see the exciting destinations you visit on your river cruise in a new light.

With a wide range of tours available, from those that let you explore remarkable historic landmarks and immerse yourself in local cultures far different from your own, to walking tours and hikes taking you to spots with some of the most stunning scenery in the world, there’s something to suit everyone available with Emerald River Cruises.

If you’re looking to take things even further, Emerald River Cruises’ DiscoverMORE programme is an optional additional cost that will further your experience. Designed to take you into the beating heart of local life, discovering hidden gems and rare insights that go beyond traditional travel encounters, this programme will ensure you’re making the absolute most of every moment you spend ashore. From wine tasting in Colmar and tours of Quinta Aveleda to silk farm tours in Koh Oknha Tei and Khmer village cooking classes, sightseeing is the tip of the iceberg with DiscoverMORE.

Wellness

There’s nothing more important to Emerald than your health and wellbeing, and that’s why you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy wellness experiences and fitness activities onboard.

In the Wellness Area on Emerald's river ships, you’ll find a range of sumptuous spa treatments available alongside a dedicated massage therapy room designed specifically to promote serenity and comfort. Beyond this, you’ll also find a selection of salon services available; so, you’ll have the chance to refresh your look while you’re indulging in all the incredible treatments available – or, perhaps, treating yourself to a relaxing massage.

They are also home to a well-equipped gym space, which you’re free to use throughout your voyage, but can also take advantage of with guided workouts and fitness classes. The Walking Track on the Sun Deck is also a fantastic place to stretch your legs while sailing along some of the world’s most fascinating waterways.

On European river cruises, you’ll also be able to take advantage of EmeraldACTIVE, a programme designed to feed your body and mind during your Emerald river cruises adventure. With EmeraldACTIVE, dedicated activity managers will be on hand to help you stay active throughout your voyage, while also leading mindfulness activities and hosting shore excursions that keep wellness in mind. So, onboard, this could mean yoga and group meditation. Meanwhile, when ashore, this could mean bike riding tours, river kayaking, or guided hikes. Similar experiences will be available on South East Asian river cruises, though, so you’re not going to be missing out on much if you’re cruising the Mekong River and beyond.

Recreation

Beyond this, the ships are home to a handful of recreational activities to keep your river cruising experience exciting; although, with all the destination-rich itineraries available, you’re probably not going to be spending too many of your days onboard.

On most Emerald river ships, you’ll find a small putting green and games area on the Sun Deck, giving everyone onboard a chance to relish in the glorious weather while enjoying some friendly competition with friends, family, and fellow travellers. The aft-facing daytime pool also doubles as a cinema area in the evenings, so you can watch Hollywood blockbusters and all-time classics when the sun sets.

Throughout your voyage, you’ll also find a series of informative lectures and talks from local experts to enjoy alongside enriching experiences like culinary classes. Though the specifics may vary from itinerary to itinerary, this enriching activity programme will further enhance your experience onboard and add to the incredible experiences waiting for you when you disembark in each incredible destination.

Beyond this, Emerald river ships also have a fleet of free-to-use bikes onboard, perfect for those of you looking for a more active way to explore the destinations you’ll be visiting.

Emerald River Cruises’ Fleet

Of all the impressive river cruise ships sailing in Emerald's fleet, the following primarily feature on European river cruise itineraries:

• Emerald Dawn
• Emerald Sun
• Emerald Sky
• Emerald Star
• Emerald Destiny
• Emerald Luna
• Emerald Liberté
• Emerald Radiance

Alongside this, Emerald Harmony sails along the Mekong River in South East Asia.