Brand-new, boutique river cruise ships that offer more space than most. Unique features such as a heated pool with retractable roof and an onboard cinema. All on board meals and a collection of highlight dinners. Tea and coffee available at all times throughout your cruise and bottled water restocked daily in your cabin. An included shore excursion in almost every port as well as complimentary bicycles on board for daily use. Free WiFi on the ship and all gratuities included. And more! You wouldn’t expect all this from a river cruise - but with Emerald Waterways, you can look forward to it.
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River Cruising is one of the fastest growing vacation experiences. And no wonder – what’s not to love about admiring stunning scenery as you glide slowly along Europe’s beautiful rivers, and then tie up right in the heart of magnificent, historic cities like Amsterdam or Budapest? One of the delights of river cruising in Europe is that your cruise ship is sized to fit the locks, bridges and waterways of Europe. So it is a small and intimate experience with only around 150 passengers. Disembarking is a short walk down the gangplank to the very heart of a city. And of course travelling the calm waters of a river means that sea sickness isn’t an issue.
Emerald Waterways launched in 2014 – which means that they have some of the newest and most groundbreaking ships on Europe’s rivers. Yet you get the best of both worlds as they are backed by Scenic Cruises, who are long established and one of the world’s leading luxury river cruise operators.
Emerald Waterways offer over 30 itineraries to choose from with 8 - 11 day and longer 12 – 17 day cruises as well. Their excellent, well planned itineraries bring you the highlights of Europe with multi country tours as well as cruises centred on France. And their Vietnam & Cambodia itinerary brings you the journey of a lifetime with the beautiful landscapes, lively people, excellent food, deep culture and poignant history of South East Asia. Sail the stunning Mekong River aboard the luxurious, French Colonial style ship, the Mekong Navigator.
The Rhine, the Moselle, the Main are easily some of Europe’s most scenic and culturally-significant waterways. Take in stunning vistas of mountainside vineyards, story book castles, and charming hamlets along the way. The Danube transports you from Germany, through Austria and into Hungary, travelling past enchanting forests and mountain scenery. The Danube can also be romantic - taking you to ancient abbeys, beautiful palaces, historic landmarks and amazing cities like Vienna and Budapest. Or explore France on the Rhone and the Saone. The region’s wines and gastronomic delights are waiting to be tasted, and France’s impressive architecture, including castles and palaces, will float right on by….
Expert local guides and your cruise director are there to ensure you have the best possible experience at every stop along the way of your incredible journey. Almost every day there is an included excursion with Emerald Waterways. Highly knowledgeable, English speaking local guides will take you on insightful tours, bringing to life your destination by skilfully painting a picture of its exciting history and providing in depth commentary on the local culture. And so you don’t miss out on any interesting information, you’re provided with a personal headset so you can hear your guide as you explore.
Building a brand new fleet allowed Emerald to tailor the design of their staterooms and suites, hand picking elegant furnishings right down to the smallest detail. There is a range of cabins to choose from, but no matter which you opt for, you’ll enjoy your own en suite bathroom, hotel-style bed, flat screen TV and infotainment system, individual climate control, complimentary WiFi, bottled water restocked daily, personal fridge and plenty of space and storage.
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Owner’s One-bedroom Suite
The embodiment of luxury and space, Owner’s One-bedroom Suites are designed to really enhance your river cruise experience. There are only four of these superior suites on the ship and you’ll enjoy exceptional features like a deluxe walk-in closet and a spacious bathroom. Owner’s suites have a bedroom which closes off from the rest of the cabin to offer even greater privacy.
Plus, with a separate sitting area you have the perfect place to entertain other guests while taking advantage of your in-suite mini-bar, that’s not only included, but re-stocked daily with wine, beer and soft drinks.
Owner’s One-bedroom Suites include a number of special amenities, such as complimentary laundry service for four items a day and a Nespresso machine so that you can enjoy your favourite blend. There is even an iPad to use throughout your cruise. Each day, pre-dinner canapés and after-dinner gourmet desserts will be delivered to your suite, and you have the option to order a delicious continental breakfast to enjoy in your seating area.
Grand Balcony Suite
Emerald Waterways’ revolutionary open-air system is designed to ensure you can enjoy your balcony, whatever the weather. Grand Balcony Suites have a spacious outdoor balcony, allowing you to make the most of all the beautiful landscapes. But should the weather take a turn for the worse at the touch of a button, the open-air system window will rise up, enclosing the balcony area so that you can still sit out and admire the views.
Each Grand Balcony Suites includes many of those small details that make a big difference, like an in-suite Nespresso machine, and complimentary laundry service for two items per day. For a more intimate dining setting, you’ll have the option to enjoy a continental breakfast, pre-dinner canapés and after-dinner gourmet desserts served on your balcony (all included in the price, of course!).
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite
With the touch of a button, the innovative open-air system’s window (that spans the entire width of your cabin) drops down to let the fresh air in and to unveil a full panoramic views of the stunning scenery. And to further enhance your indoor balcony experience, there is a decked area complete with table and chairs, generating an entirely new space for you to enjoy while cruising along Europe’s rivers.
Emerald Stateroom
Located on the Riviera Deck, Emerald Staterooms feature picture windows. Measuring 162 square feet, they’re more spacious than most other companies’ standard staterooms, providing excellent value for money.
Single Stateroom
Emerald Waterways offer single cabins located on the Riviera deck with the same features as the Emerald Staterooms. Solo travelers will be delighted that thier needs are catered to as well - a single stateroom is a rare find on a river cruise boat!
On an Emerald Waterways river cruise, you can expect great dining experiences from start to finish. Each cruise begins with a Welcome Dinner where you’ll meet other guests, and ends with a Farewell Dinner where you can share memories with new-found friends. Throughout the cruise the experienced chefs ensure that their menus showcase the fantastic cuisine Europe has to offer.
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Every day, you’ll enjoy a hot and cold buffet for breakfast and lunch with an array of appetizers, main course choices and a collection of sweets at the dessert table. In the evenings, you are the special guest at a four-course dinner serving delicious international and regional specialty dishes.
If you stay in an Owner’s One-bedroom Suite or a Grand Balcony Suite you have in suite dining options. You can choose to enjoy a continental breakfast, pre-dinner canapés and after-dinner gourmet desserts in your room (all included in the price, of course!).
An Emerald Waterways Star Ship also offers you a great choice of dining venues:
Reflections Restaurant
Reflections is the ship’s main restaurant, offering an informal setting for you to savour the delightful cuisine. Every day, you can enjoy a buffet breakfast or, for something a little more special, take advantage of the resident Egg Chef’s fabulous selections. At lunch, you can choose from a full hot
and cold buffet or delicious à la carte menu. In the evenings, you’ll enjoy an amazing four-course meal.
Dine al-fresco on The Terrace
When the weather’s nice, The Terrace – located at the bow of the ship – offers a beautiful setting to enjoy al-fresco dining. For the perfect start to your day, you can watch the sun rise with your morning tea or coffee and light breakfast. With a panoramic view, The Terrace is also a lovely place to grab a café-style lunch from a choice of pastas, pizzas, soups, sandwiches and salad. And on selected days, you’ll find a barbecue on the Sun Deck for a fantastic grilled feast.
All inclusive beverages
Complimentary tea and coffee from state-of-the-art machines are available at all times throughout your cruise. To accompany lunch and dinner, there is a carefully chosen selection of red and white wines, beers and soft drinks for you to enjoy with your meal. All of which are included in the price of your vacation.
To complement the high quality dining on board our ships, you will also have authentic experiences off the ship to give you a deeper insight into your destination’s culture. In Bratislava, for example, you’ll have the opportunity to taste traditional fare, and learn more about everyday local life, during a hosted afternoon tea in the company of a local Slovakian family.
Emerald Waterways include many tours and excursions in the price, taking you to many of Europe’s must-see sights and local hidden gems. With the EmeraldPLUS program, you’ll enjoy unique, in-depth experiences at no additional charge, which may even include UNESCO World heritage sites.
Each morning, you’ll wake to a new day of discovery as knowledgeable English speaking local guides take you on insightful tours. EmeraldPLUS experiences go beyond the usual tourist highlights and really open your eyes to European culture. For example, in Amsterdam, on selected cruises you’ll enjoy a visit to Keukenhof Gardens – the world’s most beautiful spring garden – or enjoy a picturesque cruise through its maze of canals.
Emerald has designed their itineraries to offer flexibility, giving you free time to explore the way you want. Should you wish for more guided experiences then they have also created optional DiscoverMore excursions, available at an additional charge, which can be added to your tour.
Pre and Post cruise stays extend your stay and make the most of your time abroad! A few days in destination pre-cruise also help you acclimatize to the time zone and allow you to enjoy your much anticipated cruise to the maximum. And you get the best return from your investment in your overseas flight.
Emerald Waterways will arrange for you to stay in a centrally-located hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, and if you purchase your hotel accommodations and an excursion they will also arrange your airport-hotel-ship transportation. Extensions are offered in Amsterdam, Nuremberg, and Budapest.
Want to know more about the destination? Check out Chris' Travel Notes!
Chris writes extensive Travel Notes for each show that will help you plan your next trip. Find out more about the Destination; Climate; Getting Around; Accommodation; Kids to Seniors; History; Sports and Activities; Attractions; Culture; Cuisine; Special Deals and where to go to get even more information!
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