Scenic Group announces three new luxury river ships | News
Scenic Group has revealed it will launch three new luxury river ships in 2027 and early 2028. One Emerald Star-Ship will join the Emerald Cruises & Tours fleet, while Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours will welcome two ultra-luxury Scenic Space-Ships.
The new ships will operate across Europe and Asia, with bookings now open
Emerald Nova – launch in June 2027 on the Douro River
The 112-guest Emerald Nova will be purpose-built for the Douro and join Emerald Radiance in Portugal. Nova offers two routes: the 11-day ‘Douro Highlights: Porto, Salamanca & the Wine Valley’ and the 8-day ‘Secrets of the Douro’, from March to November. The ship will visit Porto and Salamanca, among others, and offer active excursion options, such as guided walks and kayaking.
Scenic Aria – launch in September 2027 on the Douro River
The 96-guest ultra-luxury Scenic Aria will join Scenic Azure in Portugal and operate an 11-day ‘Unforgettable Douro’ and eight-day ‘Delightful Douro’ from March to November. The all-inclusive ship will visit destinations such as Regua and Pinhao and offer excursion options including tile painting and olive tasting on a Quinta.
Scenic Spirit II – launch early 2028 on the Mekong River
The Scenic Spirit II, with room for 68 guests, sails on the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia. The ship will visit Phnom Penh, Ankor Ban and Ho Chi Minh City, with excursion options including the infamous Killing Fields and a visit to a wet market.
The announcements build on Scenic Group’s previously confirmed new ships, including Emerald Astra, which will launch on the Rhine, Main and Danube in May 2026, and Emerald Lumi, which will debut on the Seine in 2027.
Combined with the launch of the new luxury yachts Emerald Kaia from April 2026, Emerald Raiya in 2027 and Emerald
By early 2028, Scenic will have a river cruise fleet of fifteen ships, while Emerald will have eleven ships.
Glen Moroney, Chairman and Founder of Scenic Group, said: “Our commitment to introduce three new river ships for the Scenic and Emerald Cruises brands reflects our confidence in the strong demand for our unique approach to luxury cruising. With Scenic Ikon in construction for delivery in 2028 and five Emerald Cruises yachts and river ships already confirmed, this announcement marks the next phase of our strategic fleet growth.
“By bringing the design and construction of these new river vessels under the expertise of our team at MKM Yachts, we can apply exactly the same standards, innovation and design principles that have underpinned Scenic Group’s success over the past 40 years.”
For more information visit Scenic.co.uk / emeraldcruises.co.uk or call 0161 516 6895.
