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 vessels will operate across Europe and Asia, with bookings opening from March 9, 2026.
*All details correct at time of publish (09 March 2026)
Emerald Nova – launching 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 will offer two itineraries: 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 call at destinations including Porto, Salamanca and offer active excursion options such as guided hikes and kayaking.
Scenic Aria – launching September 2027 on the Douro River
The ultra-luxury 96-guest Scenic Aria will join Scenic Azure in Portugal, operating an 11-day ‘Unforgettable Douro’ and eight-day ‘Delightful Douro’ from March to November.
The all-inclusive ship will call at destinations such as Regua and Pinhao and offer excursion options including tile painting and olive tasting at a Quinta.
Scenic Spirit II – launching early 2028 on the Mekong River
The 68-guest Scenic Spirit II will cruise the Mekong River across Vietnam and Cambodia. The ship will call at the likes of Phnom Penh, Angkor 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, launching in May 2026 on the Rhine, Main and Danube, and Emerald Lumi, debuting on the Seine in 2027.
Combined with the launch of new luxury yachts Emerald Kaia from April 2026, Emerald Raiya in 2027 and Emerald Xara in 2028, as well as Scenic Ikon in 2028, this commitment to build more new ships represents Scenic Group’s most significant fleet growth phase in nearly a decade.
By early 2028, Scenic will have a river cruise fleet of 15 ships, while Emerald will have 11.
Glen Moroney, Chairman & Founder, Scenic Group, said: “Our commitment to introducing 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 build 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 ships under the expertise of our team at MKM Yachts, we can apply the same exact standards, innovation and design principles that have underpinned Scenic Group’s success for the past 40 years.”
For more information, visit scenic.co.uk / emeraldcruises.co.uk, or call 0161 516 6895.
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