The Scenic Group has announced that the float-out of the newest Emerald Star-Ship in the Emerald Cruises fleet, Emerald Astra, was successfully held at Scenic Group’s shipyard in Turnu Severin, Romania.
*All details correct at time of publish (13 October 2025)
The company said Emerald Astra is set to elevate the standard for luxury river cruising, offering guests an even more memorable experience through innovative, modern design and extended amenities available onboard.
With luxurious interiors and cutting-edge features now taking shape, the ship debuts a refreshed design narrative with art installations in partnership with leading European galleries and collaborations with luxury design houses such as Missoni and Freifrau.
Guest suites and staterooms feature luxurious ESPA toiletries, premium linens, pillows (with an expanded pillow menu+), towels, mattresses, and toppers from top European brands, with select suites incorporating Missoni soft furnishings.
Other firsts on Emerald Astra will include complimentary guest laundry facilities (which will also be retrofitted across the European fleet of Emerald Star-Ships) and a reimagined Sun Deck with new furniture and refreshed outdoor spaces that maximise panoramic views.
Following Emerald Astra’s debut, Emerald Lumi will join the fleet on the River Seine in 2027, carrying forward this same design ethos and extending Emerald’s river cruise proposition.
Seasonal Fleetwide Enhancements
At the close of each season, both Emerald Cruises & Tours and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours fleets undergo strategic end-of-season enhancements designed to keep the onboard experience innovative and best-in-class.
For Scenic Space-Ships, winter works enhancements include updated suite design elements, refreshed linens and bedding from premium European brands, and elevated top-deck furnishings that create inviting outdoor spaces.
Across the Emerald Cruises river fleet, enhancements extend to pool areas, and the extension of design collaborations with Missoni and Freifrau, ensuring the refined style pioneered aboard Emerald Astra resonates across all Emerald Star-Ships.
Godmother Announced
Ahead of its inaugural cruise along the Danube in May 2026, the leading luxury cruise line also announces today respected US first responder and standout travel advisor Toni Day has been named Godmother of Emerald Astra.
The christening ceremony will take place in Amsterdam, Netherlands in May 2026, marking a milestone moment for Scenic Group as it continues to expand and elevate both its Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises & Tours brands.
For more information, visit: https://www.emeraldcruises.co.uk/yacht
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