EMERALD KAIA – IMO 1031446

Emerald Cruises' Next-Generation Luxury Superyacht – Delivered in 2026

EMERALD KAIA is a new-generation luxury cruise yacht built at Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam for Emerald Cruises and Scenic Group and delivered in February 2026.

At almost exactly 120 metres in length and only 7,232 GT, EMERALD KAIA belongs to a very different category from conventional large cruise ships. She was purpose-built around an intimate luxury-yacht concept, carrying only 128 guests commercially while providing extensive open decks, large suites, a marina platform and unusually generous public space.

She is the first vessel of Emerald Cruises' new and enlarged generation of ocean yachts and precedes future sisters EMERALD RAIYA and EMERALD XARA.

Her inaugural passenger voyage departed Limassol on 4 April 2026 and ended at Athens / Piraeus, establishing a strong Greek connection from the very beginning of her commercial career.

Vessel Details

Name: EMERALD KAIA

IMO: 1031446

MMSI: 311001556

Call Sign: C6HS9

Type: Luxury Cruise Yacht / Passenger Ship

Operator: Emerald Cruises

Group: Scenic Group

Flag: Bahamas

Built: 2026

Builder: Ha Long Shipyard, Ha Long City, Vietnam

Project / Yard Identity: EW03

Delivered: 12 February 2026

Gross Tonnage: 7,232 GT

Deadweight: approx. 1,500 t

Length Overall: 119.88–120.00 m

Beam: 17.44–18.00 m

Depth: 8.20 m

Maximum Speed: 15.5 knots

Commercial Guest Capacity: 128

Class-Certified Maximum Passengers: 136

Crew: approx. 94–104 depending on certified / operating configuration

Classification: Croatian Register of Shipping

Current Status: Active.

Built in Vietnam

EMERALD KAIA was constructed at:

Ha Long Shipyard

in northern Vietnam.

Her construction marked another major step in Scenic Group's decision to develop increasingly sophisticated small luxury vessels through direct involvement in the design and construction process.

The ship was launched on:

10 November 2025.

Sea trials followed in Ha Long Bay and were successfully completed in January 2026.

Delivered in February 2026

The shipyard formally handed EMERALD KAIA over to Scenic interests on:

12 February 2026.

The Croatian Register of Shipping subsequently reported the delivery and described the vessel as the first in a new series of larger luxury passenger ships being constructed at Ha Long.

128 Guests

Emerald Cruises markets EMERALD KAIA for only:

128 guests.

This is the figure that should be used in the commercial PiraeuShips description.

The classification authority publishes a certified passenger capacity of:

136,

which represents the vessel's technical certification rather than her normal marketed guest complement.

Larger than EMERALD AZZURRA and EMERALD SAKARA

EMERALD KAIA represents an evolution of the concept established by:

EMERALD AZZURRA

and:

EMERALD SAKARA.

She is longer and more spacious and introduces several redesigned public areas.

The ship nevertheless retains the basic Emerald philosophy of combining:

small-ship access,

superyacht aesthetics,

and conventional cruise-ship accommodation standards.

Observation Sun Deck

A major new feature is the:

Observation Sun Deck.

The area includes:

a spa pool,

sun loungers,

shaded relaxation spaces,

and panoramic sea views.

Emerald Cruises specifically promoted this as one of the major differences between KAIA and the earlier vessels.

Marina Platform

A defining element of the vessel is her large:

marina platform.

Rather than treating the sea simply as scenery viewed from high decks, the stern platform is intended to place guests directly at water level.

Activities can include swimming and watersports when local conditions and regulations permit.

New Wellness Areas

EMERALD KAIA also introduced an:

indoor / outdoor gym

positioned close to the marina.

The concept allows passengers to exercise in an environment directly connected with the sea rather than inside a conventional enclosed cruise-ship fitness centre.

La Cucina and Night Market Grill

The yacht introduced a redesigned:

La Cucina

restaurant with an open kitchen.

Another new venue is:

Night Market Grill,

an intimate speciality dining concept for only:

eight guests.

Inaugural Voyage

EMERALD KAIA began her first passenger voyage on:

4 April 2026.

The 11-day inaugural cruise departed:

Limassol, Cyprus

and travelled through the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean before finishing at:

Athens / Piraeus.

Ports and destinations on the inaugural programme included:

Rhodes

Nisyros

Kos

and destinations in Turkey and Greece.

Piraeus from the Beginning

The Piraeus connection is particularly significant.

Piraeus was not simply a later port of call.

It was the:

destination of EMERALD KAIA's inaugural voyage.

The yacht then continued operating additional itineraries:

from Athens / Piraeus

during her first Mediterranean season.

PiraeuShips in 2026

PiraeuShips published the dedicated:

EMERALD KAIA – IMO 1031446

entry in:

March 2026,

before the vessel had even begun her maiden passenger voyage.

The original page recorded:

Bahamas flag

7,232 GT

approximately:

120 m length

Ha Long Shipbuilding as builder,

and Scenic Cruise Services management.

This makes the PiraeuShips entry unusual: it documents the ship essentially at the very beginning of her existence.

Active in the Aegean

EMERALD KAIA remained highly active around Greece during her first operating year.

September 2026 AIS records showed the yacht departing:

Piraeus

for:

Nafplion

during another Aegean itinerary.

The Greek connection that began with the maiden cruise has therefore continued throughout the vessel's first season.

Future Fleet

EMERALD KAIA also represents the beginning of a larger fleet-expansion programme.

She is to be followed by:

EMERALD RAIYA

and:

EMERALD XARA.

Emerald Cruises currently describes KAIA as the first of the brand's new next-generation yacht series.

PiraeuShips Record

EMERALD KAIA was recorded by PiraeuShips during the very beginning of the career of Emerald Cruises' first next-generation luxury superyacht. Built at Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam, delivered in February 2026 and measuring almost exactly 120 metres in length, the 7,232-GT yacht was designed for only 128 guests and introduced enlarged suites, a new Observation Sun Deck, marina platform and redesigned dining and wellness facilities. Her inaugural passenger voyage departed Limassol on 4 April 2026 and concluded at Athens / Piraeus, after which the Greek port remained an important turnaround point during her first Mediterranean season. The PiraeuShips archive therefore captures EMERALD KAIA essentially from the moment her operating career began.

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