About Emerald Cruises — River
“Exceptional. Amazing. Unique. Expect more from your deluxe river cruise with Emerald Cruises. The award-winning river cruise fleet and inspiring itineraries reveal the stunning scenery and fascinating culture of Europe and Asia as you’ve never experienced them.
Enjoy the Emerald difference. Their innovative river cruise ships offer you panoramic views of the stunning scenery, and feature contemporary boutique hotel styling, deluxe in-suite comfort, gourmet dining options and exceptional service, all included in the price. Explore unique cultural experiences at every destination with the included exclusive EmeraldPLUS and Emerald Active excursions.
”
— Emerald Cruises — River
Emerald Cruises was established in 2013 to bring a fresh, modern point of view to luxury river travel, and its first Star-Ship, Emerald Sky, was christened in 2014. Today eight Star-Ships sail Europe's storied waterways — the castle-lined Rhine, the romantic Danube, the Rhone, the Moselle, and Portugal's vineyard-laced Douro — each carrying no more than 180 guests. In Southeast Asia, the bespoke 84-guest Emerald Harmony blends contemporary design with authentic Asian style and was purpose-built to sail the Mekong right into the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.
The Star-Ships are known for clever design: light-filled, three-tiered atriums, stylish contemporary cabins, and a heated pool that transforms into a cinema by night — one of river cruising's most talked-about innovations. Wellness is woven through the experience, with onboard activity managers leading yoga and aqua aerobics, and complimentary bicycles waiting on shore.
Almost every day brings an included excursion, and travelers can go deeper with EmeraldPLUS cultural experiences or burn energy on EmeraldACTIVE guided hikes, canoe trips, and cycling tours. With meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, transfers, gratuities, and port charges all part of the fare, Emerald suits travelers who want polished, well-priced river travel with a lighter, livelier spirit than the traditional grand-hotel style.
Save on Emerald Cruises — River with Pavlus Travel
Pavlus Travel has been helping travelers save on the world's best cruise lines since 1994. Book Emerald Cruises — River through Pavlus and our exclusive discounts stack on top of the line's own current promotions — then our Lowest Price Guarantee keeps it that way. You never pay a service or planning fee, and you work one-on-one with a dedicated advisor who knows Emerald Cruises — River inside and out, from first quote to final port.
- Exclusive Pavlus savings on every Emerald Cruises — River sailing
- Lowest Price Guarantee — matched or beaten
- Never any service or planning fees
- A dedicated personal travel advisor, not a call center
- 30+ years of negotiated cruise-line relationships
Get Your Emerald Cruises — River Quote
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Call 1-800-528-9300 Browse Sailings & Get a QuoteThe Emerald Cruises — River Experience
The Pool That Becomes a Cinema
Each Europe Star-Ship's heated indoor pool transforms into a movie theater by night, a signature innovation of the fleet.
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hikes, canoeing trips, and cycling tours, plus onboard yoga and aqua aerobics with activity managers, keep travel energizing.
EmeraldPLUS Experiences
Special cultural moments, from local performances to authentic culinary encounters, are woven into itineraries at no extra cost.
Included Excursions Nearly Every Day
Handpicked excursions with local guides come standard, with optional DiscoverMORE outings for those who want to dig deeper.
Into the Heart of Saigon
The 84-guest Emerald Harmony was purpose-built to dock in central Ho Chi Minh City, a rare advantage on the Mekong.
Light-Filled Star-Ship Design
Three-tiered atriums, contemporary staterooms, and panoramic lounges give the fleet a bright, modern feel on Europe's rivers.
What's Included with Emerald Cruises — River
- All onboard meals
- Wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- An included excursion nearly every day
- EmeraldPLUS cultural experiences and EmeraldACTIVE guided activities
- Complimentary bicycles ashore
- Airport transfers
- Wi-Fi
- Gratuities on board and onshore
- All port charges
The Emerald Cruises — River Fleet (10 ships sailing bookable itineraries)
Emerald Astra
Emerald Astra is a new evolution of Emerald Cruises' award-winning river ship. The vessel has been designed to reflect the refined elegance of a luxury superyacht, featuring a modern gray glass exterior and hosting 180 guests. Derived from ancient Greek and Latin, "Astra" means "star," and the Emerald Astra promises to be a true shining star in our stylish Star Ships. It is the seventh ship to sail on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.
See Emerald Astra sailings →
Emerald Dawn
Navigating the rivers Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle; the Emerald Dawn can guide you through some of Europe’s most magical stretches of water and help you explore many of the continent’s most arresting and enchanting cities. The vessel, boasting a modest capacity of 180 guests apiece, are all blessed with a selection of wonderful amenities and features. The Emerald Dawn benefit from 72 generously-proportioned suites and 19 staterooms. Book the Emerald Panorama Balcony Suites, found on the Vista and Horizon Decks, and you’ll enjoy unparalleled views from the spacious private balconies – a truly invigorating start to another day on Europe’s beautiful waterways.
See Emerald Dawn sailings →
Emerald Destiny
Navigating the rivers Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle; the Emerald Destiny can guide you through some of Europe’s most magical stretches of water and help you explore many of the continent’s most arresting and enchanting cities. The vessel, boasting a modest capacity of 180 guests apiece, are all blessed with a selection of wonderful amenities and features. The Emerald Destiny benefit from 72 generously-proportioned suites and 19 staterooms. Book the Emerald Panorama Balcony Suites, found on the Vista and Horizon Decks, and you’ll enjoy unparalleled views from the spacious private balconies – a truly invigorating start to another day on Europe’s beautiful waterways.
See Emerald Destiny sailings →
Emerald Harmony
Spectacular Emerald Harmony Star-Ship will exceed all your expectations, as it introduces you to the majesty of the Mekong. Reaching 239ft (73m) in length, 42 cabins accommodate 84 guests and 40 crew members, enabling us to provide spacious suites and public areas, as well as an excellent staff-to-guest ratio. Unlike other similar sized ships, it has specifically designed the Emerald Harmony to sail into the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, allowing to dock in the heart of this fantastic city. Every one of suites and staterooms are chic, modern sanctuaries fusing authentic Asian style with contemporary design. With all the amenities you’d expect from a world-class hotel, you’ll enjoy a restful sleep in your queen or twin-size bed, as well as an en-suite bathroom, toiletries and bath robes. And once back from your included excursion unwind by watching films on your HD flat-screen television and keep up with loved ones, using free Wi-Fi.
See Emerald Harmony sailings →
Emerald Liberté
The Star-Ship, Emerald Liberté, is your home away from home, a boutique floating hotel that provides guests with luxurious surrounds, a wealth of amenities, and unique innovations such as our indoor pool that transforms into a cinema space on selected evenings.
See Emerald Liberté sailings →
Emerald Luna
Navigating the rivers Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle; the Emerald Luna can guide you through some of Europe’s most magical stretches of water and help you explore many of the continent’s most arresting and enchanting cities. The vessel, boasting a modest capacity of 180 guests apiece, are all blessed with a selection of wonderful amenities and features. The Emerald Luna benefit from 72 generously-proportioned suites and 19 staterooms. Book the Emerald Panorama Balcony Suites, found on the Vista and Horizon Decks, and you’ll enjoy unparalleled views from the spacious private balconies – a truly invigorating start to another day on Europe’s beautiful waterways.
See Emerald Luna sailings →
Emerald Radiance
The Emerald Radiance will explore Portugal’s Douro region, navigating the eponymous river Douro. Bisecting some of Europe’s most beautiful vineyards and wine-producing villages, the river Douro evocatively stretches through beautiful backdrops on either bank. Fittingly, the bespoke Emerald Radiance has been lovingly designed and built to complement the jaw-dropping scenery unfolding before the ship’s bow. The Emerald Radiance is most intimate ship to date, with a capacity of just 112 guests. Paired with the crew-to-guest ratio of 1:3, this low capacity accommodates incredible levels of service. However, the small scale of the Emerald Radiance does not mean it is missing the key amenities and features to make your holiday atop the Douro any less comfortable or enjoyable. Intelligent deck planning has allowed us to add all the favorite features of Emerald Waterways’ fleet to the Emerald Radiance, and there are even beautiful extra flourishes throughout.
See Emerald Radiance sailings →
Emerald Sky
Navigating the rivers Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle; the Emerald Sky can guide you through some of Europe’s most magical stretches of water and help you explore many of the continent’s most arresting and enchanting cities. The vessel, boasting a modest capacity of 180 guests apiece, are all blessed with a selection of wonderful amenities and features. The Emerald Sky benefit from 72 generously-proportioned suites and 19 staterooms. Book the Emerald Panorama Balcony Suites, found on the Vista and Horizon Decks, and you’ll enjoy unparalleled views from the spacious private balconies – a truly invigorating start to another day on Europe’s beautiful waterways.
See Emerald Sky sailings →
Emerald Star
Navigating the rivers Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle; the Emerald Star can guide you through some of Europe’s most magical stretches of water and help you explore many of the continent’s most arresting and enchanting cities. The vessel, boasting a modest capacity of 180 guests apiece, are all blessed with a selection of wonderful amenities and features. The Emerald Star benefit from 72 generously-proportioned suites and 19 staterooms. Book the Emerald Panorama Balcony Suites, found on the Vista and Horizon Decks, and you’ll enjoy unparalleled views from the spacious private balconies – a truly invigorating start to another day on Europe’s beautiful waterways.
See Emerald Star sailings →
Emerald Sun
Navigating the rivers Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle; the Emerald Sun can guide you through some of Europe’s most magical stretches of water and help you explore many of the continent’s most arresting and enchanting cities. The vessel, boasting a modest capacity of 180 guests apiece, are all blessed with a selection of wonderful amenities and features. The Emerald Sun benefit from 72 generously-proportioned suites and 19 staterooms. Book the Emerald Panorama Balcony Suites, found on the Vista and Horizon Decks, and you’ll enjoy unparalleled views from the spacious private balconies – a truly invigorating start to another day on Europe’s beautiful waterways.
See Emerald Sun sailings →Where Emerald Cruises — River Sails
Good to Know Before You Book
Gratuities & tipping
Cancellation policy
| Days of notice prior to Journey commencement | Cancellation fee (per person) |
|---|---|
| Over 90 days | Loss of Booking Deposit |
| 89 to 61 days | 50% of Journey Price |
| 60 to 0 days | 100% of Journey Price |
| Days of notice prior to Journey commencement | Cancellation fee (per person) |
|---|---|
| 120 days and over | Loss of Booking Deposit |
| 119 to 91 days | 50% of Journey Price |
| 90 days and less | 100% of Journey Price |
| Days of notice prior to Journey commencement | Cancellation fee (per person) |
|---|---|
| 120 days and over | Loss of Booking Deposit of AUD 1,000 and remaining Booking Deposit (if any) granted as Future Travel Credit |
| 119 to 91 days | 50% of Journey Price |
| 90 days and less | 100% of Journey Price |
Smoking on board
Traveling with minors
Pregnancy policy
Policies are provided by Emerald Cruises — River and can change; your Pavlus advisor will confirm current terms for your specific sailing before you book.