23rd Sep 2024 | 9 nights | Emerald Cruises | Emerald Luna
Emerald Waterways is the value-focused brand of Australian-owned Scenic. Emerald Luna features the same contemporary decor of its sister ships.
A standout feature is the pool with a retractable roof overlooking the back of the ship on the Horizon Deck. At night this is turned into a cinema where members of the audience are served with popcorn and cocktails. The innovative area was a new-to-river concept when it was unveiled on Emerald's first Star-Ship.
Other public areas include the Horizon bar and lounge on the upper deck and Reflections restaurant, which is the main dining room on the Vista Deck, serving breakfast and lunchtime buffets and a la carte evening meal on a freestyle dining basis. An early breakfast and light lunch option is also available in the lounge and a barbecue lunch is served on the sun deck at least once a week, weather permitting.
There is no formal dress code on Emerald Waterways and the onboard atmosphere is relaxed and casual. The only clothing not allowed in the dining room during dinner are shorts and flip-flops.
Emerald Luna has a small gym, hair salon and massage room, with a walking track and putting green on the sun deck.
The ship will sail on itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube, including a new cruise sailing through the Netherlands and Belgium and calling at the Flemish town of Hasselt for the first time.
The 92 cabins are situated on three decks and divided into five categories. On the lower Riviera Deck there are two singles, measuring 117 square feet, and 17 Staterooms, which are 162 square feet. The cabins on this deck have picture windows which do not open.
The middle Vista Deck is made up of Panorama Balcony Suites which measure 180 square feet. They have floor-to-ceiling windows which drop down halfway at the touch of a button. This area can then be shut off from the rest of the cabin with folding glass doors, creating the effect of an outdoor veranda.
There are more Panorama Balcony Suites on the uppermost Horizon Deck, along with eight Grand Balcony Suites, measuring 210 square feet, and four 315-square-feet Owner's Suites. The Grand Balcony cabins comprise one room with a balcony and the Owner's Suites have a separate bedroom and lounge area, large bathroom, walk-in wardrobe. Other perks in the Owner's Suites include a coffee machine, daily canapes, free laundry, robe and slippers, and complimentary minibar.
Standard amenities in all cabin categories include hotel-style beds, minibar (at additional fee), complimentary water, TV entertainment system, hair dryer and toiletries. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the ship, which also has a lift serving all decks apart from the sun deck.
Fun-loving & active cruisers.
Early-to-bed, traditional cruisers.
Emerald Cruises serves the typical European river cruise passenger -- generally well-travelled cruise veterans in the 55-plus bracket. However, the line's contemporary, boutique-style ships also attract first-time river cruisers, including passengers in their 40s, who enjoy the active shore excursions on offer. Around half of the passengers come from the U.K., with the rest coming from Australia, New Zealand, the U.S and Canada.
Not really. Ships have a relaxed, easy-going vibe. There is no special dress code and there are no formal nights. For dinner, smart-casual attire is recommended. Jeans can be worn in the restaurant in the evening, but shorts and flip-flops are not appropriate. Many passengers dress up for the captain's welcome dinner and/or farewell dinner, but mostly opting for smarter casual rather than full-on cocktail dresses and suits.
Mostly. Cruise fares include most shore excursions, all on board meals, complimentary wines, draft beers, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Extra costs are bar drinks, optional DiscoverMORE excursions, beauty treatments and massages, and retail shop purchases.
Shore excursions are the most popular activities for Emerald Cruises' passengers, with the EmeraldPLUS (tours that focus on local customs) and EmeraldACTIVE options particular favourites. Onboard, cruisers love hanging out in the dual-purpose area at the back of the ship that transforms from an indoor, heated pool with retractable roof during the day to a cinema at night.
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