Emerald Waterways is expanding its fleet with the addition of Emerald Luna. The 180-passenger vessel will be the line's ninth "Star-Ship" and the eighth based in Europe.
Emerald Waterways is the value-focused brand of Australian-owned Scenic. Launching in spring 2021, Emerald Luna will feature the same contemporary decor of its sister ships and trademark features including an indoor heated swimming pool that turns into a cinema at night and staterooms with "indoor" balconies.
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 an elevator serving all decks apart from the sun deck.
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.
