Emerald shines at sea
The cruise line's newest ship supplies the little things, from cocktails to haircuts, that make a big luxury impression
Impeccable service, gourmet cuisine and tasteful décor are expected when shelling out big bucks for a luxury cruise. Getting anything less, while admittedly a first-world problem, is nonetheless disappointing. Getting considerably more than expected is what makes for that sought-after trip of a lifetime.
More was in large supply on a recent christening cruise of the Emerald Sakara, a 100-guest superyacht that not only sports the perfect balance of luxury, unpretentiousness and amenities but takes a company known for river cruising to deeper depths.
Sakara is a near-twin to Azzurra, which in early 2022 ushered in a new era for Emerald (emeraldcruises.com) by taking to the high seas. With two oceangoing vessels joining Emerald's fleet of nine river-dedicated “Star-Ships” based in Europe and Southeast Asia, the decade-old brand is bringing the little things that make a big difference to even more of the world. After all, Sakara is a Sanskrit mantra meaning, “Thoughts become things.”
The nice surprises that contributed to Sakara's first impression came from sources unique to even ultra-luxury cruising, which Emerald isn't. Scenic (scenicusa.com), Emerald's five-star sister brand, is, and while a butler and other perks are lovely, are they worth paying 50% more? That's between you and your travel budget, but to give an example of the cost of an ocean cruise on Emerald, balcony cabins on a seven-day sail this summer in the Mediterranean were going for as low as $6,500 per person, double occupancy, at press time.
Among the mini mindblowers observed on Sakara's christening cruise in the Caribbean was a bartender who shook a martini to the beat of the lounge singer's song. On paper or pixel, that may sound more like fun than a big deal. Au contraire. By getting jiggy with the cruise director's crowd-pleasing cover of Dua Lipa's “Levitating,” the Amici Bar's cordial and competent mixologist was able to serve thirsty guests without being a distraction during the show. Too often the sounds of a shaker or blender drown out an artist's performance, but not here.
When favorable conditions allow Sakara's marina platform to be open, guests are served cocktails and fruit skewers while enjoying a variety of water sports equipment. Nothing says “cruise vacation” like kayaking off your luxury superyacht while, out of the corner of your sunglassed eye, a waiter is standing with an enticing tropical drink to enhance this precious moment of serenity on crystal-clear waters.
Heading inside, another delightful surprise that speaks to Emerald's unique culture of passenger relations is found at the Elements Spa. In a world where one wellness company enjoys a near-monopoly on cruise ships, and negative effects of that surface way too often, how refreshing to experience the difference when a cruise line keeps things in-house. When a male guest who was enquiring about salon services told a stylist he only needed a trim on the sides and neck, the worker showed the passenger to his chair and gave him a comped quickie cut instead of booking an appointment. The stylist even refused a tip, informing the astonished, freshly coiffed gentleman that “we believe in making relationships more than we do an immediate profit.”
Nothing topped that for shock value during the christening cruise. But whether appealing to the eyes, mind or stomach, amazement followed Sakara from Puerto Rico to the shores of the British Virgin Islands and St. Barts.
With few exceptions, the galley cooked up plenty of palate pleasers at Sakara's two eateries. La Cucina on Deck 3 is the yacht's spacious main dining room, serving buffet breakfasts and lunches, and full-service dinners. The ceviches and most other seafood dishes that week were on par with those of better luxury cruise lines, and bravo to an executive chef confident enough to allow guests to play Frankenstein with menu items; adding grilled chicken breast and breaded eggplant to the pasta arrabbiata was a winner. Dessert selections were so-so, other than a pretty and pretty good strawberry pavlova, but giving a server carte blanche to concoct a chocolate lover's sundae yielded sinfully delicious results. The poolside Aqua Café on Deck 6 offers cooked-to-order flatbreads, burgers and hot dogs; premade sandwiches; power bowl salads; and yummy ship-made ice cream.
Aside from wine and beer at lunch and dinner, and a surprise cocktail while kayaking, potent potables are generally not included in the fare with Emerald, as they are on sister Scenic. $6 cocktails of the day and drink packages are available, as are contemporary and comfortable environs in which to imbibe. If the aforementioned Amici Bar and Lounge is the yacht's community center, offering lots of seating and an area for live music, then the Sky Bar on the top deck is the local watering hole at night.
Sakara, like its year-older twin, Azzurra, has a décor perhaps best described as understated elegance. The common areas of the 361-foot yacht are clad and carpeted in shades of silver and gray, with chrome, mirrors and artwork that are anything but gaudy. The spa is equally tasteful, from the massage rooms to the complimentary infrared sauna.
Vibewise, Sakara feels like a private yacht. That's especially true for occupants of the two Owner Suites. Each provides 1,195 square feet of wow factor, including a sizable outdoor terrace, lounge area and walk-in closet. Two Yacht Suites measure 720 square feet at the aft of the Observation Deck. Balcony cabins make up 36 of the yacht's 50 guest rooms and seem larger than their roughly 300 square feet due to minimalist décor on the walls, smart and efficient features and ample storage. The only rooms without a veranda are the six Oceanview Cabins, sized at around 200 square feet.
The cruise line offers three types of shore excursions, two of which are included in the fare; EmeraldPLUS tours tend to offer an introduction to local culture, and EmeraldACTIVE excursions include guided hikes, ebike outings and snorkeling adventures. DiscoverMORE options are in-depth excursions and experiences of various exertion levels and generally cost $100 to $200. Exploring the beautiful, whitewashed village of Oia when anchored in Santorini, Greece; touring the volcano-doomed Roman city of Pompeii while in Sorrento, Italy; and zip-lining through a rainforest near Antigua are just a few of the upcharging tours.
After spending the rest of winter in the Caribbean, Sakara will continue a schedule of mostly seven-day itineraries in the Mediterranean from April through October. Emerald's flagship then returns to the Caribbean, going back and forth every week between St. Martin and Barbados from December through April 2025.
Sakara's slightly older twin will see more of the world over the next couple of years. Besides touring the Caribbean and Mediterranean, Azzurra will get her passport stamped in Africa, the Middle East, South America, Central America and the Seychelles by the end of 2025. Between the two superyachts, only Azzurra is offering itineraries as long as 12 nights.