Emerald Kaia sets April 2026 debut, Raiya in 2027

Published on Aug 29, 2025, 2:02 pm CDT

5 min read

Emerald Cruises will launch the 128-passenger Emerald Kaia on April 4, 2026 with an 11-day itinerary from Larnaca, Cyprus to Athens, Greece, adding capacity to the line's small-ship luxury program. Several weeks earlier, Scenic Group marked the steel-cutting for sister yacht Emerald Raiya, which is slated to enter service on June 19, 2027. The ships are being built in partnership with Vietnam's Ha Long Shipbuilding Company, continuing a production relationship established with Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara.

Key Points

Why it matters: Scenic Group adds near-term capacity in small-ship luxury with Emerald Kaia, then Emerald Raiya.
Travel impact: New Aegean routes, wellness upgrades, and more suite options expand yacht-style choices.
What's next: Kaia sails April 4, 2026; Raiya debuts June 19, 2027 on "Greek Islands & Turkish Coastlines."
Kaia wellness highlights include a salt therapy lounge and a cold plunge pool.
New Night Market dining concept debuts, alongside connecting suites for families and groups.

Snapshot

Emerald Kaia launches April 4, 2026 on "Cyprus to the Acropolis," an 11-day route from Larnaca to Athens that threads Patmos, Delos, Nisyros, Bodrum, and Ephesus. On board, Kaia elevates the yacht-style template with an Observation Sun Deck and cabana-lined Sky Deck, a Marina Platform for swim stops, and expanded accommodations including interconnecting suites. Wellness upgrades emphasize recovery and mindfulness, adding a salt therapy lounge, an indoor-outdoor gym, and a cold plunge pool. Evenings highlight the new Night Market dining experience for an intimate, chef-driven meal. Looking ahead, Emerald Raiya will extend the formula beginning June 19, 2027 with an eight-day "Greek Islands & Turkish Coastlines" cruise, reinforcing Scenic Group's multi-year expansion in the Mediterranean.

Background

Emerald Cruises, part of Scenic Group, entered the ocean-yacht segment with Emerald Azzurra in 2022, followed by Emerald Sakara in 2023, both constructed at Ha Long Shipbuilding in Vietnam. Kaia and Raiya continue that build partnership while scaling capacity to 128 guests, a size aimed at reaching smaller harbors and reducing time spent in lines or tenders compared with big-ship models. The wellness-forward layout mirrors broader premium trends, pairing spa experiences with active features and easy access to the water via the Marina Platform. For travelers comparing compact-ship styles, also see our report on premium coastal programs such as Hurtigruten Svalbard Line adds 2026 land tours.

Latest Developments

Emerald Kaia itinerary, wellness, and dining features

Kaia's maiden voyage, "Cyprus to the Acropolis," departs April 4, 2026 from Limassol with an 11-day track to Athens. The ship's public spaces emphasize indoor-outdoor living, including an Observation Sun Deck with a spa pool, a reimagined Sky Deck with cabanas, and a Marina Platform for swim stops. Suites introduce interconnecting layouts for families and small groups. The wellness program adds a salt therapy lounge, a cold plunge, and a larger gym that opens to fresh air. For dining, the new Night Market concept offers an intimate, reservation-only experience focused on chef interaction and regional flavors. These updates push Emerald's yacht play further into wellness and culinary territory while preserving the small-ship pace.

Emerald Raiya steel-cutting and launch timeline

Scenic Group began construction on Emerald Raiya on August 20, 2025 with a steel-cutting ceremony at its Vietnamese shipyard partner. Raiya is scheduled to debut June 19, 2027 on an eight-day "Greek Islands & Turkish Coastlines" itinerary, aligning with peak Aegean season. Scenic Group leadership framed the milestone as part of a steady multi-year buildout that will see Kaia join Azzurra and Sakara in 2026, followed by Raiya in 2027. As with Kaia, Raiya targets 128 guests, extensive open-air spaces, and wellness-focused amenities, signaling a consistent platform across Emerald's growing fleet.

Analysis

Scenic Group's pacing here is deliberate. Azzurra and Sakara validated demand for yacht-style cruising that splits the difference between classic expedition and big-ship resort, and Kaia's 2026 start date arrives with a clearer playbook. The features list reads like a premium-wellness checklist, but the execution matters; a salt therapy lounge, an indoor-outdoor gym, and a cold plunge are meaningful differentiators at this ship size, especially when paired with direct water access via the Marina Platform. The Night Market concept reinforces an experiential dining arc that can rotate menus around regional markets without over-engineering the main restaurants.

The itinerary choice is savvy. April 4, 2026 aligns with Easter calendars and early-season Aegean demand, while an 11-day length gives breathing room for marquee calls such as Ephesus and Delos without feeling rushed. Raiya's June 19, 2027 debut then backfills peak-season capacity, smoothing sales cycles and spreading risk across similar hardware. For travelers, the practical takeaway is optionality. If you value wellness programming, intimate dining, and small-port access, Kaia's layout and route design should land near the top of your shortlist. If you prefer short, value-oriented breaks instead, a different model, like Margaritaville at Sea revives 3-night weekend cruises, may fit better.

Final Thoughts

Emerald Kaia's April 4, 2026 launch, wellness upgrades, and intimate dining set a clear direction for Scenic Group's yacht program, while Emerald Raiya's June 19, 2027 start builds capacity in the Aegean at the right moment. If your cruise priorities lean toward access, recovery time, and a slower onboard cadence, these ships offer a polished, small-ship alternative to the mega-ship mainstream. Watch early-season pricing on the inaugural and shoulder dates, compare suite categories with connecting options, and plan for popular shore calls to sell out first. For the strongest mix of wellness, dining, and harbor access, Emerald Kaia is the headline act.