Scenic and Emerald New Ships Announced for Douro and Mekong

Scenic Group has announced plans to expand its river cruise fleet with three new vessels scheduled to enter service through 2028.

Rendering of Scenic Aria sailing through Portugal’s Douro Valley. Rendering: Scenic Group

Emerald Nova, which will operate for the company’s Emerald Cruises brand, and Scenic Aria, from the ultra-luxury sister brand, will both cruise on Portugal’s Douro River in 2027. A third vessel, Scenic Spirit II, will expand Scenic’s presence on the Mekong River when it enters service in 2028.

Ships Designed for the Douro

According to a company spokesperson, Emerald Nova and Scenic Aria share approximate dimensions of 262 feet (80 meters) in length. This is shorter compared to non-Douro ships because of the river’s narrower stretches and lock system. The Douro dams’ locks measure roughly 272 feet long. For comparison, river cruise ships on the Rhine and Danube typically measure more than 400 feet.

It was also shared with us that Emerald Nova will accommodate 110 passengers across 55 staterooms. On the other hand, Scenic Aria will carry 96 passengers across 48 suites. The difference in the number of onboard accommodations suggests that the Scenic ship may offer more spacious suites or public areas.

Rendering of the Emerald Nova sailing away on Portugal’s Douro River. Rendering of Scenic Aria sailing through Portugal’s Douro Valley. Rendering: Scenic Group

Nova and Aria are scheduled to launch in June and September 2027, respectively. Both ships will be built at the Maj. 3 shipyard in Croatia, which built Scenic’s expedition vessels, including Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II.

Once both ships enter service, Scenic Group will operate four vessels on the Douro River across its two brands.

More on the Mekong

The third vessel announced, Scenic Spirit II, will expand the company’s presence in Southeast Asia.

Final specifications have not yet been confirmed, but the vessel is expected to accommodate up to 68 passengers, similar to the existing Scenic Spirit.

Unlike Spirit I, Spirit II will be built entirely at the Halong Bay shipyard in Vietnam. The yard has previously built Emerald Cruises’ luxury yachts, including Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara, and most recently, Emerald Kaia.