Emerald marks 5 years of river cruises

Emerald Waterways is celebrating five years of river cruising, with plenty of new developments in store for 2019.

READ MORE: Emerald Waterways expands Asia offerings for 2019

Since launching with two ships in 2013, Emerald has expanded its fleet of signature Star-Ships to eight, adding itineraries in Asia, Egypt, Portugal and along the coast of Croatia.

“We’re very proud of how far Emerald Waterways has come in just in just five short years. The recognition we’ve received in the industry paired with excellent feedback from guests continues to fuel our steady but thoughtful growth,” said Lisa Norton, Vice President of Brand Management for the US. “We look forward to further expanding and honing our offerings as we head into our sixth year of service.

What's new for 2019

The coming year will see more growth for Emerald Waterways, including the launch of a brand new Star-Ship, the Emerald Harmony, which will sail the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia.

With only 84 guests in 42 staterooms and suites, Emerald Harmony will offer an intimate sailing experience on the Mekong, and its design allows the ship to access the center of Ho Chi Minh City, where guests will disembark in the middle of the action rather than needing to be coached in from outside the city like other cruise lines.

New itineraries launching in 2019 include yacht sailings along the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia and cruise and land tours of the Nile river in Egypt and Jordan.