Emerald Cruises UK Avis 

Good atmosphere on board. Expected slightly more upmarket food and entertainment. Lots of destination alterations. Lifts didn't work in slightly rough seas. Staff wonderful.

I have just returned from a 14 day east Caribbean cruise on Emerald Sakara. I must say the cruise was outstanding. I couldn’t fault it. The captain was extremely welcoming, all the crew were extremely efficient and friendly and the menus were delicious. I will certainly be going on another Emerald cruise in the future.

The cruise director Timmi on board Emerald Harmony was really informative and amazing made the trip really special

This was the second Caribbean cruise we have done with Emerald. This time we were on the Emerald Sakara which has virtually the same layout as the Emerald Azzurra. We love the small size of these “yachts” as the idea of being on a large cruise ship is abhorrent to us. We particularly enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and casual/smart casual dress code. If you want to dress up in the evenings you can, but you don’t have to.
The cabins are well appointed and the layout is good. The bed is comfortable although this time I found the duvet a bit warm (my husband was fine with it).
Having a balcony for morning coffee or to watch the world go by is a definite plus provided that the weather is suitable. We enjoyed seeing the ship go towards the various harbours/beaches and seeing super yachts close at hand.
The staff are always helpful regardless of whether they are serving at the bar or helping you get into the tender. The food in the restaurant is good and the waiters are attentive and friendly. I don’t eat much fish and no crustaceans and was always able to find a choice.
This time I had a haircut and a leg massage in the Spa. Both were excellent. I was particularly impressed with my haircut as I have short, slight curly hair which is not the easiest to shape.
My husband has slight mobility problems and found getting around the ship fine. We had cabin 412 close to the lifts and opposite the passenger laundry (it was still quiet). The landing points at the various islands were close to where you wanted to be - just 50 yards or less, so provided you are ok getting on and off a tender, you will be ok. Most excursions were for the more active passengers, but there were always taxis available if you wanted to explore further afield.

Poor response to accident at recommended hotel.

Lovely boat. Crew really pleasant and helpful. Food absolutely delicious. Cabin beautifully laid out and the best bathroom I have ever seen on a boat.

Had a fabulous trip. Lovely staff, attentive and always smiling. Food faultless with plenty of choice. Just disappointed in the evening entertainment as it didn’t live up to the standard of our previous trip a year ago.Steel drum band excellent. It was the ‘staff’ entertainers which let it down.

Brilliant all round…staff,cabin,itinerary and food all outstanding,a truly wonderful experience

An excellent trip and lovely people. Halong bay and Angkor were fantastic.

Fantastic itinerary, hotel stays and river cruise. Food was delicious and our tour guide Hoai was brilliant. We found people to be so friendly and helpful wherever we went and our travelling group jelled together from day one. So many interesting places and experiences creating a lifetime of memories.

The cruise was ok, the logistics at the start and end of the holiday was poor. They do not seem to care about anything brfore you arrive or after you leave the cruise, even though they book all of this. Their customer service department said tough luck and offered a discount on a future product

7* Service and the friendliest of staff made & fantastic food made the trip the best ever holiday we've ever had.
Thoroughly recommended

Had a wonderful cruise aboard the Emerald Azzura from Antigua to San Juan. Customer service was excellent during the booking and the arrangements well communicated. This was our first cruise and won't be our last. The Azzura was beautiful and the staff wonderful. Very enjoyable

We enjoyed a full and on the whole well planned programme with excellent accommodation. Timings were sometimes unrealistic, with little time allowed from one activity or meal to the next, and while most of the food was wonderful there were exceptions, especially when meals were part of an evening programme.
On the river cruise which formed part of the holiday, the preferential treatment given to suite guests was obvious, e.g the rest of us suffered from poor service on the evening when staff were diverted to serve at a "chef's table" and little discrepancies were unnecessary, eg, pillow chocolates only in the suites, giving a poor message when it would have cost almost nothing to make this universal, considering what we were all paying.

Fantastic Caribbean cruise with a great crew. All very friendly and helpful.
Excellent food with a wide range for all meals.
The Azzurra ship was impressive with lots of sitting and relaxing areas, both in the sun and in shade.
Due to the ship’s small size , we were able to reach smaller, quieter places, unavailable to larger ships.

We’ve been very fortunate and had two seperate holidays on Emerald Sakara One in the Med and the other in Caribbean over New Year 2026 We will definitely be going on more cruises We had a wonderful time on both cruises Fantastic staff luxury everywhere you look on board Sometimes it feels like having your own super yatch It’s so peaceful

Such a wonderful holiday full of great memories. Staff were amazing .

Enjoyed trip but below standard set from previous trip 2 years ago

It's always a good start when things go right from the beginning.
Flight bang on time and a greeter to meet us at Athens airport.
Its a long way from the airport to the Yacht moored at Piraeus but the taxi driver had the footy on his phone which he handed to us in the back.
We arrived at the port to be greeted by the Emerald staff and escorted to the Yacht ( we were reminded several times during the voyage by the captain (and crew) that it is not a boat or a ship but a Yacht).

The crew were so helpful from the start and nothing was a problem.
The Captain had a very good relationship with the crew "happy crew happy ship".
No need to bring a Tux or the like it's very informal and easy going even in the restaurant at night shorts and Tee Shirts were ok.
There were only 37 of us on board so that's approx 1 crew member to 2 passengers.
The food on board was excellent and for someone who's diet consists of beans and baked potatoes (well you know what I mean) it was quite a culinary adventure.
As sometimes I don't sleep to well I asked the Purser if could walk the decks at night better than that, he suggested I go on the bridge and keep the bridge officer company. Disappointed not to see a big wheel but a computer joy stick.

Great first night spent with Canadians, Belgians, Aussies and us Brits what a hoot danced the night away to live music.
There was always some entertainment laid on at night. Usually live music or quizzes etc.

I think we had good weather for November hot enough for me anyway.
It would be to hot to go in high summer.
There were tours every day laid on to see ruins and temples or you could just while the time away sightseeing on your own.
if you couldn't be bothered to walk there was always transport provided.

Day 1:
Nafplion Greece.
Woken up to the sight of Nafplion and a thunder storm still went out and got drenched. Back out in the afternoon to to test the local brew.
Never seen so many cats.

Day 2:
Chania Greece.
Arrived in Chania via Sodor due to sea swell not allowing us to dock or use the tender.
Bus laid on the get us to Chania.
Chania a lovely little town.
Like so many of old towns a network of narrow streets with all sorts of independent shops.
More cats.

Day 3:
Gythio Greece.
On leaving the Yacht, turn right into the old town.
Houses built into shear rock face(take your life into your hands climbing up there).
Turn left for all of the restaurants every kind of fish available.
A good walk further on to the old museum great beer and views.
More cats.

Day 4:
Githio Mani Peninsula
Githio was the ancient sea port of Sparta.
There is a small island of the coast called Cranae where legend has it Paris and Helen of Troy spent their first night before going off to the the Trojan War.
Some lovely alleyways cut into the rock face.

Day 5:
Sea day charge batteries.

Day 6:
Giardini Naxos Sicilia Italy.
Transfer to Taomina 20 mins of hair raising switchback roads well worth the journey.
A maze of tiny alleyways that eventually open up to a town square.
Back to the Yacht for dinner.
Local Taomina folk group entertained us on board. Had us up and showed us how to do the local dances what a hoot.
Stayed up to late.

Day7:
Syracuse Italy.
Another quaint town quite big.
As you leave the port you turn right and it takes you to the old town with ruined buildings.
a great market with fruit, fish and all sorts of brick-a-brack.
Walking back to the port and you are in the newer part of the town.
More expensive shops and pavement cafes .
Loads of Churches and Cathedrals as you would imagine.

Day 8:
Gozo.
Quite a long walk from the port to the town and we were hounded by an old guy in a taxi who was determined to be our best friend eventually we gave in and for 100 euros (between 4 of us) gave us a tour of Gozo we would never have seen.
Money well spent.
They drive on the left (presumably due to our wartime connections) Red telephone boxes and Post boxes. All of the road signs are like back home but the architecture and the weather is not.

Day9:
Porto Empedocle Sicily Italy.
Quite a long walk to the Centre so took a taxi.
Most shops closed as end of their season.
stopped for customary refreshment and back on board by 16.30.
We were entertained tonight by a man an woman opera duet they were amazing only wish I had recorded them.

Day 10:
Awoke to the delights of Valetta Malta.
a somewhat difficult place to get to from the port so there is a lift attached to the cliff face which takes you to the town.
Pity we only had one day there.
We arrived at the same time a Viking ship docked and 4,500 Danes disembarked.
Our yacht with 37 people on board looked like one of their tenders.

Overall we had a great time on board. Our cabin was 5 star and it was tidied every day (not by us).
The crew were fantastic they knew our names from the first day, new our likes and dislikes in a couple of days.
I think the crew helped to make to voyage so much more enjoyable.
That's it no more room.

Friendly, happiest crew made our trip wonderfully enjoyable, on top of the good food /drink and shore trips.