Scenic Group Orders Three River Cruise Ships for Scenic & Emerald Brands

Scenic Group revealed fleet expansion plans that will see its two brands – Scenic and Emerald – take delivery of three ships in 2027 and 2028. The order includes one Emerald Star-Ship and two Scenic Space-Ships.

“Our commitment to an additional three new river ships for the Scenic and Emerald Cruises brands reflects our confidence in the strong demand for our unique approach to luxury cruising,” said Glen Moroney, chairman and founder of Scenic Group.

“With Scenic Ikon in build for delivery in 2028 and five Emerald Cruises yachts and river ships already confirmed, this announcement marks the next phase of our strategic fleet growth.”

Emerald Nova will be the first of the three new ships to launch with a scheduled delivery date in June 2027 on the Douro River. It will join Emerald Radiance on the Portuguese river, introducing a longer itinerary – the 11-day Douro Highlights: Porto, Salamanca & the Wine Valley – that delves deeper into the region.

Also on the Douro River will be Scenic Aria, launching in September 2027. It will join Scenic Azure on the river, with both ships operating the 11-day Unforgettable Douro and eight-day Delightful Douro itineraries.

Both new Douro ships are open for booking.

Finally, in early 2028 Scenic Spirit II will make its debut on the Mekong River.

All three ships are being built at MKM Yachts.

“By bringing the design and construction of these new river ships under the expertise of our team at MKM Yachts, we can apply the same exacting standards, innovation and design principles that have underpinned Scenic Group’s success for the past 40 years,” Moroney said.

Scenic Group already has new river ships joining its fleet in 2026 and 2027 with Emerald Astra on the Rhine, Main, and Danube, and Emerald Lumi on the Seine, respectively.

New yachts on the horizon include Emerald Kaia in April 2026, Emerald Raiya in 2027, Emerald Xara in 2028, and Scenic Ikon in 2028.