- Ultra-luxury cruise line Emerald Cruises says its third ocean ship will debut in 2026.
- The all-inclusive vessel, which Emerald calls a “yacht,” would accommodate up to 128 people.
- Emerald, known for river cruises, has been investing more in its ocean-based business.
Over the last few years, the mass-market cruise industry’s larger-than-life mega-ships — outfitted with loud waterparks and more dining options than you could eat in a week — have dominated the spotlight.
But in the ultra-luxury cruise market, it’s been the opposite. The smaller and more exclusive the vessel, the better. So much so that Emerald Cruises’ next ocean-based ship, launching in 2026, plans to accommodate no more than 128 travelers.
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It’s a far cry from Royal Caribbean’s new 7,600-guest cruise liner. And the price difference is just as steep: almost $250 per night on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas versus more than $720 per night on the upcoming ultra-luxury Emerald Kaia.
“When people think of cruising now, they automatically think of these large ships,” Robert Castro, the vice president of marketing for Scenic Group, Emerald’s parent company, told Business Insider. “There’s a market for that, but we’re in a unique position.”
