Mediterranean
The easiest great cruise there is: short flights, famous ports, and a ship for every kind of family.
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Emerald Cruises
Emerald Azzurra
A 100-guest yacht with balconies on most suites and a marina platform, at a mid-market price.
Overview
Emerald Azzurra was built in 2022 for around 100 guests, with balconies on 88 percent of suites, a marina platform, a sun deck pool and one main restaurant plus a grill. She works the Adriatic, Greece and the Red Sea in summer and the Caribbean in winter.
Azzurra is the yacht that made small-ship cruising affordable for couples who had looked at Ritz-Carlton or Ponant and stepped back. The design is modern and light, suites are smart with good storage, and the platform at the stern opens in calm anchorages for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.
Service is friendly and informal rather than polished, and the dining is simple and good. For a group of couples who want to book a block of suites in the Greek islands, she is one of the best-value yachts afloat.
At a glance
- Line
- Emerald Cruises
- Size
- Yacht, around 100 guests
- Entered service
- 2022 (approximate)
- Our pick
- A Balcony Suite midships on deck 5.
Thinking about Emerald Azzurra?
We will say whether Emerald Azzurra is right for your party, which suite we would book and which sailing, or name the ship we would choose instead.
Best for
- Couples who want a modern yacht for less
- Groups of friends booking several suites
- Travelers who want to swim off the ship
Not for
- Guests who expect butlers and several restaurants
- Families with children
- Anyone prone to seasickness; a 100-guest yacht moves
Price
What Emerald Azzurra costs
Planning figure around $500 to $900 per person per night in a Balcony Suite with wine and beer at meals, Wi-Fi, one excursion per port and gratuities included. Not a quote.
Have a budget in mind?
Tell us what you are looking for and the figure you have in mind. We will say what it buys on each line, and where the same money goes further.
On board
Suites, cabins, dining and evenings on Emerald Azzurra
In our words, from the questions we are asked most. Suite names are the line's; which one we would book is ours.
- Suites
- Ocean View Staterooms on the lowest deck, Balcony Suites of around 28 square meters on the two decks above, Terrace Suites with a larger balcony and two Owner's Suites with a separate living room.
- Cabins we would book
- For a couple we would book a Balcony Suite midships on deck 5; the Owner's Suite only if a living room matters more than the price difference.
- Dining
- La Cucina is the main restaurant with a daily changing menu and regional dishes, and the Aqua Cafe on the sun deck grills at lunch and some evenings. Wine, beer and soft drinks come with lunch and dinner.
- Entertainment
- An Amici bar with a pianist or duo, the marina platform, the sun deck pool and the ports themselves; there is no theater or casino.
Want the right suite on Emerald Azzurra?
Tell us who is traveling and we will name the deck and the suite numbers we would hold, and the ones we would avoid.
Children, grandparents, mobility
Emerald Azzurra for the whole family
Three honest notes: what the ship does for children, what it does for grandparents, and what it asks of anyone with limited mobility.
- Children
- No children's facilities or program. Older teenagers who swim and paddleboard enjoy her; younger children have nothing organized.
- Grandparents
- Fit grandparents enjoy the small scale and easy ports. The ship moves more than a large one, stairs are the main route between decks, and tenders are used in some anchorages; we say so.
- Accessibility
- One accessible stateroom and an elevator between most decks; the marina platform and tenders are not accessible. Emerald's official site has the detail.
Planning for the whole family?
Connecting suites, different activity levels, dining that works for everyone, and transfers that suit grandparents and toddlers alike. The best family suites go first, so start early.
Where it sails
Where Emerald Azzurra goes
The regions this ship sails as far as we know; the itinerary confirms the ports and the season.
Greek Islands
Small ships, island overnights, and a late season that runs into October.
Adriatic & Croatia
Venice, Dubrovnik and Kotor in a week, on ships small enough for the old harbors.
Caribbean
Winter sun for the whole family, on ships that make Christmas and half-term easy.
Sample itineraries
Sailings on Emerald Azzurra
We have not written up a sample sailing on Emerald Azzurra yet. Emerald Cruises publishes the current itineraries; tell us the season you have in mind and we will send the two or three we would consider, with planning figures.
Not sure where to go?
Give us the month, who is traveling and how far you will fly. A specialist will name the two or three regions and ships we would choose.
Deck plans and photographs
Deck plans and pictures of Emerald Azzurra
Deck plans are on Emerald Cruises' official site; we link rather than copy them.
Our promise
We will say no.
We do not recommend a cruise because it is expensive, and we do not put people on the wrong ship. If Emerald Azzurra is not right for your party, we will tell you and suggest the one that is, even if it costs less or is sold by someone else. We are an advisor, not a booking engine.
Speak to a specialistGood to know
Emerald Azzurra FAQs
Is Emerald Azzurra a luxury yacht?
Premium rather than luxury. The ship is new and well designed, the inclusions are fair and the price is sharp; service and dining are good but not at the level of the top-tier yacht lines.
Plan your Emerald Azzurra cruise with Blackbury Travel.
Our pick: A Balcony Suite midships on deck 5.. Tell us who is traveling and when, and we will say which sailing and which suite, or whether another ship would suit you better.