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April 4, 2026

In today’s luxury maritime tourism landscape, sustainability is no longer an optional extra, but a foundational value. Emerald Cruises, a brand within the Scenic Group, embraces this evolution with a fleet designed to combine comfort, exclusivity, and a responsible approach to the marine environment.

The Emerald Yachts follow Scenic Group’s broader “Cherish the Planet” sustainability framework, which focuses on reducing waste, addressing CO₂ emissions, sourcing sustainably, growing with communities, valuing people, and advocating health, safety and security.

The current Emerald Cruises yacht fleet includes Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, operating in some of the world’s most captivating regions, including the Mediterranean and Caribbean, with itineraries designed to offer boutique, intimate ship experiences. Scenic Group intends to continue expanding its river and ocean fleet in the coming years, with a clear strategic vision: to offer exclusive itineraries while progressively seeking to address environmental impacts through implementing measurable targets on waste, water and greenhouse gas emissions.

Each yacht is designed to deliver a relaxed luxury cruising experience that is closely connected to its surrounding environment. Within this connection, Emerald Cruises’ commitment to sustainability is expressed through concrete initiatives on board, including advanced wastewater treatment, structured waste management, and targeted reductions in plastic use and emissions intensity across operations.

Waste, Water and Resource Management

Responsible waste management is a core pillar of the Cherish the Planet framework. All Scenic Group ocean vessels, including Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, operate under MARPOL-compliant garbage and wastewater management plans that outline clear procedures for minimising, segregating, storing, treating and responsibly disposing of waste.

Waste streams such as plastics, food waste, domestic waste and hazardous materials are carefully managed in alignment with regulatory standards and internal best practices. Scenic Group continues to review and refine its onboard waste management processes as part of its commitment to continual environmental improvement across the fleet.

Water management is equally central. Scenic Group’s ocean vessels produce freshwater on board using treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection and carbon filtration, reducing reliance on port supplies and supporting high water quality standards. In 2024, ocean vessels produced 79,823 m³ of freshwater on board, and 92% of onboard water was treated and safely returned to the natural environment in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Wastewater, Bilge and Oily Water Handling

Scenic Group’s ocean vessels use advanced wastewater treatment systems that handle both greywater and blackwater, in line with MARPOL and flag-state regulations. Performance targets are set for greywater management, with Emerald Azzurra used as a reference vessel for intensity targets expressed in cubic metres of permeate per day.

Bilge water and oily residues generated during operations are not discharged directly into the sea. Instead, these streams are collected and landed ashore at authorised facilities, reinforcing Scenic Group’s commitment to avoiding marine pollution and complying with international maritime environmental standards.

Energy Use, Emissions and Climate Commitments

The primary source of Scope 1 emissions across Scenic Group’s operations is marine fuel used by its vessel fleet, including Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara. To strengthen climate mitigation efforts, Scenic Group has established greenhouse gas intensity targets for selected vessels, including Emerald Azzurra, expressed in tonnes of CO₂-equivalent per guest per night. All such intensity targets set for 2024 were achieved, demonstrating progress in managing emissions relative to guest activity even as operations expand.

Reduction of Single-Use Plastics and Onboard Experience

Reducing plastics is a visible part of the guest experience on board. Scenic Group has systematically moved away from single-use toiletries, introducing refillable dispensers in guest suites and common areas, and has adopted initiatives such as stainless-steel water bottles and partnerships that repurpose returned bottles for use in communities benefiting from clean-water projects. These measures contribute to lower plastic waste volumes and support broader circular-economy goals.

Social Sustainability and Positive Community Impact

Beyond environmental sustainability on board, Emerald Cruises and Scenic Group actively promote social sustainability within local communities. Through its partnership with the Vina Capital Foundation, Scenic Group supported the Clean Water Program, delivering safe drinking water to schools and villages in Vietnam. These initiatives help improve health, quality of life, and resilience in local communities, integrating social responsibility with the sustainable practices already implemented on board.

Emerald Cruises also embeds sustainability into long-term local partnerships, collaborating with organizations such as Pour un Sourire d’Enfant in Cambodia and the Samai Distillery. These initiatives combine exclusive guest experiences with positive community impact, reintegrating children into society, providing educational and vocational pathways, and supporting local socioeconomic development. In this way, boutique luxury cruising becomes a model of integrated sustainability, where responsible tourism and social value merge with personalized and memorable experiences on board.

A Boutique Cruise Model Aligned with “Cherish the Planet”

Within the wider Scenic Group, Emerald Cruises demonstrates how boutique ocean cruising can be aligned with clearly defined sustainability goals. The combination of MARPOL-compliant waste and wastewater systems, measurable reductions in plastic waste intensity, onboard freshwater production and vessel-specific emissions targets gives substance to the Group’s Cherish the Planet commitments.

As Scenic Group continues to expand its fleet and itineraries across the Emerald Cruises and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours brands, the focus remains on strengthening data quality, aligning with evolving standards such as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards, and further integrating environmental and social considerations into vessel design, operations and guest experiences. In this way, the Emerald Yachts are positioned not only as luxury vessels, but also as part of a broader transition towards a more responsible model of ocean travel.

Don’t miss news, updates, and reviews of Emerald Cruises on Cruising Journal, featuring photos, videos, and special cruise offers.

Giorgia Lombardo

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