Scenic Group Announces Three New River Ships for 2027/28

Their calendar may be already chock-full of exciting yacht launches, but to that the Scenic Group say, ‘Why stop there?’

Having just celebrated 40 years of luxury and innovation, Scenic and Emerald seem set to extend their winning streak, turning their eyes to the rivers with not one, not two but three new ships announced for 2027/28 launches. 

Emerald Nova – June 2027, Douro River

With its ochre hillsides, red-roofed towns and climbing terraces of sun-drenched vineyards, it’s little wonder that Douro River cruises are among Emerald Cruises’ most popular itineraries. They currently operate just one ship – Emerald Radiance – through Portugal’s golden valley, though this is set to change in summer 2027, with the arrival of Emerald Nova. 

Purpose-designed to navigate the Douro’s lock system, Emerald Nova will accommodate 112 guests and offer two different itineraries: an 8-day ‘Secrets of the Douro’ voyage and an 11-day ‘Douro Highlight: Porto, Salamanca & the Wine Valley’, for those wanting a more in-depth experience. Both itineraries will offer guests a truly immersive way to explore the region, with excursions including vineyard tours, wine tastings and guided hikes.

Scenic Aria – September 2027, Douro River

Evidently, the Douro is the place to be, as Scenic are also expanding their presence there, with the launch of Scenic Aria in September 2027.  

Joining sister ship Scenic Azure on the Douro, Scenic Aria will house just 96 guests for the ultimate small-ship experience, operating both an 8-day ‘Delightful Douro’ and 11-day ‘Unforgettable Douro’ itinerary. Calling at popular ports like Pinhao and Regua, guests can look forward to unique experiences such as olive tasting, tile painting and kayaking trips.

Scenic Spirit II – launching early 2028 on the Mekong River

Over on the other side of the globe, Scenic’s quest to bring unparalleled luxury to the world’s rivers continues, with 68-passenger Scenic Spirit II, launching early 2028 on the Mekong River. Taking guests on an unforgettable journey through the wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia, passengers can expect stops at bucket-list hotspots such as Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Ankor Ban, with excursions like Vespa foodie tours, wet market visits and cooking classes.

This announcement is just the latest piece of good news for the Scenic Group, bringing the total number of upcoming river cruise ships up to five. As well as the three mentioned above, guests can look forward to the Parisian debut of Emerald Lumi in 2027, whilst the launch of Emerald Astra on the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube is just around the corner, in May 2026.

Of course, Emerald Cruises are also making big moves over on the ocean, with three new luxury yachts – Emerald Kaia, Emerald Raiya and Emerald Xara – debuting in 2026, 2027 and 2028 respectively, whilst Scenic are due to expand their expedition offering with the launch of new Discovery Yacht, Scenic Ikon in 2028.

This commitment towards developing the fleet represents the Scenic Group’s most significant growth in almost a decade—by the start of 2028, Emerald’s fleet will boast 11 river ships and 5 yachts, whilst Scenic will have an astonishing 15 river ships and three Discovery Yachts.

Glen Moroney, chair and founder of the Scenic Group, said: “Our commitment to introducing 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. 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.

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 exact standards, innovation and design principles that have underpinned Scenic Group’s success for the past 40 years.”

You can find out more about Emerald Cruises here and more about Scenic here.