7 Good Reasons to Splurge on a Luxury Emerald Azzurra Cruise

An Emerald Azzurra Cruise Review

By Jason Frye

On my recent sailing aboard Emerald Cruises’ new Emerald Azzurra super-yacht, there was something special in the air.

It wasn’t the anticipation of the inaugural sailing — we were on its second (in March 2022), though our Emerald Azzurra cruise still had that “new ship” smell — but the fact that the cruise marked a return to travel for many of the 57 passengers and the ship’s crew.

After two years away from the high seas and waterways, we were back. And traveling on a stunning and entirely different kind of ship.

Emerald Azzurra has a sleek silhouette, like the more forward-thinking design found on private yachts and larger expedition-style ships (like Scenic Eclipse, the older cousin ship to Azzurra).

And though she’s small — 50 cabins for a maximum of 100 passengers — Azzurra feels glamorously spacious.

The sleek 100-pax Emerald Azzurra in Kusadasi. * Photo: Jason Frye

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Her passenger-to-space ratio is 53, where larger ships fall in the 30-40 range.

Onboard amenities borrow from expedition-style ships — as Azzurra’s Marina Platform and garage of watersports toys can attest — and from elite private-yachts, like the spacious spa, infrared sauna, and the bar-side pool on the Sky Deck.

And it doesn’t stop there.

The Azzurra’s Sky Bar. * Photo: Jason Frye

Emerald Azzurra has a decidedly modern look, with a plumb bow, crisp black and white paint, and streamlined shape that’s both sensual and suggestive of the ship’s hydrodynamics. And, frankly, she looks like the cool older sister to all but the most exclusive yachts in any port she calls on.

On space, the main dining room is 315 square meters, giving you around 50% more interior dining space per guest than the charter yachts you see on the Med and offering up about one-third more space than comparable ships (at least that’s what my back-of-the-envelope math tells me).

Azzurra Occupies its Own Micro-Niche

If you’re looking for luxury with fewer passengers than lines like Regent, Seabourn, or Silverseas, but you still want the attentive service and high-class amenities, then I think you should go for an Emerald Azzurra cruise.

This between-the-categories nature of Azzurra makes it a little hard to pin down. In a good way.

So, while Azzurra looks like a mini version of the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse, it doesn’t have the ice-strengthened hull (or stabilizers) to pull off a trip to the Arctic/Antarctic like the true expedition polar-rated Scenic Eclipse or the 196-passenger World Navigator.

Further, Azzurra accommodating a max of 100 pax carries half the passenger capacity of Scenic Eclipse, World Navigator, and similar expedition ships. But it’s also bigger than the 60-pax Sea Cloud — which is similar to Azzurra in size/pax count and has a similar approach to luxury with one dining venue, high execution, eye-catching ship and smaller ports — and most (charter-ready) small ships in the Med.

In this way, Azzurra really is a first-of-its-kind ship.

The ship — all sleek lines and modern styling — cut a fine figure docked in Aqaba, Jordan, where we would embark, but she was only part of what had us cruisers buzzing.

Snippets of overheard conversation revealed the rest: our itinerary.

For the next 12 days we’d sail from Jordan to Greece, calling on a pair of Ancient Wonders, stopping for a day in the Holy Land, and walking the streets of ruined ancient cities along the way.

Author Jason Frye in Ephesus, Turkey. * Photo: Lauren Frye

Once we were onboard, checked into our cruise and rooms, and free to explore the ship the topic of conversation turned to the Azzurra itself.

What a ship it is. Stylish, contemporary, and luxurious, it wowed at every turn, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Azzurra’s stern looking down on the Marina Platform. * Photo: gilliesandzaiser.com

Here are 7 ways to live the luxe life aboard an Emerald Azzurra cruise

1. Pretend It’s Your Own Private Yacht

Calling a cruise ship “spacious” seems like an oxymoron, but the Emerald Azzurra has room to spare. With six guest decks to explore and a maximum of 100 passengers, you’ll experience moments where you feel like you really could be on your own private yacht.

Cozy corners, sunny spaces and seats with a view abound in the ship’s public spaces. Tables near the open-air Aqua Café, poolside loungers, and al fresco barstools on the Pool and Sky Decks give you outdoor options.

Folks enjoying the outside decks while in port in Turkey. * Photo: Jason Frye

Meanwhile, the Amici Lounge and Bar on Deck 3 provides a sleek and comfortable place to gather indoors for talks, films, music and dancing, or just hanging out.

Emerald Azzurra’s Amici Lounge Bar. * Photo: Jason Frye

But it’s the dining room that really shows off the ship’s surplus of space.

The dual-space La Cucina dining room has 112 seats inside and another 55 on the Terrace (a partially-covered space overlooking the stern). If you’re not doing the math yourself, that’s 167 seats for 100 guests, which means plenty of elbow room at dinner.

The La Cucina dining area. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

Most importantly, the cabins embrace the “more-is-more” space philosophy. Of the 50 guest cabins onboard, only six are the typical stateroom — porthole/window, no balcony. The remaining 44 extend the room into the outdoors with a balcony or terrace.

The most plentiful category of accommodations onboard — the Balcony Suites — range from 285-306 sq ft, but the Owner’s Suites triple that with two-room, 1,162-1,192 sq ft cabins that include huge terraces and walk-in closets.

Jason’s balcony suite on Emerald Azzurra, #418. * Photo: Jason Frye

The Owners Suite lounge & balcony. * Photo: Jason Frye

2. Feast for the Eyes

Emerald Azzurra delivers an “all-eyes-on-you” experience. The exterior design is sleek and modern, like the ship you’d see in the opening scene of a James Bond movie.

With itineraries calling on ports along the Italian, Croatian, and Qatari coastlines, you’ll find yourself in those elegant ports surrounded by other gorgeous ships. But nothing like this.

Gleaming white, 360’ long, six decks high, and cutting a perfect silhouette, it looks like the luxury yacht of some tech billionaire or Emir.

The 6-deck-high Emerald Azzurra. *Photo: GilliesZaiser

The interior design is a pitch-perfect match to the exterior.

Ultra-modern and even (familiarly) futuristic, the ship’s designers chose bold, contemporary art to bring vivid blocks of color to the reception area and dining room.

The reception area art. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

Design onboard Emerald Azzurra isn’t just about form, it’s about function too, and in the cabins, the design stands out for its use of space.

Ample storage — from space to stow the standard empty luggage under the bed to the dual medicine cabinet and under-sink storage in the lavatory to the quartet of deep drawers (and this is only some of the storage) — helps you keep the cabin clutter-free, making it feel even roomier than it is.

Jason’s roomy Balcony Suite bathroom; he occupied #418. * Photo: Jason Frye

How roomy is it? All cabins are large enough for a cozy lounge chair and ottoman (we’re talking supple leather and minimalist design) as well as a built-in love seat.

And if you need to expand your Balcony Suite, just open the enormous sliding glass door and spread out onto the balcony where two more (all-weather) seats await.

 3. Feel Good About Your Emerald Azzurra Cruise Getaway

 When you travel, are you all about the rest or the relaxation? Emerald Azzurra delivers both and more (if you’re like me and want a little adventure or discovery thrown in the mix, stick around to hear about the itineraries).

The onboard gym is small but ably-equipped, and augmented with yoga programs led by one of the wellness staff.

Emerald Azzurra’s gym. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

A pair of massage rooms and selection of body treatments provide several ways to settle into vacation mode that can go beyond deep tissue massage or a hot stone treatment.

You may choose to splurge on an infrared facial or one of the other pricey esthetic treatments or a session in the chair at the salon (by way of note, several crewmembers were sporting fresh haircuts while we were onboard, and every one delivered by the stylists).

And if you find yourself sporting a tight back after a day touring, pay a visit to the infrared sauna where IR lights provide enough heat to loosen stiff muscles without having to strip down for a full massage therapy session.

Emerald Azzurra’s Infrared Sauna. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

4. Enjoy the Fancy Toys on an Emerald Azzurra Cruise

Not only will you travel like the rich and famous on Emerald Azzurra, you’ll have the chance to play like them too.

At the stern of the ship, the Marina Platform is part playground, part toy store.

In select ports, the crew deploys a floating platform off the stern of the ship and offer up a selection of water activities to guests. Snorkeling gear, double kayaks, standup paddleboards, and SEABOBs (a sort of all-electric underwater scooter-jet ski hybrid) are on offer, or you can make your way to the trampoline at the end of the floating platform for a few acrobatic leaps into the sea.

(Note, if it’s too windy or a port area is too industrial, the watersports platform and toys won’t be available.)

Once you catch a glimpse of your fellow guests paddling about, splashing and jumping into the water, and zipping below the waves on the SEABOBs, you’ll have no choice but to shimmy into your bathing suit and join in.

Azzurra’s Marina Platform. * Photo: gilliesandzaiser.com

Another angle on Azzurra’s Marina Platform. * Photo: gilliesandzaiser.com

5. Dine Like Royalty (or at least the Lower Nobility)

When you cruise on a luxury superyacht, you expect decadent cuisine and great wines. The two dining venues on Emerald Azzurra offer both attentive service and impeccable execution on the plate.

On our 12-night sailing, I fell in love with a half-dozen wines, ate 11 outstanding dinners (the one miss was my fault: I ordered something I don’t normally like and it turns out I still don’t like it), and went home thoroughly impressed with the galley and service crew.

Breakfast and lunch at La Cucina, the main restaurant, are served buffet style, augmented by an action station where you can get your morning eggs to-order and where you’ll enjoy pasta, seared tuna, or even a carved roast at lunch.

The buffet area of La Cucina. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

Options abound on the buffet lines, with healthy choices available at every meal — from fruit, yogurt, oatmeal and Wellness Shots (tasty concoctions of fresh juice, spices, and herbs) at breakfast to lighter options at lunch, the likes of salads as well as vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.

Philip Bruce, a fellow cruiser from England by way of Scotland, said, “the lunches have been fantastic. They’ve not missed a note and the soups, oh the soups have been excellent,” and he’s spot on, the soups, a dish I’ll usually skip at lunch, are creative and tasty, and became a personal favorite at the midday meal.

A tasty seafood stew. * Photo: Jason Frye

Aqua Café also serves breakfast and lunch, but with a smaller, more spa-style menu. But the star of the lunchtime show (and a great afternoon snack) is the inventive flatbread menu.

More than a dozen of these simple, sharable, craveable not-quite-pizzas are up for order and they arrive at your al fresco table in minutes; toppings include artichokes, lemon and ricotta on the Levantine; butternut squash, red onion and goat cheese on The Squash!; and crispy English bacon and roasted tomatoes on The BLT.

The popular flatbread pizzas. * Photo: Jason Frye

Dinner is a decidedly different affair, with a four-course menu showcasing the best of what the galley can do.

Each night the options change (though there are “always available” dishes that include seared salmon, breaded eggplant “steak,” a Caesar salad, and more), but there’s always a pair of starters and soups, a dish for the table to share (think risotto and pasta dishes), a trio of mains, and three desserts. Plus, a vegetarian entrée is always available, and the kitchen is able to make accommodations for a variety of food sensitivities and allergies.

Among my favorite dishes were the tuna tartare tower, gnocchi with bleu cheese and walnuts, and a roasted broccoli soup.

Tuna tartare. * Photo: Jason Frye

I also loved the beef tenderloin with truffle butter, cacio e pepe (a “for the table” dish that I didn’t want to share), seared duck breast, and every dessert I laid my eyes on.

Duck at dinner. * Photo: Jason Frye

Seriously, I didn’t skip a dessert, and whether it was the sundae of the day or the passion fruit and chocolate slice, I was ready when the fourth course rolled around. In part that’s because the European-style portion sizing and controlled approach to each dish made each course a satisfying, filling experience without leaving me overstuffed and too full to enjoy the full meal.

Desserts were impossible to skip. * Photo: Jason Frye

One of the yummy desserts. * Photo: Jason Frye

There are two bars onboard as well, one in the Amici Lounge and the Sky Bar on Deck 7. They’re both full service with a selection of spirits, liqueurs, and mixers that will satisfy almost any cocktail order.

And that selection also adds to the camaraderie among cruisers as Philip, my Scottish friend, and I can attest to after an impromptu but vigorous Scotch Whisky and Bourbon tasting one evening.

The Amici Lounge. * Photo: GilliesZaiser

6. Adventure Awaits Around the World

When I said earlier the Emerald Azzurra looks like it belongs in a James Bond film, that was no joke.

The itineraries themselves add in enough adventure to transform you into your action hero of choice.

On our sailing we visited a pair of world wonders — the pyramids and sphinx at Giza, and Petra — and, frankly, I felt like Indiana Jones (not just because of the Tilley hat and my rugged good looks).

Camels in near the Giza pyramids. * Photo: Jason Frye

As we walked through the canyon leading to Petra proper, the anticipation built, and when we saw the façade of the famous Treasury Building and the camels and donkeys and hawkers there, I thought I’d walked into one of Dr. Jones’ escapades (thankfully I did not).

Jason & Lauren in front of Petra’s famous Treasury Building. * Photo: Jason Frye

In Santorini I looked back at our ship at anchor in the caldera and I thought I’d see Bond himself board the tender and head to shore.

The 100-pax Emerald Azzurra anchored off shore Santorini. * Photo: Jason Frye

In Turkey, I couldn’t believe we were walking through the ruins of Ephesus and Pergam. I wondered at the history of these places and at how I found myself here.

A day spent in Ephesus, Turkey. * Photo: Jason Frye

Not every itinerary will be a repeat of our Jordan-Greece journey, but they all promise to satisfy your lust for adventure.

Sailing the Greek and Turkish coastlines you’ll call on cities modern and ruined, the places made famous in myth, history, and religious texts.

Learning about the ruins of historic Cyprus on a tour. * Photo: Jason Frye

As you cruise in the Ionian Sea from Athens to Rome, you’ll be in the cradle of Mediterranean civilization and experience some of the most beautiful and storied coastline in the region.

When you join a cruise on the Adriatic coast you’ll visit Venice and a half dozen ports in Croatia, a playground for Italian tourists and those in the know, and the sight of locations recently made famous in HBO’s Game of Thrones.

And if you’re itching to see the Middle East, sailings around the Arabian Peninsula in 2023 on the 21-day Discover the Red Sea, Holy Land, Turkey & Greece  (longer, but the closest itinerary to our sailing) will have you calling on Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Oman, and the UAE; and Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Greece as you explore places seldom seen by (and in some instances, recently opened to) foreigners.

Camels in Petra. * Photo: Jason Frye

Keep in mind, Emerald Azzurra will also be spending time in the Caribbean during the winters, where the watersports platform and the generous open deck space will really shine.

7.  Easy to Stay Active

Whatever port you’re in, the day is yours. You’re not tied to the day’s excursions and you can do what I did a couple of times: go wander the streets of a new city or town, find a place to grab a bite and a drink, do a little shopping, and return to the ship satisfied with your day.

Making it easier to explore on your own are the ship’s small fleet of Gocycle e-bikes and the crew’s knowledge of the ports.

More than once I saw fellow passengers ask the tour director and crew about a place to go for a jog, a short hike (to one of the many statues, lighthouses, and sights on the hills above the ports), a leisurely walk, or for directions to the shopping district.

On top of this, EmeraldACTIVE excursions put the emphasis on the active part of leaving the ship with guided bike rides, hikes and walks that are more vigorous than your typical tour.

But if you’re worried you won’t meet your daily steps goal or get any exercise on the tours, don’t. I assure you that whatever you do (short of spending the day in the spa or by the pool), you’ll log an impressive number of steps (the least I had was in excess of 11,000 and that’s because my phone was charging in my bag).

Emerald Azzurra’s pool. * Photo: Jason Frye

Quick Emerald Azzurra Facts

Passengers: 100

Crew: 68

Itineraries: Here’s a look at the 2023 cruise calendar for Emerald Azzurra and her upcoming sister Emerald Sakara, which is slated to debut in early 2023.

Starting Rates: From USD $4,586 per person for a 7-night Greek Isles and Turkish Coast cruise.

What’s Included on an Emerald Azzurra Cruise

• Port charges
• Airport transfers
• Gratuities
• Wi-Fi onboard
• Excursions with local guides
• Use of Gocycle electric bikes
• Use of Marina Platform with watersports equipment (kayaks, standup paddleboards, snorkeling gear, Castoldi Zodiac, SEABOBs)
• Bottled water in cabin (restocked daily)
• Refillable keepsake water bottle
• All meals onboard
• Wine, beer & soft drinks at lunch & dinner
• 24/7 coffee & tea stations
• Gym, pool, infrared sauna

Tips for Your Emerald Azzurra Cruise

➡️Visit the open bridge.

Emerald Azzurra has an open bridge policy, meaning you can visit the bridge just about any time (it’s closed for docking and more sensitive maneuvers), and you should. I missed out on our trip due to COVID concerns, but I peeked in through the window at the array of instruments and screens and the couch where curious passengers (like you and I) could sit and chat with the bridge crew.

➡️Use every inch of the ship.

Spend time lounging by the pool on Deck 6; enjoy a drink and take in the view at the Sky Bar and Spa Pool on Deck 7; let the Infrared Sauna work its magic on your muscles; and any time the Marina Platform is open, go and play.

➡️Don’t forget to dine al fresco.

There’s plenty of seating on the La Cucina Terrace (by the main dining room) and the Aqua Lounge (by the poolside Aqua Café), and you’ll find the scenery as delicious as the food.

Enjoying the view on deck. * Photo: Jason Frye

About the Author

Jason Frye is a freelance writer and the author of the travel guides Moon North Carolina, Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip, and Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

When he’s not sailing or road tripping, he calls coastal North Carolina home.

Instagram: @beardedwriter

Twitter: @beardedwriter

Jason Frye aka @thebeardedwriter

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