26th January 2026

Get to grips with the luxury river cruise sister brands - Emerald & Scenic

Where it all began...

The story starts with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, an Australian-founded company established in 1986, now entering its 40th year of award-winning, handcrafted itineraries.

Since 2008, Scenic has set the benchmark in truly all-inclusive, luxury 5-star river cruises in Europe and South East Asia – thanks to their specially designed and commissioned Space-Ships. Emerald Cruises was then introduced in 2014, combining Scenic’s innovative design with the promise of value for money, opening the waterways to Emerald’s Star-Ships.

Ultra-luxury vs. luxury

Scenic: all-inclusive, ultra-luxury river cruising

Scenic pride themselves on being one of the most exceptional river cruise lines available, offering an ultra-luxury, truly all-inclusive option to their guests. From their fleet of award-winning 5-star river ships and impeccable service, to handcrafted itineraries that provide exclusive experiences, Scenic are in a class of their own, setting the standard for river cruising with everything included.

Emerald: a luxury experience with a lower price tag

Still a solid choice if you’re looking for luxury, Emerald’s aim is to combine the best of both worlds: a luxury experience with a lower price tag. You’ll find there’s slightly less included, but everything you need is taken care of – and the inclusions themselves are still plentiful (more on that later). Specialising in small ship river cruises, the limited guest numbers (no more than 180), excellent staff-to-guest ratio, and design-led layout of Emerald’s Star-Ships offer a comfortable and luxurious journey along your chosen river.

Which cruise line is right for me?

Scenic - The Suite Life

Offering some of the most luxurious river cruise suites available, these private oases come with a whole host of ultra-luxury amenities and inclusions, such as bathrobes and slippers, a complimentary mini bar, daily canapés (Junior Suites and above), personalised butler service and a complimentary bottle of champagne (Royal Suites only).

Luxurious wellness facilities

Whether you decide to explore on shore with the help of Scenic’s complimentary e-bikes, take a dip in the Vitality pool, book in for a rejuvenating spa treatment or enjoy a therapeutic visit to the Salt Therapy Lounge – Scenic’s Space-Ships are full of ways to relax and revitalise.

All-inclusive excursions...

Scenic offers the most all-inclusive excursions on Europe and South East Asia's rivers. Each river cruise is carefully curated to include a broad range of immersive experiences whilst onshore, so you can choose from a wide range of activities (active, moderate and relaxed) to suit your interests and pace. Examples include; a visit to Gottweig Abbey in the Wachau Valley, a Passau photography safari and a guided kayaking tour along the Pinhão River (pictured above).

... and exclusive experiences

Designed exclusively for Scenic guests, Scenic Enrich events are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that bring the rich cultural heritage of Europe's waterways to life. Guests have unparalleled access to the private chambers of historic castles, palaces and châteaux and be treated to exclusive concerts and decadent dinners at ancient fortresses.

World-class dining

An impressive selection of dining options is on offer for guests as Scenic’s highly trained chefs create delectable dishes on board. From relaxed to fine dining , savour the very best of local regions have to offer in Europe and South East Asia, while enjoying premium international beverages on board – all included, of course.

Five-star service

Scenic’s on board team are dedicated professionals, delivering an exceptional level of world-class service. They pay attention to the finest details, going to the Nth Degree to ensure you enjoy every moment of your river cruise. A notable highlight is the butler service, which all guests get to enjoy.

See all sailings with Scenic

Emerald - The Star (Ships) of the show

Emerald’s award-winning Star-Ships are effectively world-class floating hotels. Known for luxurious accommodation and social spaces, a wealth of amenities and iconic innovations like their indoor pool that transforms into a cinema on select evenings (not available on Emerald Radiance).

A wide range of accommodation

Here’s where Emerald’s affordability really shines, thanks to their varied accommodation options. On European cruises, choose from large Owner’s One-Bedroom suites with separate living areas, to staterooms that feature a picture window. Whichever cabin your budget allows for, you can be sure of great river views. Plus, every suite and stateroom benefits from an en-suite bathroom, luxury ESPA toiletries, Wi-Fi, a TV and an infotainment system.

Exciting excursions

Guests can enjoy an included excursion nearly every day, designed to take them beyond the standard tourist experience, featuring options like guided walking tours, wine-tasting and visits to historical landmarks. The culturally enriching DiscoverMORE excursions are optional extras and incur an additional cost.

Delectable dining

Adopting the same culinary attitudes as their older sister, Emerald believes that food should reflect local flavours, so their menus also take inspiration from the regions they sail. Sourcing local ingredients, creating meals that capture authentic cuisine, no matter where your journey takes you.

The Reflections Restaurant can be found across the Star-Ships fleet, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, so your meals will always be accompanied by stunning river views, whether you're stopping in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Terrace, a beautifully decked area in the forward of Emerald's European Star-Ships, provides a lovely spot to enjoy a light snack or refreshing drink.

See all sailings with Emerald Cruises

What are the key differences?

Dining

Scenic offers a more varied dining experience with multiple venues (guests can choose from up to five dining experiences on all Europe river cruises and up to four on our South East Asia river cruises) and a 24/7 complimentary drink service. While Emerald offers a solid all-inclusive dining experience at their Reflections Restaurant, with some ships offering additional options.

Onboard

Scenic’s onboard experience is more luxurious, with larger suites, butler service, and multiple dining venues. Emerald have a more contemporary feel (pictured) with slightly larger ships and modern amenities like their pool-cinema hybrid.

Excursions

Scenic includes more premium and exclusive excursions in its fare, while Emerald offers excellent value with more flexible options for excursions, with some deeper exploration experiences requiring an additional fee.