On 02DEC, Scenic Group Founder and Chairman, Glen Moroney, and Scenic Group Managing Director for the U.S., Ken Muskat, led the christening ceremony for Emerald Cruises' latest warm water luxury yacht, Emerald Sakara, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Captain Rob O'Leary, in command of Emerald Sakara, was present alongside local travel advisors, U.S. trade partners, embarking guests, and media representatives from across the globe.
The traditional champagne bottle-breaking ceremony, symbolically led by Kelly Craighead, marked the official christening of Emerald Sakara.
"We are a pretty unique entity in the cruise industry when it comes to both our river and ocean luxury ships," offered Glen Moroney, Founder and Chairman of Scenic Group. "We are intimately involved with every aspect of the build process—coming up with the concept, doing the design, overseeing the engineering, then building the ships including all interior design in house then employing all of the crew members directly. Having Kelly as the godmother of our newest luxury yacht, Emerald Sakara, follows that same thought process as she embodies a similar can-do attitude and history, and her leadership and guidance with CLIA over the recent challenging years for the industry is inspirational."
As President and CEO of CLIA, Kelly Craighead represents a growing community of ocean, river, and specialty cruise lines and a network of more than 75,000 CLIA Travel Trade Members and stakeholders. She joined CLIA in 2019, bringing a knowledge of public policy and how governments worldwide work.
"The dedication of Emerald Sakara was extraordinary, and I am honored to be an ambassador for the entire CLIA team in the esteemed maritime tradition of godmother," said Kelly Craighead, President & CEO of Cruise Lines International Association. "The stunning luxury of Emerald Sakara, complemented by Emerald Cruises' commitment to environmentally responsible tourism, exemplifies CLIA's advocacy for sustainable tourism and preservation of cruise destinations around the world for future generations. Thank you to Emerald Cruises for this very special recognition."
The luxury yacht carries 100 guests in 50 deluxe staterooms and suites ranging from 185 to 1,185 square feet—with 44 featuring large walk-out balconies. Lounge chairs and day beds surround the open-air infinity pool.
"A wellness deck with a spa, infrared sauna and gym allows guests to focus on their health goals, while the top deck Sky Bar offers the ideal sunset spot. Located off the yacht's stern, a marina platform boasts water toys galore—kayaks, standup paddleboards, snorkel equipment, SEABOBs and a giant trampoline available to guests when the platform is deployed."
The La Cucina dining room specializes in fresh, seasonal cuisine with seating indoors and on the adjacent terrace.
More information on Emerald Cruises' website.
