Emerald Astra

The 2026-built MS Emerald Astra cruise ship is a newbuild riverboat constructed in Hardinxveld-Giessendam (Holland). Astra is Emerald Waterways' 10th boat of the company's Star-Ship series, with sisterships the fleetmates Emerald Star, Emerald Sky, Emerald Sun, Emerald Dawn, Emerald Destiny, and Emerald Luna.

Emerald Astra cruises on the rivers Rhine, Main and Danube.

Emerald Waterways is a new river cruise shipping company (2014-established) and brand owned by Scenic Tours (shipowner). Like the new longships of Viking River Cruises, the innovations implemented on Emerald Waterways ships make these vessels an alternative to the ocean "small-ship cruising". Emerald Waterways adds more cruise tour itinerary choices and sailing dates for the aficionados of the all-inclusive European luxury riverboat travel vacations.

Cabins

Most of Emerald Astra's staterooms are outfitted with drop-down windows that transform the seating area into a comfortable balcony space.

Emerald Astra has a total of 91 staterooms in 8 categories for 180 guests served by 52 crew members.

Except for the single-occupancy category ES (Emerald Single Stateroom), all cabins are with double occupancy (max capacity 2 passengers per cabin).

75% of all rooms are Suites with a balcony (in-room/step-out veranda).

All passenger staterooms provide as standard/complimentary amenities queen beds (or convertible twin beds, except Single cabins with a single bed), bedside tables, mirrored panels by the bed, private en-suite bathroom (WC, small sink, shower cubicle, mirrored cupboards, mirror over the basin, clothesline, luxury bath products /shampoo, liquid soap, conditioner, body lotion), walk-in closet (large wardrobe with hangers), personal safe, direct-dial phone, flat HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, movies on demand, “View From the Bridge” /real-time webcam views), mini-bar (fully-stocked with beer, beer, wine, soft beverages, snacks /all at additional price, except for Owner Suites), individual climate control, 220V power outlets, umbrella, shoe cleaner, 2 earplug sets.

Shipboard facilities

MS Emerald Astra has 4 passenger decks (3 with cabins), Horizon Bar Lounge with outdoor Terrace seating (Deck 3 forward), Reflections Restaurant (Dining Room, Deck 2 forward), aft-Deck3 indoor swimming pool/night cinema (covered with sliding roof), wellness facilities (Gym, Spa and Beauty Salon, massage room), Sun Deck (Wheelhouse, games area with giant Tic-Tac-Toe, 3-hole Mini-Golf Putting Green, Walking Track, Sky Barbecue Bar, shaded seating, passenger-use bikes).

One lift (passenger elevator) connects all cabin decks.

The ship has two restaurants (Reflections/MDR, and The Terrace/alfresco) and two bars: Sky Bar (on the sundeck) and the Horizon Bar & Lounge (offering hot entrees, cold cuts, soups, and other snacks, as well as a salad bar at lunchtime).

The Reflections Restaurant is the Main Dining Room with open seating and table service. There is also a buffet station at dinner and an omelet station at breakfast.

The Terrace is the alfresco dining area - an informal venue for breakfast and lunch.

The Horizon Lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows and doubles as a casual lunch restaurant.

Weather permitting, lunch and dinner special buffets are held at various times on the open deck.

The most innovative, new-to-river feature of the ship is the dual-purpose area at the aft that transforms from a heated indoor pool with a retractable roof during the day, to a movie theater/indoor cinema at night, showing classic movies and recent releases.

Itineraries

Emerald Astra's inaugural cruise program lists the following itineraries as themes, homeports and destinations:

11-day "Rhine Castles and Moselle Vineyards" from Basel to Amsterdam (Moselle-Rhine)

14-day "Rhine Castles and Moselle Vineyards and Lucerne-Zurich" cruisetour from Amsterdam to Zurich

8-day "The majestic Rhine" from Basel to Frankfurt (Rhine-Main)

15-day "Splendours of Europe" from Amsterdam to Budapest (Rhine-Mein-Danube)

Note: You can see CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.