Emerald Cruises UK Reviews 

Great that we received a partial refund in 2026 due to exceptionally low river levels but now that I read your terms and conditions (section 10 and 11 state no refunds) I can't trust you any further to enable me to book a river cruise in 2027.

Our original cruise was for the Majestic Rhine, but it was not to be due to low water levels, so we ended up mostly on the Moselle with a couple of days on the Rhine. We sailed on both the Luna and the Astra (our favourite). The crew were excellent on both ships, with the food being better on the Astra. Mikey was a great cruise director and managed so well with constant changes in itinerary - a logistical nightmare to organise many things at the last minute. The ships were not full as some had cancelled due to the change in itinerary. We will certainly return, but probably not if water levels are uncertain.

The water shortage was in its early stages & the crew were in a relatively new situation which they handled extremely professionally & they went above & beyond to ensure we had the best possible experience despite the uncertainty of the lack of water

Considering the weather situation and the lack of water in the rivers may I congratulate Emerald on the re-organisation of our latest cruise. As always Food, Entertainment and Customer Service were superb. The discount, because of the changes, was an added unexpected bonus.

The liberte has a great atmosphere, with staff , friendly, efficient, organised. The food was delicious and varied. The tours each day were lovely and the places they took us were interesting without being too intent . And the evening entertainment was fun .
The rooms were comfortable, and had everything we needed.
Even when the second half of our cruise couldn’t go ahead as plan , Emerald pulled out all the stops, the staff on the two ships we went on , were still great and the food and the entertainment you couldn’t fault. .
And the tours they can up with , wish they never done before were still lovely . Especially the outside museum . So thanks to you staff , this will be holiday we will always remember with happiness. .

Good call handling

Everything

Crew went above and beyond when river conditions were difficult to make the trip memorable.

So pleased we tried the small yacht experience. Even though we normally travel on smaller cruise ships of around 700 people, Emerald was different again. Very intimate and friendly with lovely touches like e-bikes and Marina days. Great fun, friendly staff and a chance to visit small more unknown ports.

The cruise was excellent made all the better with a fantastic crew and a great host in Miguel. I was spoilt on my birthday with a beautiful cake and much merriment. I would highly recommend this voyage.

We have just returned from our first cruise on board Emerald Sakara, sailing from Malta to the Amalfi Coast, and we can honestly say it exceeded every expectation. It was our first, but it will certainly not be our last.

What makes Sakara so special is what she is not. She is not a big cruise ship - and that is precisely the point. With only 50 cabins and around 100 guests, she feels like a private luxury yacht, not a floating city. There are no queues, no crowds, no rush. Instead you have space, peace, and the most personal, genuine relationship with the crew. Within a day they knew our names, our preferences, and nothing was ever too much trouble. That level of service you simply cannot get on the large ships.

Our balcony suite was superb - beautifully designed, incredibly comfortable, and so well thought out. Waking up, opening the doors to your own private balcony and seeing a completely new harbour or coastline every morning is pure joy.
The food was outstanding throughout. Breakfast, lunch and dinner - every meal was restaurant-quality, fresh, varied and beautifully presented. Dining on deck as we sailed into the sunset is something we will never forget.

And the itinerary - magical. The joy of drifting to sleep and waking up somewhere new each day never lost its magic. Malta, Sicily, the Amalfi Coast... each stop more beautiful than the last.
The organised tours were amazing and so well run. Pompeii was an absolute highlight - truly unforgettable to walk through history with such an expert guide. But every excursion felt exclusive and perfectly organised, with small groups and no herding.

If you, like us, have never been drawn to big cruise ships, Emerald Sakara is the answer. Intimate, luxurious, relaxed and elegant. A luxury yacht experience with world-class crew, superb accommodation, outstanding food and an itinerary to dream about.

We cannot recommend it highly enough.

The good: there was water in the rivers, so the cruise ran to schedule. The guest chef evening in Avignon, followed by the classical trio concert in a church was a highlight. The cruise director was great.
The not so good: the ship sails mostly at night, so you don't see much of the countryside. Due to low bridges, the sun deck was closed when the ship was moving. There are locks which are noisy to navigate, so sleep was disrupted.
The restaurant: the menus are French-inspired and the food is best described as rustic. Most of the serving staff are Eastern European and lacked warmth and finesse. The maitre d' only engaged with North American guests and ignored those from UK and Australia.
A one-and-done for me.

Quality and luxury from start to finish. Wonderful crew and service

We really enjoyed the trip. Although the water levels mean that the itinary had to be changed ,we visited really interesting places that we thoroughly enjoyed. The food and wine were excellent and they catered well for my gluten free diet.

The whole cruise was excellent from service, food, fellow guests and excursions

First rate service despite low water levels on the Danube. Food and drinks superb throughout the holiday on two Emerald starships. Although there were problems caused by the low water levels we were extremely well looked after, particularly by our tour and entertainment managers but by all Emerald staff. We visited all the destinations on our itinerary often by coach and when we could not return to the ship for lunch we were given cash. The last minute arrangements for booking the coaches and a final night in an excellent Budapest hotel must have been a nightmare but they were dealt with admirably. We met up with passengers on a similar Danube cruise from another well known company who were not treated as well as we were. They are often touted as the top river cruise company but my preference would be Emerald every time. I look forward to my next river cruise with Emerald using the credit they have provided due to the inconvenience experienced on the Danube this summer.

Ship spotlessly clean. Staff amazing. Trips very good. Food very good but sometimes lukewarm

This was my first time sailing with Emerald and I enjoyed the experience. The Longboat was impressive and the decor was really smart and sparkling clean.
The staff and crew aboard were friendly and attentive.
Due to water levels our itinerary was changed several times but the overall enjoyment of our cruise was not impaired in any way.

The staff!! From the top, i.e. The Captain, who walked down the gangplank to greet me, with a welcoming smile and handshake, and insisted on carrying my bag for me - he made me feel so special. And, indeed all the staff were exceptional. What a happy Team they all were, hard working, and so eager to please. Thank you for such an amazing holiday!!