Production hurdles during the build of Emerald Yacht Cruises‘ maiden ship, Emerald Azzurra, have forced a delay in the launch of the 100-passenger superyacht.
Revealed by the Scenic Group in February, Emerald Azzurra was flagged to launch operation in the Mediterranean and Adriatic in July 2021. However, the vessel’s construction progress has, like numerous other cruise ships, been impacted by the coronavirus.
“While the yacht build continues to progress, interruptions to manufacturing in both Europe and Asia caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic have translated to delays in receiving materials and equipment necessary to keep the build on schedule. Accordingly, Emerald Azzurra will now enter service on 15 December 2021,” Emerald Yacht Cruises said.
GM for the brand, Angus Crichton told LATTE that despite the incredible work by Emerald’s operations team in Ha Long City, Vietnam, “the global health crisis has unfortunately impacted our supply chain”.
“As a result, we have had to make the tough decision to delay the debut of our brand-new yacht.”
Crichton said all affected guests who had booked on Emerald Azzurra‘s maiden season sailings had been contacted directly or via their travel advisor and offered alternate options in 2022.
“On behalf of the whole Emerald Cruises team, I would like to send my sincere apologies to all our guests due to join us and would like to assure them that their first sailing onboard Emerald Azzurra will be well worth the wait.”
The superyacht will explore destinations including Israel, Jordan and Egypt, and Greece, Montenegro, Italy, France, Cyprus, Turkey and Malta, offering an intimate yacht cruising experience.
Emerald Azzurra‘s inaugural cruise is now a fully booked seven-night Cyprus and Israel Delights voyage departing on 15 December 2021, operating round trip from Limassol.
Emerald Yacht Cruises is a sister brand of Emerald Waterways, marketed under the umbrella brand of Emerald Cruises.
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