Cherish the Planet

Our commitment to providing a cleaner, greener, safer river cruising experience

At Emerald Cruises, we aim to reduce our environmental impact and help to build a more sustainable way of living and doing business. Your journey with us through Europe and Asia will be one with a difference, respecting the natural ecosystems and local communities that call each region home.
In a commitment to providing a cleaner, greener, safer river cruising experience, we’re transforming the way we travel by implementing environmentally conscious initiatives both on board and onshore. The Earth’s richness and beauty is our license to operate, so protecting it is incredibly important to us. 

We believe that this care for the environment, this desire to preserve the Earth, is a deeper underlying value of what we do and what we, as a company, stand for. It is at the core of who we are. 

Our aim is not to be perfect tomorrow, but to be better every day. 

Design & Construction

European fleet

  • All engines comply with the strictest EU rules for inland waterways ships (EPA Tier 3, IMO II, EU IW)
  • All ships have state of the art sewage treatment plants (with membrane filters).
  • Separation of all waste for recycling
  • Land based waste disposal
  • Flotation units to separate fat/grease
  • Anti-.fouling coating in accordance with the Inland Waterways Rhine regulations
  • All ships equipped with connect to land based electric power provider (subject to existing land based infrastructure)
Emerald Waterways Emerald Liberte

Emerald Harmony

  • Built to European safety and emission standards
  • A bow thruster allows her to manoeuvre safely through the busy Chao Gao canal, enabling you to enjoy unique access right into the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Goes beyond the local regulatory requirements for fire protection - Marine grade sandwich panels have been used throughout the ship. Critical for both fire protection and blocking internal and external noise pollution.
  • Surpasses local regulatory hygiene requirements - All the water on our ship is treated with reverse osmosis, UV and carbon filters, and the ship has a centralised hot water system. This ensures not only that hot water is always quickly and readily available, but also that it is constantly kept at the correct temperature to prevent growth of harmful bacteria.
  • All engines, ventilators, generators and exhaust lines are flexibly mounted to minimise vibrations and maximise sailing comfort. 
 

Changes on board

We’re plastic free

We are transforming the way we use materials on board and onshore. Emerald Harmony has eliminated the use of all single-use plastic and replaced them with sustainable alternatives. From complimentary refillable Emerald Cruises bottles and filtered water stations, to refillable toiletries in suites and no plastic straws. Each suite will come with an excursion bottle per guest, which will be filled and ready to go for the first shore excursion. Even our crew will be given their own personalised drinks bottle which can be refilled at the station in the crew mess. We no longer use pre-packaged food at breakfast and have instead introduced fresh food stations, our ‘to-go’ cups are made from recycled cardboard and we no longer use plastic bags in the gift shop. We even have agreements in place with our suppliers and partner hotels to provide water refill stations on vehicles and at their properties. 

Eco-friendly solutions

In a steadfast commitment to reducing kitchen waste, our main courses will be served from the galley and a food shredder has been installed to compact any left-over food waste. We’re using the latest energy efficient technology in our kitchens and have switched to LED light fittings throughout our Star-Ships. We’ve swapped our washing detergents for eco-friendly variations to restrict our use of harmful chemicals, pollutants and toxins, and are switching to a more digitally focussed experience in suites, using our television screens instead of paper where possible. 

Our work in the community 

We work closely with and fund local projects that help to maintain the natural beauty and improve living conditions in the regions we visit. 

Asia

  • Attend the Cambodian Circus Phare in Siem Reap
    An innovative social enterprise founded to assist men returning home from refugee camps after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, the circus supports the free education, professional arts training and social support programs of regional Cambodia.
  • Clean Water Project for Chiro Community in Kampong Cham
    In 2016, the first phase of our water project was launched with the aim to provide running water to the local community of Chiro village, a rural area of Kampong Cham. Before this initiative, they had no access to clean running water.
  • Construction of new sanitation blocks in Yandabo Village in Myanmar
    We are working with our partners to fund clean water projects in rural Cambodia, providing remote villages with access to clean water and educating them on how to avoid single-use plastics in their everyday life.
  • Visit to KOTO “Know One, Teach One” Restaurant in Hanoi
    Having trained over 700 students in hospitality, KOTO’s purpose is to end the cycle of poverty by empowering and helping the youth forge a better future for themselves.
  • Visit to Reaching Out in Hoi An
    Reaching Out is a locally owned, sustainable and fair-trade business specialising in unique handmade goods such as jewellery, home décor and pottery. It provides people with disabilities the opportunity to learn skills and gain meaningful employment so they can lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Plus....
  • We turn down gifts sourced from local communities along the Irrawaddy
  • We use fair-trade tea & coffee on all ships where possible
  • We’ve introduced a Buy Local Products policy on all ships where appropriate.
 

Your Peace of Mind

Join us in Europe or Southeast Asia

Newsletter Sign-Up

Sign up to receive the latest information, offers, and up-to-date product news from Emerald Cruises. You can unsubscribe at any time by simly clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of our emails.