Age Policy
Minimum Age Requirement
- 12 Years Old: Generally, children under the age of 12 are not permitted on Emerald river cruises.
- Exceptions: The only common exception to this rule is for specific Christmas Market cruises, where children under 12 may be allowed at the company’s sole discretion. You must receive prior permission from Emerald at the time of booking for these sailings.
Supervision & Cabin Rules
- Under 21: Any guest under the age of 21 must be accompanied by an adult who is over 21.
- Rooming: Passengers under 21 must share a cabin with their accompanying adult.
- Drinking Age: On European river cruises, the minimum drinking age is 18. For ocean/yacht cruises or sailings in other regions, it may increase to 21.
Special Family Sailings
Emerald has recently introduced a limited number of dedicated family cruises (typically on the Danube or Rhine during summer months).
- These are specifically designed for guests aged 10 to 18.
- They feature modified menus, pool activities with a wellness coach, and kid-friendly excursions (like geocaching or mocktail lessons).
- Even on these sailings, the atmosphere remains more refined than a standard family ship like Disney or Royal Caribbean.
Important Considerations
- No Childcare: Even if a child meets the age requirement, Emerald ships do not have Kids’ Clubs, babysitting services, or dedicated play areas.
- The Vibe: Most passengers are in the 50–70 age bracket. While teens are welcome, they should be comfortable in an environment focused on fine dining, history lectures, and quiet relaxation.
Tip: If you are traveling with a child between 10 and 12, it is worth calling Emerald directly to see if your specific itinerary has been designated as a Family departure, as they occasionally relax age limits for those dates.
Dining Information
Emerald Cruises offers a dining experience that balances elegance with a relaxed, social atmosphere. Since their ships are smaller Star-Ships, the dining is more intimate than a typical ocean liner, focusing on regional flavors inspired by the rivers you’re sailing.
Where You’ll Eat
- Reflections Restaurant: This is the main dining room. It features floor-to-ceiling windows so you don’t miss the scenery. It operates with open seating, meaning you can choose your table and dining companions each night.
- The Terrace: Located at the bow (front) of the ship, this is an al fresco area perfect for a casual breakfast or light lunch when the weather is nice.
- Horizon Bar & Lounge: While primarily for drinks, this area often hosts Early Bird breakfasts and light late-night snacks.
Daily Meal Schedule
While times can shift slightly based on your daily excursions, the general window is:
- Breakfast (7:00 – 9:00 AM): A mix of a hot and cold buffet plus made-to-order stations for eggs and omelets.
- Lunch (12:00 – 2:00 PM): Typically, a themed buffet with a wide variety of salads, soups, and hot entrees, plus a dessert station.
- Dinner (7:00 – 9:00 PM): A multi-course, à la carte affair. The menu changes daily to reflect the region (e.g., German Schnitzel while on the Rhine).
What’s Included?
Emerald is known for being value-inclusive. Your cruise fare covers:
- All meals on board.
- Complimentary drinks: Unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner.
- 24/7 Stations: Self-service tea and coffee stations are available around the clock.
- Bottled Water: Replenished daily in your cabin.
If you want cocktails or spirits outside of meal times, you’ll need to pay per drink or upgrade to a Platinum Drinks Package (approx. $33–$35 per person, per day).
Dress Code
The vibe is Smart Casual. Daytime: Totally casual—shorts and t-shirts are fine for breakfast and lunch.
- Dinner: Most guests freshen up with slacks and a collared shirt for men, or dress/nice trousers for women.
- Formal Nights: There are no formal nights. Even for the Captain’s Welcome or Farewell dinners, a suit or evening gown is never required; a slightly dressier version of smart casual is the norm.
Dietary Requirements
Emerald is generally excellent with food sensitivities. However, you must notify them at the time of booking. Once on board, the Maître d’ will usually meet with you to discuss the daily menus. They readily provide:
- Vegetarian and Vegan options (always available on the menu).
- Gluten-free and Dairy-free alternatives.
- Low-sodium or diabetic-friendly choices upon request.
Fuel Surcharge Policy
Like many cruise lines, Emerald Cruises maintains a policy that allows them to pass on significant increases in operating costs to the traveler.
The Paid in Full Protection
The most critical part of Emerald’s policy is your payment status.
- If you have paid in full: Emerald generally guarantees your price. According to their terms, if they have received the full amount of the Tour Price from you, they will not increase your price, even if fuel costs surge.
- If you have only paid a deposit: Emerald reserves the right to vary the tour price at their absolute discretion to account for increases in fuel, airfares, or taxes. Any increase will only be to the extent required to cover those additional costs.
Typical Surcharge Thresholds
While specific daily amounts can vary by year, cruise lines (including Emerald’s parent company, Scenic Group) typically trigger these surcharges based on the price of oil:
- The Trigger: Usually, if the price of Light Sweet Crude on the NYMEX exceeds a certain threshold (historically around $50–$65 per barrel), the line reserves the right to implement the fee.
- Estimated Cost: If a surcharge is applied, it typically ranges from $9 to $12 per person, per day. For a standard 7-night cruise, this could add roughly $63–$84 to your final bill.
Payments / Refunds
Deposits & Payments
- Standard reservations require a flat, non-refundable deposit of $500 USD per person, due within 48 hours of booking. Final payment is due exactly 90 days prior to departure.
- Select promotional fares (such as “Best Available” or early booking offers) may require full payment up to 10 months in advance. Reservations booked within the final payment window (120 days for Ocean Yacht) require immediate full payment. Booking amendments are treated legally as cancellations and are subject to standard cancellation penalty schedules.
Cancellation & Refunds
Cancellation fees scale up based on the days remaining prior to departure.
120+ Days Prior to Departure
- Cancellation Penalty: Loss of the standard non-refundable deposit ($500 per guest).
- Refund Eligibility: All additional fare paid is refunded.
119–91 Days Prior to Departure
- Cancellation Penalty: 50% of the total journey price.
- Refund Eligibility: 50% of the total fare paid is refunded.
90 Days or Less Prior to Departure
- Cancellation Penalty: 100% of the total journey price.
- Refund Eligibility: No refund; 100% of the fare is forfeited.
Smoking Policy
Emerald Cruises maintains a very strict smoking policy to ensure the comfort of all guests. Because the Star-Ships are designed with many enclosed and communal spaces, smoking is highly restricted.
The No-Go Zones (Strictly Prohibited)
Smoking is strictly prohibited in the following areas:
- All Cabins & Suites: This includes all indoor living spaces.
- Private Balconies/Verandas: You cannot smoke on your private balcony, even if it is an Indoor Balcony (the drop-down glass window style).
- All Indoor Public Areas: This includes the Reflections Restaurant, the Horizon Lounge, the fitness center, and the corridors.
- Near Food Venues: Smoking is generally banned in any outdoor area where food is being served (like the Terrace during lunch).
Designated Smoking Areas
Smoking is only permitted in specifically marked areas on the external Sun Deck (the top deck of the ship).
- These areas are usually located toward the rear (aft) of the ship to ensure smoke doesn’t blow back toward other passengers.
- Signage and ashtrays will clearly identify these zones.
- Vaping & E-Cigarettes: Emerald treats electronic cigarettes and vaping devices exactly like traditional tobacco. They are only allowed in the designated outdoor smoking zones.
Important Rules to Remember
- Fines: If smoke is detected in your cabin or if you are caught smoking on your balcony, you will be assessed a significant deep-cleaning fee (typically around $250–$500) charged to your onboard account.
- Safety First: Throwing cigarette butts or ash overboard is a major safety violation (due to fire hazards and environmental regulations) and can result in immediate disembarkation from the ship.
- Port Restrictions: In certain ports or while the ship is refueling, smoking may be temporarily prohibited in all areas of the ship, including the outdoor decks. The crew will announce these blackout periods over the PA system.
Travel Protection
Emerald Cruises does not directly sell traditional travel insurance but offers two proprietary commercial peace-of-mind plans (must be added and paid for at the time of the initial booking deposit):
- Flexible Booking Plan (FBP): Costs $125 per person for River Cruises. Allows guests to cancel or defer up to 90 days (River) prior, receiving their payments (minus FBP fee and supplier fees) as a Future Travel Credit (FTC) valid for 24 months.
- Platinum Protection Plan (PPP): Costs $295 per person for River Cruises. Provides cash refunds for doctor-certified medical cancellations: 100% cash refund (less PPP and airline fees) at 31+ days; 70% cash refund at 15-30 days; standard forfeiture rules apply at 14 days or less.
Tipping Policy
Emerald Cruises operates on an exceptionally generous, all-inclusive luxury framework. All port charges, airport transfers, and shipboard gratuities are fully built and included in the base fare for all guests. This covers housekeeping staff, stateroom stewards, main dining room and culinary servers, and shipboard bar staff. Daily service charges are exactly $0, and gratuities cannot be adjusted, removed, or prepaid. Optional spa or salon services may be subject to a standard 20% service charge added at checkout.
Dress Code
Daytime attire is casual and comfortable, suitable for river sailing and shore excursions (sturdy walking shoes are strongly recommended for cobblestone tours). Evening dress in the Reflection Restaurant is resort casual (slacks, collared shirts, blouses, summer dresses). Shorts, swimwear, and flip-flops are not permitted in dining venues during dinner.
Formal Nights
- There are no strict formal nights or tuxedo requirements. Guests are encouraged to dress in semi-formal or dressier attire for special events like the Welcome Reception and Captain’s Farewell Dinner.
Excursions
- Daily shore excursions are fully included in your cruise fare, such as hosted city walking tours with a certified local guide and narrated city orientation drives.
- Optional specialty excursions are available to book in advance (recommended) or while on your cruise.
Why Emerald River Cruises?
- Modern river ships with contemporary design
- Generous inclusions and strong overall value
- Included shore excursions in every port
- Relaxed, adults-focused atmosphere
- Scenic cruising through Europe and Asia’s most iconic rivers
- Wellness, active excursions, and cultural enrichment
FAQ
Are shore excursions included?
Yes, a variety of guided excursions are included.
Are drinks included?
Yes, with lunch and dinner.
Is Wi-Fi available?
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available, subject to location.
Dress code?
Casual by day, smart-casual in the evening.
Suitable for solo travelers?
Yes, with occasional reduced single supplements.
