Emerald Harmony Review

4.0 / 5.0
23 reviews
See all photos
Editor Rating
4.0
Very Good
Overall
Ashley Kosciolek
Contributor

Built expressly to sail into the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Emerald Harmony is Emerald Waterways' first ship built exclusively for the Mekong River. It's a unique feature, as most other river cruise ships plying the Mekong are forced to dock in a large industrial port outside of the city and bus passengers in.

Functionality aside, the ship also feels homey, like a comfortable boutique hotel where, at the end of each day, passengers can seek respite from some of the less comfortable aspects -- lack of clean drinking water, extreme heat and humidity, and overt poverty -- of a trip to Southeast Asia.

Since debuting in Europe in 2014, Emerald Waterways is perhaps best known for its fleet of contemporary "Star Ships," which combine affordability (they are a fraction of the cost of their most upscale brethren, Scenic) with contemporary design and inclusive features.

Emerald Waterways has brought the same elegant but understated style to Emerald Harmony, which outwardly looks more like a yacht than a traditional river ship. Capable of carrying just 84 passengers, it offers a nearly 2-to-1 crew ratio and a wide variety of accommodations, from value-added cabins to suites that span 450 square feet and include wraparound balconies and private hot tubs.

From the neutral palette in the spacious cabins to the cozy layout of the plush furniture in the ship's main lounge, the calming onboard atmosphere truly does make the ship feel like home.

The vessel also includes some unexpected touches like a soaring atrium, a swimming pool with a retractable sun shade, an onboard hair stylist and even self-service laundry facilities (a rarity on river cruise ships and one which we found exceedingly helpful, as the climate necessitated at least two wardrobe changes a day).

Overall, we found the ship to be exceptional. What it lacks in entertainment options and cabins with traditional balconies, it more than makes up for with its stellar shore excursions and large picture windows. The cruise director and crew go out of their way to make sure passengers are comfortable, and dining options are considerably varied for a ship of Emerald Harmony's size. It's a great way for Southeast Asia first-timers to experience the region in style.

Pros

Sleek, elegant river ship with rare amenities like a laundry room and rear-facing pool

Cons

Onboard air-conditioning has trouble keeping up with the hot, humid climate of Southeast Asia

Bottom Line

Tailored to the Mekong, the ship offers thoughtful touches and tours that highlight what makes the region special

About

Passengers: 84
Crew: 40
Passenger to Crew: 2.1:1
Launched: 2019
Shore Excursions: 13

Sails To

Inclusions

Included with your cruise fare:

  • Accommodations

  • Most shore excursions

  • All meals

  • Soda, select spirits, beer and select wines with lunch and dinner

  • Shipwide Wi-Fi

  • Fitness center access

  • Laundry facilities

  • Gratuities for crew, tour guides and drivers, and luggage porters

Not included with your cruise fare:

  • Discover More excursions

  • Spa treatments

  • Salon services

Fellow Passengers

Passengers on Emerald Harmony include a mix of people from the U.S., Canada and the UK, as well as Australia, due to the country's relative proximity to Asia. (The line does business in Australia as Evergreen.) On our sailing, passengers ranged in age from early 30s to late 80s with an average age in the late 60s.

Emerald Harmony Dress Code

Daytime: Emerald's dress code is relaxed and informal, but that's especially true on Emerald Harmony, where the weather is hot and humid all year. Passengers will be most comfortable in long, loose clothing that will protect them from sun and mosquitoes while meeting modesty requirements for the many temples they'll visit. Sturdy shoes are a must.

Evening: Casual attire is fine for dinner, but some cruisers choose to wear collared shirts or informal dresses. Shorts and flip-flops are not allowed in the restaurant during dinner.

Not permitted: Bathing suits are not permitted in the restaurant, and shoulders and knees must be covered to enter temples ashore.

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More about Emerald Harmony

Where does Emerald Harmony sail from?

Emerald Harmony departs from Ho Chi Minh City

Where does Emerald Harmony sail to?

Emerald Harmony cruises to Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Siem Reap, and Cai Be

How much does it cost to go on Emerald Harmony?

Cruises on Emerald Harmony start from $3,895 per person.
Emerald Harmony Cruiser Reviews

Our Vietnam and Cambodia trip was the perfect combination of great accommodations, great food, outstanding service and absorbing excursions.

This Emerald Waterways trip included fabulous hotel accommodations in the large cities, a beautiful Bhaya junk on Halong Bay, and spacious, beautiful cabins on board the Emerald Harmony.Read More
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Laurie Traveller

few6-10 Cruises

Age 71s

Every detail covered

Overall, we found the Emerald to be quite exceptional all-round.Read More
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Michael 66

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 58s

Vietnam and Cambodia by river

We have just returned from an amazing cruise on board the Emerald Harmony.Read More
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Kiwi-Travellers

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 50s

Vietnam and Cambodia Mostly Excellent

Emerald Harmony is a very attractive spacious ship. Food was excellent and the staff on board could not have been more pleasant and helpful. The excursions were plentiful and all very interesting.Read More
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judyjoanne

few6-10 Cruises

Age 64s

Emerald River Cruises Fleet
Emerald Star

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