I have just returned from the most incredible sailing from Palma to Barcelona on the luxury yacht Emerald Sakara and wanted to share my highlights and experience.
I embarked Sakara in Palma, and my first impressions of the ship was stunning! I was immediately greeted, of course, with a glass of champagne and warmly welcomed on board by the reception and crew. After a very smooth and efficient check in, I was shown my suite for the next three nights.
What amazed me most was the space, although the Emerald Yachts carry 100 guests, you never felt that it was crowded. Never did we have to worry about getting a table, or a wonderful spot to sit up on the top deck to enjoy the Hot Tub pool area.
Both my bedroom and bathroom were incredibly spacious with had plenty of storage, as well as sockets which can allow all different country plugs (which I found very useful!) The balcony area and seating were so comfortable, although I tended to opt for the beautiful spaces around the ship to relax in.
Sakara has a lovely lounge where guests can also relax in, where they inform you of the following days port excursions. The entertainment was also in the lounge after dining in the restaurant La Cucina. They did try to have ‘Boogie Night’ on the top deck, which is great, particularly in hotter destinations as you want to spend as much time as possible enjoying the sunsets and the night skies.
You can dine in La Cucina for breakfast and lunch either with buffet style cuisine or ordering from your table also. In the evening, the restaurant becomes A la Carte. They have plenty of outside space on offer to dine in, which we enjoyed immensely. The Aqua Bar Café offers light salads, sandwiches, pizzas and burgers, all to a delicious high standard. For those with a sweet tooth, there were plenty of desserts and cakes on offer that we adored!
The drinks were free flowing, and the cocktails, some which were recommended by the crew, tasted fabulous!
The tour guides we had were very informative, funny, and made our three-hour walking tour of Ibiza and its history so interesting - I would highly recommend a trip there. I had never been have been put off by the reputation of Ibiza, but we docked so close to the old town, so it was perfect to explore and see the history of the island!
Our second tour was on e-bikes. Other guests went off on a 28km cycle along the coast and had a wonderful time. It allowed me and my colleague to explore the lovely town and enjoy the local way of life. The markets and their fresh food is always something I love. Not that I needed to buy anything with the delicious food waiting for us back on board!
The ship is very sociable, and the crew were all so friendly, even amongst themselves - you could tell they enjoyed working on board. It was very much a family atmosphere. The captain was always visible, even dancing with guests and making sure they enjoyed their experience on board!
One of the things I enjoyed as well while on board was that anyone can go and visit the bridge, if the door is not locked. It was so interesting to see the navigation screens and so many buttons (we were told not to push any, especially the red ones!) We were also able to visit the engine rooms, the galley and the marina platform – all absolutely fascinating.
I have to say, when anchored offshore, this is when I can imagine the Emerald and Scenic Yachts come into their own. They open the railings, and you are so close to the sea, you can jump on their trampolines, kayak and snorkel – there’s even a slide you can use from the Aqua bar which looks so much fun. I really want to be on board when this is available; I am told the Caribbean is where this area gets most used!
Their new Yacht Emerald Kaia is sailing next year, and this will have a further hot tub and bar area for guests to enjoy. This ship will be able to have 128 guests on board and will also have an additional dining for up to eight guests at the Market Grill, an Asian Teppanyaki experience where the food is cooked in front of you.
If you would like more information, contact Elizabeth on 01484 912030 and I will be more than happy to assist you with booking an amazing trip on board one of their ships!
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