Emeraude Halong Updates

Written by Pham Van Ha (ha@emeraude-cruises.com)
Thursday, 13 July 2006

Emeraude marks 100th anniversary on the waters of Ha Long Bay

HA LONG BAY, Vietnam — Fresh out of dry dock and outfitted with a new family suite, the Emeraude is prepped and preened to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its original launch on the jade-green waters of Ha Long Bay. Like something sailing at you out of a time warp, today’s Emeraude is a near replica of the original Emeraude, a paddle-wheel steamer that sailed Ha Long Bay from 1906 to 1937, when it sank 7 km out of Cam Pha, leaving nothing but memories in its wake. In 1999, after the discovery of a vintage tourist postcard in a Paris flea market, owner Eric Merlin began salvaging those memories. Using the postcard as a model, he ordered construction of a diesel-powered likeness, and then launched this new 38-cabin vessel on Ha Long Bay in late 2003.

This summer, the 100-anniversary celebration of the Emeraude’s original launch kicks into high gear with a series of special rates and packages that make the ship’s vintage standard of luxury more affordable than ever. To mark the occasion, the ship has been outfitted with a new sundeck suite, known as the Suite Emeraude, that’s been designed to accommodate families of four.

“Not everyone is looking for a romantic getaway cruise, and the new Suite Emeraude enables us to serve families in a way we couldn’t before,” explained Emeraude General Manager Kurt Walter.

Based on the availability of standard rooms, Emeraude Classic Cruises will offer US$100 overnight excursions throughout July 2006 to celebrate the ship’s 100th anniversary. Guests board at noon from the Emeraude Pier in Bai Chay and return the next day in mid-morning. Contact the Emeraude sales office (844-934-0888) or consult your travel agent for details. This offer is exclusively available for Vietnamese & local expat

Like its predecessor, the new 55-meter Emeraude offers passengers an extraordinarily posh vantage on the magnificent karsts seascape of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994. Planked decking. A canopied sundeck with potted plants. Fine dining and, in addition to the two suites, 36 classically appointed, air-conditioned cabins replete with beadboard wainscoting and brass fittings that evoke the romance of a bygone nautical age.

Because Artie Shaw and his Orchestra weren’t available, Emeraude Classic Cruises have marked the ship’s centennial anniversary with additional offers for occasion’s intimate, corporate or just plain escapist. They include:

Male-Bonding Stem to Stern
Throughout August and September, group bookings enjoy unlimited beers at US$120 per guy, based on double occupancy. Weekdays only. Book 10 or more cabins and receive one cabin free. Passage includes accommodation, meals, beers on Day 1 and jetty excursions.

Ladies Weekend Getaways
Pleasure cruises on the Emeraude are equal opportunity. Plan an overnight slumber party with your girlfriends on Ha Long Bay, complete with spa treatments. Larger groups can avail themselves of the same deal: Book 10 or more cabins and receive one cabin free. Throughout August and September, prices (US$100 per person based on double occupancy) include accommodation, meals, one exclusive lava stone massage and excursions. Additional spa services at 20% discounts.

Overnight Ecotourism Cruise Package
Depart anytime August through September for as low as US$80 per person based on twin or double occupancy. Rates inclusive of three meals, all excursions, cooking class and Tai Chi lessons on deck. On Day 1, enjoy a refreshing cocktail upon boarding the Emeraude around noon at the Emeraude Pier. After checking in, have lunch at the restaurant then cruise among hundreds of islets to discover unspoiled pockets of Ha Long Bay and its remote, floating fishing villages. Kayak or swim from the vessel’s stern deck. At the Hang Trong anchorage, whet your appetite with an onboard cooking demonstration. After sunset, enjoy dinner at the restaurant before retiring to your cabin for a good night sleep — or join the crew and learn squid fishing. Wake up the next morning at sunrise and practice Tai Chi on the sundeck. After an energizing breakfast, check out and disembark at Emeraude Pier.

Autumn Cruise Promotion
When there’s crispness in the air, the waters of Ha Long Bay are never more inviting — especially with 50% discounts in October and November (offer limited to local residents and standard cabins). The fall also features special discounts on charter packages, making birthdays, anniversaries and group events more affordable than you thought possible (limited to corporate clients).

Corporate Party & Holiday Cruises
Drew the short straw and must arrange this year’s company Christmas or New Year’s party? Call Emeraude Classic Cruises and allow us to make your life easier and the party the most festive in company history. A cruise on Ha Long Bay, feasting on the very best, is also the perfect way to celebrate the season with your friends, family and loved ones. The Emeraude departs onto Ha Long Bay on Dec. 24, 25 and 31. Prices start from US$125 per person based on double occupancy.

Emeraude Wellness Program
Combine the atmospheric benefits of sea air, extraordinary sights and vintage luxury with all-day spa treatments, punctuated by fine dining and recuperative trips to a comfortable deck chair. Allow the body to recover from the rigors and pressures of every-day routines. From the sun deck. With a citron presse in your hand.

For more information, contact Emeraude Classic Cruises at 844-934-0888, or visit www.emeraude-cruises.com

Contact: Brenda Ho
Apple Tree Group VN
+84 4 934 0888
brendaho@hanoi-pressclub.com. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

or

Hal Phillips
Mandarin Media/US
207-926-3700
hphillips@mandarinmedia.net. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

For media inquiries, contact Hal Phillips at hphillips@mandarinmedia.net