Emerald Sakara christened in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN — One of the smallest ships in cruising, the 100-passenger Emerald Sakara was christened here on Saturday by godmother Kelly Craighead, CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association.

“Emerald Sakara is really important to the cruise industry,” Craighead said. “Yachts like these are just a prime example of the breadth and depth of the cruise industry. It’s wonderful to say very confidently that there is a ship for everyone.”

Glen Moroney, founder and owner of Scenic Group, the parent of Emerald Cruises, said he probably wouldn’t build bigger ships, even if he could afford it.

“The experience does not get better as the ships get bigger,” said Moroney, who said he had a relative who cruised on a mass-market ship and had “the time of her life.”

“There’s nothing wrong with those ships, it’s just that some people prefer a different type of cruise,” Moroney said.

Emerald Sakara is the second oceangoing ship for Emerald Cruises, which was founded as a river cruise line. The Sakara’s sister, the Emerald Azzurra, entered service last year.

After the naming ceremony, the ship set sail on a weeklong West Indies Island Hopping itinerary to Culebra, Vieques, the British Virgin Islands and St. Barts.

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