Emeraude Classic Cruises

Superior Cabin

Emeraude's twin and double rooms each feature innerspring mattresses to ensure a comfortable night's sleep. Each room is equipped with all the necessary amenities, from air conditioning to hot showers.
Ultimately, the greatest attraction remains outside your cabin door. Each room opens directly onto the deck. Superior rooms are located on lower deck with deluxe rooms on the upper deck.

Deluxe Cabin

Emeraude's twin and double rooms each feature innerspring mattresses to ensure a comfortable night's sleep. Each room is equipped with all the necessary amenities, from air conditioning to hot showers.
Ultimately, the greatest attraction remains outside your cabin door. Each room opens directly onto the deck. Superior rooms are located on lower deck with deluxe rooms on the upper deck.

Paul Roque Suite

Named after the original Emeraude's first owner, this was the vessel's suite. The popularity of the Paul Roque Suite remains unrivalled due to a private deck featuring both sun loungers and chairs for uninterrupted relaxation.

Suite Emeraude

With its 25 square metres, the luxurious Emeraude Suite is roomy enough for a queen-sized bed, as well as a large sofa and space to entertain, which makes it a favourite with families.

Captain`s Suite

Housed on the sundeck and benefiting from the same stunning views is the Captain's Suite.At around 25 square metres, the port-side suite is spacious and comfortable, located on the top deck.

Stepping onto the Emeraude is as transporting as time travel. And the vessel's history is as captivating as a fine old yarn.

The Postcard

In 1999, a young French entrepreneur Eric Merlin was rummaging in the St. Ouen flea market in Paris, looking - as was his habit - for anything old with links to Vietnam and Indochina. On this day, he found three postcards, dated 1916, 1917 and 1919. Two pictured paddle steamers in Halong Bay.  A third showed a steamer at port in nearby Haiphong. A magnifying glass revealed the name of one of the vessels, the "Emeraude".
For some time, the cards layin Eric's desk in Paris. From time to time, he took them out and showed them to friends.  He dreamed of finding the old vessels.  Later, as those prospects dimmed, a new dream took sail. He'd rebuild one of the old paddle steamers. The vision was far more than mere homage.  He planned to launch the boat on Halong Bay. The realisation would conjure not just a much missed means of transport but a lost era of glamour, romance and discovery.
In January 2003, with postcards as the only guide, he commissioned boat builders to bring back the Emeraude.

The Search

While the boat took shape in a shipyard, began a quest for more information. The search spanned continents and featured many false trails.  Briefly, the boats were believed to have sailed between England and France as mail boats, a theory promoted by information on an Australian stamp club website. The British Maritime Museum dispelled that story.

Upon learning that many of Indochina's historical documents ended up in an archive in Aix en Provence in the South of France, a school teacher was hired to carry on the search.

Soon, the information was coming in thick and fast.  The Emeraude was part of a fleet managed by the barge and towing companySACRIC (SociétéAnonyme de ChalandageetRemorquage de l'Indo-Chine).  Her owner was a Monsieur Paul Roque.

A French Telephone Directory provided a list of 1,220 Roques.  A letter was sent to every one of them, telling them of Eric’s flea market find, enclosing a photocopy of the postcards and the question: 'Are you the Roques we're looking for?' The call finally came. "Look no further," the voice said.  "I am the grandson of Paul Roque."
Excited, Eric travelled to Paris as soon as he could. And there, right in the middle of the sizeable Roque family apartment, was a large antique model of The Emeraude. That wasn't all. Among the many mementoes of a bygone colonial era was the original china from the boats. Silverware too. There was even a 100-year-old staff uniform.

The Roque Brothers
Paul Roque, who launched the Emeraude, was the second generation of his family in Indochina. Initially, there had been three adventuring brothers - Victor, Xavier and Henri - who embarked from Bordeaux in 1858.

After a stop in Manila, they movedonto Hong Kong where they established themselves as suppliers to the French Army.  When the troops of Admiral Rigault de Genouilly took Saigon, they followed in 1860. Against this historic backdrop their empire grew. Sugar, opium, timber, public works, steamships. The list was long.

Now rich and famous, they were targeted by Chinese pirates.  In 1890, the notorious LuuKy and his men kidnapped and tortured two of the brothers. Paying the ransom meant selling off many of their assets and Victor, by this time 61, left for home near-bankrupt and in poor health.

Henry assumed control but was soon joined by Paul, son of Xavier. They scaled their business back to concentrate on the North and, in particular, Haiphong and Halong Bay.

There they had the idea to build a small fleet of five "paddle wheeler" ships that would double as cargo and cruise vessels. They'd be called - the Rubis, the Perle, the Saphir, the Onyx and the Emeraude.

Though down on their luck, the Roques invested heavily in the boats. They came to the conclusion, as Eric did almost a century later, that there was a market for a little luxury on Halong Bay.

So they ensured the boats had electric lights.  They installed ventilation and refrigeration. They included darkrooms for the many photographers who were inspired by the scenery.  And the Emeraude set sail.

Paul Roque returned to Paris in 1921, the last of his family to leave Asia after more than six decades. The Emeraude steamed on. Years later, on the evening of March 16, 1937, as the Emeraude was returning to Haiphong, she collided with a submerged rock.  The collision ripped a large hole in the shell of the vessel and she quickly sank.

Incredibly, according to the police report, all those aboard were saved. However, the Emeraude was never recovered. Following their defeat at the decisive battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the French finally left Vietnam andSACRIC folded.  Paul Roque died in 1966. The French colonial era was over, and the Emeraude was at the bottom of the sea.

Renaissance

Emeraude was built locally in Haiphong to international standards but very much in keeping with the original design. In December 2003, the namesake of the glorious old vessel set sail. While the original was split between cargo and cruisers the new Emeraude is exclusively a leisure vessel.  The paddle wheel at the back echoes the design of the original but is not used for propulsion. Instead it opens up to provide a swimming deck for passengers.

Since her launch until now the Emeraude has cruised the bay, providing travelers with an exceptional experience and a fascinating glimpse into the golden era of travel.

Dining

The Flavor
Dining on the Emeraude reflects the ambitions and aspirations of the vessel herself. A fusion cuisine allying Vietnamese ingredients, enhanced by European culinary traditions, as well as Vietnamese specialties create the Emeraude dining experience in Halong Bay.
Lunch
After your check-in on board the Emeraude, our lunch buffet opens with a wide selection of traditional Vietnamese salads and local dishes from the sea. (Please note, for low occupancy cruises buffets may be replaced by set menus).
Dinner
Our buffet dinner is all about fusion food, combining starters and salads from around the world with Asian traditional dishes. Main courses include western classics and a barbecued selection (seasonal). For dessert, choices vary from a range of cakes to traditional Vietnamese treats, with an array of tropical fruit.
Breakfast
Wake early to enjoy sunrise and it won't be long before aromas from the kitchen find you.  Breakfast awaits you with a large selection of breakfast classics, pastries, breads and rolls, egg and Vietnamese pho stations, to start the day on the right foot.

Drinks

Throughout your cruise, bars in the dining room and on the sundeck ensure satisfaction for every thirst.  A lengthy wine list caters to all tastes.  Cocktails beg to be drunk on the deck at sunset as canapés are served. For beer drinkers there is a range of international and local brews. Alternatively enjoy a coffee served hot or iced depending on the climate. A pot of green tea adds an additional authentic touch. Relax, we'll bring it to your table.


Accommodation
On the Emeraude, buoyed by one of the world’s most beautiful bays, little things matter. Colonial style brass fans.Hardwood floors.Beadboard walls. And the most comfortable beds on the bay. In every cabin, the rich decor evokes another age, when craftsmanship mattered more than the bottom line.
But make no mistake: The Emeraude makes concessions to the modern era, with air conditioning, electricity and other amenities typical of an upscale hotel room. No need to bring your own hair dryer. We’ve got that. Umbrellas, slippers, bathrobes. We’ve imagined all the contingencies so you’ll be fully prepared to enjoy your cruise.
Captain Suites
Emeraude Suites
Paul Roque Suite
Deluxe & Superior

Services and Facilities

Designed with 38 Luxurious Cabins and one Suite, the 55 meter vessel is equipped with modern standards of comfort and safety. With inspiration from historic steamers, Emeraude was designed with the grandeur of yesteryear – refined interior décor, a 80-seat restaurant, bars, shops, massage rooms, swimming platform, complete with entertainment features and a boutique shop for souvenir collectors. It also has a 350m2 open upper deck lounge bar for holiday-makers to relax, sip their favorite champagne totally engulfed in the beautiful scenic Halong Bay. Ha Long Bay or Bay of the Descending Dragons is the UNESCO heritage site surrounded by crystal clear water hence the perfect spot for eco-tourism. Build with Eco friendly water and waste treatment systems, Emeraude received special permission from the Halong Tourism Authority to cruise within protected, natural reserves and gulfs of Halong Bay.