Two longstanding Scenic Group employees, Director of Operations Kim Scoular and Senior Software Engineer Ray Gilbert, have been selected as the godparents of the Emerald Kaia.

The ship officially departed Vietnam’s Halong Bay, on February 13, 2026, marking her entry into the Emerald Cruises fleet, the company said in a press release.

The christening ceremony is set to follow in June in Venice, Italy.

Since 2026 marks Scenic Group’s “40 Years of Innovation,” Emerald said it decided to celebrate this by choosing two longtime employees to christen the latest addition to its fleet.

“For almost thirty years, Kim Scoular and Ray Gilbert have dedicated their passion, expertise, and loyalty to the Scenic Group family, helping shape our business into what it is today,” said Damien Thomas, Scenic Group CEO.

“Their naming as godparents of Emerald Kaia recognizes not only their remarkable individual journeys, but also the commitment and teamwork that define our collective success.”

With almost three decades of experience with Scenic, Scoular started as a reservations agent and now leads Emerald’s operations team.

Gilbert has been with Scenic Group since 1998, helping shape the IT infrastructure and digital platforms.

After inaugural Mediterranean season is scheduled to kick off with an 11-day voyage from Cyprus to Greece on April 4, 2026.

Following its Mediterranean season, the Emerald Kaia will transit the Red Sea and Suez Canal in November en route to the Seychelles.

She is then set to sail the waters of the Indian Ocean and East Africa from December 2026 to March 2027.