Scuttlebutt

Emeraude marks 105th anniversary on the waters of Ha Long Bay

In a year that could see Ha Long Bay designated one of the New7Wonders of Nature, the Emeraude will mark the 105th anniversary of its original launch with new customized programs that allow guests to spend one more day on the bay’s jade-green waters and embark on cultural excursions and outdoor adventures.

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 105th-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, Emeraude Classic Cruises has introduced three-day / two-night excursions with one full day dedicated to cultural immersion in nearby Lien Minh Village or kayaking and rock climbing at Moody Island. 

“As a destination, Ha Long Bay is one of the most amazing backdrops to an adventure, and always has been,” said Kurt Walter, group general manager of Apple Tree Group Hospitality. “But we’ve always thought it’s more than a backdrop. These new programs allow visitors to meet the people who call Ha Long home and answer the call of the karsts, which just beg to be climbed.”

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

Emeraude Installs Clock System for Security on Halong Bay

Emeraude Classic Cruises installed a finger print clock system this month, ensuring that its crew make appointed safety checks throughout the night.

Every hour, the Emeraude crew member on watch will leave his fingerprint on screen systems installed in the wheelhouse, in the engine room, the crew quarters and the restaurant. The system identifies the crew member, and the time of his visit.

“This system adds a whole new level of security to a cruise on Halong Bay,” said Capt. Jacques Le Fur, who has steered the Emeraude among the karsts of Halong Bay for more than five years. “The system is not required by regulations or the recent decree, but we’re doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our passengers.”

Earlier this year in February, a tourist boat sank in the bay, drowning 12 passengers. Then another tourist boat went down in May, though 28 French passengers escaped harm in that incident.

Emeraude Classice Cruises recently produced a video, detailing safety measures on Halong Bay. To see the video, click into the Emeraude’s home page here: http://www.emeraude-cruises.com/Video

Permission to Come Aboard

Anne Sadang in mid-September joined Emeraude Classic Cruises as the vessel’s Chief Purser. On board, Anne’s principal responsilities include management of all food and beverage activities, guest relations and housekeeping. 

Prior to her work in Halong Bay, Anne served as food and beverage manager at the Timberland Sports and Nature Club outside Manila. But for a three-year stint as a sales agent for a real estate company in the United States, all of Anne’s work in the hospitality field has focused on restaurants, resorts and golf courses in the Philippines.

“The Emeraude is a whole new adventure for me,” said Sadang. “When you can take on a new appointment with that spirit, embracing the adventure, looking forward to the unknown, then your posting is much more than a job.”

Sadang graduated from university in the Philippines with a degree in hotel and restaurant management. She speaks English and Filipino, and she visited Vietnam for the first time in May 2011.