Emerald Sakara Yacht Review: Balearic Islands Cruise

When it comes to dining there are a couple of options on board Emerald Sakara, with the main one being La Cucina, open for buffet breakfast and lunch and waiter-served dinner on Deck 3 - and I loved the fact there was never a queue at any time of day. Alternatively the Aqua Café Bistro (with waiter service) on the pool deck on Deck 6 serves sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, and salads between noon and 5pm. We enjoyed afternoons at the Observation Lounge on Deck 4, a quiet area with board games, library and outside seating space; while the Sky Bar on Deck 7 - open throughout the day bar a couple of hours during dinner service - was a lovely place for pre- or -post-dinner drinks with its small pool/jacuzzi and seating area.

There are port talks every day on board Emerald Sakara in the Amici Lounge and Bar, where the low-key entertainment is held in the evenings. The small gym is open 24 hours, and I loved the infrared sauna in the spa which is open between 9am and 7pm. You'll find two treatment room in the spa as well as an area for hairdressing, and there is a small shop by reception. And, on deck 4, there's complimentary guest laundry! There is also an open bridge policy which means you can visit the bridge at any time - the only exception to this is when the ship is leaving or arriving at a dock; captain and crew are very welcoming and informative at the visit.

After dinner on the first evening in the restaurant and listening to the Entertainment Manager Beth performing some of her favourite songs, I settled in for the night as we set sail for our first port of call, Port-Vendres in France. Emerald offer 'DiscoverMore' excursions as a deeper insight into the region in which you're sailing, and it was was an excellent way to experience the destination with a panoramic drive along the Côte Vermeille - and after lunch on board the ship, we took the 'Noddy' train to Collioure where I explored the town before returning through hills and vineyards to the port. I attended a Spanish lesson in the lounge before the Captain's Welcome, dinner and entertainment in the lounge by a local artist for un petit variété français (French chansons and more).

We were delayed in sailing away this evening to very windy weather, but arrived the following morning in Palamós where guests had the choice of cycling on e-bikes - there are six on board, so it's advisable to book in advance - or enjoy an excursion to Girona. I chose to stay on board and joined the Executive Chef for a culinary demonstration - he made, and we sampled, a delicious mushroom risotto. Cocktails in the lounge with songs from a duo was followed by dinner in the restaurant, but bad weather meant that only a few participated in the planned 'Boogie Nights' entertainment this evening.

The next morning Emerald Sakara arrived with a scenic sail into the pretty port of Mahón, and after breakfast I took the chance to explore the town with its cobbled streets and the local market. The 'DiscoverMore' excursion today was a tour to the villages and caves of Menorca - e-bikes are not allowed in Menorca or Majorca - and we enjoyed a visit to the Engine Room with the Chief Engineer, who was very passionate about his role; he explained everything from how the ship's engines work to the water filtering system. It was (perhaps unexpectedly) fascinating! A tour of the ship's galley gave us an insight into how amazing it is that such delicious food is created in such a small space, and again, it was very interesting to hear how the chefs work within their own space, and how well they work together. A cocktail-making class with Aldo, one of the resident barmen, was followed by our final dinner in the evening, and we enjoyed an interactive quiz night with 'buzzers' to answer the questions - great fun, and very competitive!

Our arrival in Palma de Mallorca was bittersweet as it was time to disembark the ship and wish farewell to our sailing companions before our transfer to the airport for our flight back to the UK. I plan to return to sail on one of the other beautiful Emerald yachts - Kaia is launching next year 2026 - hopefully in the Caribbean, to be able to experience the marina at the back of the yacht in action with all its watersports and 'toys' available. This can only be done when tendered offshore, so is rare in the Mediterranean as the ships can dock portside. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the intimate feel of Emerald Sakara, and how there was so much space, as well as the excellent service, food, drinks and camaraderie of everyone on board.