Seychelles Island Hopping

The Seychelles Island Hopping is a 9-night Africa cruise aboard Emerald Raiya, operated by Emerald Cruises. Departing Mahe on March 17, 2028, the voyage visits 6 ports. Fares start from $7,300 per person.

Length: 9 nights
Departs: Mar 17, 2028
Returns: Mar 26, 2028
Ports of call: 6
Days at sea: 1

Itinerary

Day 1 Mar 17, 2028 Mahe Like jade-colored jewels in the Indian Ocean, the more than 100 Seychelles Islands are often regarded as the Garden of Eden. Lying just four degrees south of the equator, the Seychelles are some 1,000 miles from the nearest mainland Africa. Little more than 200 years ago, all 115 islands were uninhabited.Then in 1742 a French ship dispatched from Mauritius sailed into one of the small bays. Captain Lazare Picault was the first to explore these unnamed islands. He encountered breathtaking vistas of rugged mountains, lagoons, coral atolls, splendid beaches and secluded coves. After Picault sailed away, the islands remained untouched for the next 14 years. Then France took possession of the seven islands in the Mahé group. During an expedition Captain Morphey named them the Sechelles, in honor of Vicomte Moreau de Sechelles.This name was later anglicized to Seychelles. The first settlers arrived at St. Anne's Island in 1770; 15 years later the population of Mahé consisted of seven Europeans and 123 slaves. Today there are about 80,000 Seychellois, the majority of whom live on Mahé; the rest are scattered in small communities throughout the archipelago.The people are a fusion of three continents — Africa, Asia and Europe.This has created a unique culture and the use of three languages — Creole, French and English. Mahé is the largest island in the archipelago and the location of the capital,Victoria. Ringed by steep, magnificent mountains, few capitals can claim a more beautiful backdrop.The town features a mixture of modern and indigenous architecture; it is the center of business and commerce thanks to the extensive port facilities. Noteworthy sites in Victoria are the museum, cathedral, government house, clock tower, botanical gardens and an open-air market. Mahe port guide Search cruises visiting Mahe

Day 4 Mar 20, 2028 Praslin Islands This tropical Eden covers 14.5 square miles and lies a mere 28 miles from the island of Mahé. In addition to glorious beaches and fantastic marine life, Praslin is best known for the Vallée de Mai World Heritage Site where the botanical rarity, the coco de mer, grows wild. In fact, this incredible palm forest earned the island its original name of "Isle de Palme," accorded by the French navigator Lazare Picault who had to carve his way through the tangled undergrowth of the inland hills. In 1768 Marion Dufresne led an expedition to the island and renamed it Praslin. He placed a Deed of Possession in a bottle which he buried in the sands of the northern coast. In the early 1800s the total population of the island amounted to ten families. Nothing noteworthy happened through most of the century, except for the arrival of General Charles Gordon in 1881. The hero of Khartoum thought he had found the biblical Garden of Eden and pronounced that the coco de mer was the biblical tree of knowledge

Day 5 Mar 21, 2028 Praslin Islands This tropical Eden covers 14.5 square miles and lies a mere 28 miles from the island of Mahé. In addition to glorious beaches and fantastic marine life, Praslin is best known for the Vallée de Mai World Heritage Site where the botanical rarity, the coco de mer, grows wild. In fact, this incredible palm forest earned the island its original name of "Isle de Palme," accorded by the French navigator Lazare Picault who had to carve his way through the tangled undergrowth of the inland hills. In 1768 Marion Dufresne led an expedition to the island and renamed it Praslin. He placed a Deed of Possession in a bottle which he buried in the sands of the northern coast. In the early 1800s the total population of the island amounted to ten families. Nothing noteworthy happened through most of the century, except for the arrival of General Charles Gordon in 1881. The hero of Khartoum thought he had found the biblical Garden of Eden and pronounced that the coco de mer was the biblical tree of knowledge

Day 6 Mar 22, 2028 La Digue, Seychelles This small island, no more than four square miles in size, is Praslin's beautiful neighbor and presents a picture of peaceful seclusion. Apart from a few minivans, the only other means of transport here are ox carts or bicycles. The island has two centers, La Passe where you come ashore via the ship's tender and, just half a mile to the south, La Réunion. Both are on the island's west coast and neither has more than a handful of dwellings, a few shops, bicycle and oxcart rentals. A perfect place to explore on one's own, some of the beaches near La Passe are within easy walking distance. To venture further you may want to hire an oxcart or a bicycle. There is good diving practically anywhere in the waters around La Digue, as well as excellent snorkeling at Anse Patates and Anse La Réunion. Protected on all but its southeast shores by a magnificent encircling coral reef, La Digue retains all the fascination of an untouched world. The road leading south from La Passe takes you past the charming La Digue Island Lodge and continues to L'Union Estate. The grounds feature a copra factory and an impressive tumble of granite rocks, at the foot of which live several giant tortoises. (There is a fee to enter L'Union Estate.) Further along the beach at Source d'Argent, a dirt path winds around heaps of giant granite boulders which present a popular subject for photo buffs. La Digue, Seychelles port guide Search cruises visiting La Digue, Seychelles

La Digue, Seychelles photo — Day 6 Mar 22, 2028 La Digue, Seychelles This small island, no more than four square miles in size, is Praslin's beautiful neighbor and presents a picture of peaceful seclusion. Apart from a few minivans, the only other means of transport here are ox carts or bicycles. The island has two centers, La Passe where you come ashore via the ship's tender and, just half a mile to the south, La Réunion. Both are on the island's west coast and neither has more than a handful of dwellings, a few shops, bicycle and oxcart rentals. A perfect place to explore on one's own, some of the beaches near La Passe are within easy walking distance. To venture further you may want to hire an oxcart or a bicycle. There is good diving practically anywhere in the waters around La Digue, as well as excellent snorkeling at Anse Patates and Anse La Réunion. Protected on all but its southeast shores by a magnificent encircling coral reef, La Digue retains all the fascination of an untouched world. The road leading south from La Passe takes you past the charming La Digue Island Lodge and continues to L'Union Estate. The grounds feature a copra factory and an impressive tumble of granite rocks, at the foot of which live several giant tortoises. (There is a fee to enter L'Union Estate.) Further along the beach at Source d'Argent, a dirt path winds around heaps of giant granite boulders which present a popular subject for photo buffs. La Digue, Seychelles port guide Search cruises visiting La Digue, Seychelles

Day 8 Mar 24, 2028 Aride Island, Seychelles Aride is an island in the Seychelles situated a few kilometres north-west of Praslin. Listed as a nature reserve, this pearl of the Indian Ocean will seduce you with the beauty of its landscapes of wild cliffs and fine-sand beaches. Protected from human impact and sometimes called “bird capital”, it is home to several endemic plants as well as exceptional wildlife. Most notably, it is the refuge of an impressive number of seabirds (Seychelles magpie-robins, terns, noddies, and more), and reptiles, such as Wright’s skinks, which can be found in the island’s wooded areas. Sea turtles can also be observed on the island’s beaches.

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 84-day span: $7,300 · range $7,300–$8,800

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

Not available

Oceanview

from $7,300

$811 / night

Fare rows

Oceanview Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $7,300

$811 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Oceanview Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $8,800

$977 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Oceanview Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $19,390

$2,154 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony

Not available

Suite

from $9,406

$1,045 / night

Fare rows

Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $9,406

$1,045 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $9,730

$1,081 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $10,135

$1,126 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $10,906

$1,211 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $11,230

$1,247 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $11,472

$1,274 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $11,635

$1,292 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $12,972

$1,441 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Terrace Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $13,497

$1,499 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Yacht Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $13,780

$1,531 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Terrace Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $14,997

$1,666 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Yacht Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $15,280

$1,697 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Owner's Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $21,921

$2,435 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Owner's Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $23,421

$2,602 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $24,070

$2,674 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $24,790

$2,754 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $25,690

$2,854 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $28,660

$3,184 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Terrace Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $33,160

$3,684 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Yacht Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $33,790

$3,754 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Owner's Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $51,880

$5,764 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Prices verified Jun 22, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via Emerald Cruises and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

Show all 14 cabin grades

Name	Supplier code	Type
Oceanview Stateroom	D	Oceanview
Emerald Stateroom	E	Oceanview
Emerald Stateroom	ES	Oceanview
Balcony Suite	A	Suite
Balcony Suite	AB	Suite
Panorama Balcony Suite	AP	Suite
Balcony Suite	B	Suite
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite	C	Suite
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite	P	Suite
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite	R	Suite
Deluxe Balcony Suite	S	Suite
Owner's Suite	SA	Suite
Terrace Suite	T	Suite
Yacht Suite	Y	Suite

Ship

Your ship Emerald Raiya 5★ **5,300** GT **128** guests Built **2014** The 2027-built superyacht Emerald Raiya features deck plans with 64 passenger cabins, 4 dining venues, and a full wellness complex (gym, 3 saunas, spa with 3 massage rooms). The aft Marina Platform supports watersports activities, while the Marina Deck offers a sundeck area served by the Marina Lounge & Bar. Additional facilities include 3 tender boats, 2 lifeboats, and 2 Zodiacs (RIB boats). Guest leisure options include a swimming pool (infinity-style), Pool Deck with spa pool, sunbathing area, and bar, as well as multiple lounges: Amici Bar Lounge (main lounge), Observation Lounge (bow-facing indoor lounge), Aqua Cafe (outdoor bar lounge), and Sky Bar (outdoor poolside bar). A Medical Center (infirmary/hospital) is also available onboard. The yacht has 7 decks in total, with 6 accessible to passengers and 4 featuring cabins. Two midship elevators connect all decks. Emerald Raiya belongs to the same class/design as her sisterships Emerald Kaia (2026) and Emerald Xara (2028). Emerald Raiya ship guide Search cruises on Emerald Raiya

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Seychelles Island Hopping

Itinerary

Pricing

Current prices

Inside

Oceanview

Balcony

Suite

Price history

Ship

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