First Look: Inside Celebrity River Cruises – Launching in 2027

Celebrity Cruises is set to usher in a new era in river cruising with Celebrity River Cruises, a premium river cruise holiday that will begin taking bookings this year. Maiden river voyages will take place in 2027.

The brand has signed an initial order for 10 transformative ships that will take guests to historic cities on the world’s most iconic rivers, launching initially in Europe. The new river vessels will be similar in interior design and atmosphere to the cruise line’s existing Edge Series ocean ships. Combining Celebrity’s signature hospitality and unique itinerary offerings, Celebrity River Cruises will deliver a brand-new river experience.

The line will begin with two state-of-the-art ships – Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker – sailing the Rhine and Danube, before expanding further across Europe.

These groundbreaking river vessels combine the elevated hospitality and striking design of Celebrity’s award-winning Edge Series ocean ships with a new, patent-pending layout that gives guests more space and smoother, more relaxing sailings than ever before.

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Revolutionary open decks will offer the most usable outdoor space of any river ship, ensuring 360-degree views wherever you look. Guests can float above the water in Magic Edge dining pods – the first cantilevered restaurants on the river – or unwind in an infinity-edge plunge pool. Shaded lounges, flexible furniture, a top-deck bar and grill, and year-round comfort zones mean travellers can socialise or switch off as Europe glides by.

Inside, five boutique stateroom categories deliver spacious, light-filled retreats. Every room houses a king-sized bed, plenty of storage and complimentary mini-bars, while suites introduce extras such as butler service via ‘Butler Chat’, exclusive dining, complimentary laundry and priority excursion booking. Celebrity’s popular ‘Infinite Veranda’ concept has been adapted for the river, joined by new Skylight Infinite Balcony Suites with ceiling windows for unbeatable natural light.

Dining on Celebrity River Cruises

Guests will receive the widest variety of dining on Europe’s rivers, with eight venues and bars including Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Café al Bacio. Menus evolve with each destination, from locally baked pastries to regionally inspired dinners, while flexible all-day dining and round-the-clock room service allow you to tailor journeys to your own schedule.

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Celebrity River Cruises will operate 33 seven-night itineraries on the Rhine and Danube in its first season. Multiple port calls each day, overnight stays and curated excursions will immerse guests in Europe’s history and culture – from cycling the Danube’s riverbanks to wine-tasting in Austria or soaking in Budapest’s thermal baths. Pre- and post-cruise land stays in iconic cities such as Prague and Budapest will also be available, extending the experience ashore. Details about exactly which ports each itinerary will visit will be revealed over the coming months.

Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises said of the announcement: “We’ve redefined travel on the ocean with our best-in-class hospitality, award-winning food and beverage experiences, and elevated design and style. We are thrilled to bring these experiences to the river and combine them with authentic, destination-rich itineraries that will give our guests an experience unlike any other.”

“Celebrity River Cruises ships will be the most innovative on the river, with a patent-pending design that offers more space to vacation while bringing guests even closer to destinations. We know our guests are going to love sailing Europe’s Rhine and Danube rivers, The Celebrity Way.”

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