Celebrity Cruises has announced its entry into the river cruise market, unveiling plans for two new ships that will debut in 2027. The ships, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, will sail the Rhine and Danube rivers, bringing the brand’s signature style of modern luxury—known from its ocean fleet—into European river cruising for the first time.
The company opened Priority Booking Access this week, allowing travelers to secure a stateroom with a fully refundable $500 deposit. Both vessels will feature a patent-pending design that emphasizes open-air spaces, spacious staterooms and immersive regional dining.
“Celebrity River Cruises ships will be the most innovative on the river, with a patent-pending industry-leading design that offers more space to vacation while bringing guests even closer to destinations,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises, in a press statement. “With about half of our guests having experienced or intending to take a river cruise, we know guests are going to love sailing Europe’s Rhine and Danube rivers The Celebrity Way on our fleet of elevated, cutting-edge ships.”
Design Highlights
Celebrity River Cruises will feature expansive open decks with uninterrupted 360-degree views, more outdoor lounge and dining areas and new features such as the Magic Edge cantilevered dining pods, a top-deck bar and grill and an infinity plunge pool. Staterooms will include king-sized beds in every category, intuitive storage, private balconies, or floor-to-ceiling windows. Select accommodations will feature Celebrity’s Infinite Veranda concept, first introduced on its Edge Series ocean ships.
Vista Balcony Suites and Balcony staterooms offer private escapes with an enhanced design for more usable outdoor space. Suite guests will receive additional amenities, including butler service, exclusive dining, priority excursion booking and complimentary laundry once per sailing.
Culinary Experiences & Itineraries
Guests will have access to eight dining and bar venues, including Celebrity favorites like Cafée Al Bacio, Martini Bar and Sunset Bar. Menus will evolve throughout the voyage with destination-inspired cuisine, while 24/7 dining options and complimentary in-room breakfast service will provide added flexibility.
The inaugural season will feature 33 seven-night sailings on the Rhine and Danube rivers. Voyages will include multiple port calls per day and overnight stays in select destinations, offering opportunities to explore cities such as Budapest and Vienna more deeply. Optional pre- and post-cruise stays will be available in 2026, extending journeys into cities like Prague and Budapest.
Shore excursions will include experiences such as wine tastings in Austria, cycling along the Danube and visiting Budapest’s thermal baths.
Both ships will be powered by hybrid propulsion systems and include advanced waste management technology designed to minimize environmental impact. The vessels’ lightweight hull design will also support smoother navigation along Europe’s waterways. Members of Celebrity’s Captain’s Club loyalty program will be able to earn points on river sailings, with additional tier benefits expected to be announced in 2026.
For more information, visit celebritycruises.com.
