Celebrity River Cruises is growing quickly, and with good reason. It expects to have 20 ships by 2031, one of the bigger fleets in Europe.
The line has confirmed the most popular features from its ocean-going Edge-series ships will be replicated on its river vessels, with The Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Café Al Bacio all appearing onboard Celebrity Compass, Celebrity Seeker, Celebrity Wanderer, Celebrity Roamer and Celebrity Boundless.
But above all, customers and agents are liking what they’ve seen so far. Priority booking access for the line’s debut programme sold out in just six minutes, with all of its remaining 2027 river sailings selling out in under five hours last September. It’s 2028 programme is already on sale too.
So this is the Celebrity River Cruises story – what we know so far, and everything agents can, and should, look out for over the coming months.
Celebrity set outs its stall at the outset. In its launch announcement, on 27 January 2025, President Laura Hodges Bethge said Celebrity River Cruises will bring “the quality and sophistication of our Edge-series ocean ships to the most iconic rivers, starting with Europe”.
Anticipation in the market reached fever pitch nearly nine months on when priority access to Celebrity River Cruises’ first voyages sold out in just six minutes. Clearly, the decision to tease details and encourage speculation in the market is paying off for Celebrity.
'Edge-series river ships with European charm'
Celebrity revealed how guests will “explore historic cities aboard Celebrity’s fleet of transformative river ships that blend the elevated design and sophistication of Edge-series ocean ships with European charm”.
It added: “Discover the Danube and Rhine with Celebrity River Cruises inclusive of all meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, WiFi, onboard experiences and one shore excursion each day.”
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Celebrity also confirmed guests will have the option to add pre- or post-cruise stays in Prague and Budapest.
In September 2025, Celebrity revealed Celebrity Compass and a second ship – Celebrity Seeker – will offer guests the chance to dine on cantilevered dining pods above the river.
Celebrity River Cruises will feature five stateroom categories when it launches
Plus, there will also be an “infinity-edge plunge pool” for guests to use and five stateroom categories, including Skylight Infinite Balcony Suites. Every stateroom will have complimentary stocked mini bars and destination-inspired amenities.
An on-demand butler available through “Butler Chat” will be available to suite guests, Celebrity added.
'Celebrity favourites'
We also learnt that versions of “Celebrity favourites” – the Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Café Al Bacio – will be among the eight onboard restaurants and bars transferred across to Celebrity’s river fleet.
The line has also teased some shore experiences – private wine tastings in Austria, thermal baths in Budapest or cycling along the riverbanks of the Danube.
Celebrity has also said its ships will be equipped with “best-in-class hybrid propulsion system, as well as waste management systems, alongside advanced technology to reduce noise and vibration”.
Celebrity will replicate popular features, such as Cafe Al Bacio, from its Edge-series ships on its river vessels
Exactly a year on from the initial launch announcement, Celebrity said it has committed to adding 10 more ships to its fleet by 2031. These vessels will increase the fleet to 20 ships.
The new ships announcement came as the first steel was cut for Celebrity Compass. It claimed the expansion would make Celebrity River Cruises one of the largest European river cruise operators, offering more itineraries and destinations than ever before.
The 2028 programme, it said, will feature an 80% increase in European destinations compared to the brand’s inaugural 2027 deployment, with Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker being followed by Celebrity Wanderer, Celebrity Roamer and Celebrity Boundless.
Jason Liberty, Chairman and Chief Executive of Celebrity Cruises parent Royal Caribbean Group, has said: “Guest demand for Celebrity River Cruises has exceeded our expectations and expanding the fleet allows us to bring this highly anticipated experience to even more travellers.”
Are you – or your clients – eagerly anticipating the launch of Celebrity River Cruises? What features have caught yours or their eye? And will Celebrity River Cruises be a welcome addition to the river cruise landscape? Let us know in the comments below.