Celebrity River Cruises today announced a commitment to build 10 new ships, expanding its European river cruise fleet to 20 vessels by 2031. The announcement marks the official start of construction, with the first steel cutting of the Celebrity Compass, the brand's first river cruise ship. This expansion will make Celebrity River Cruises one of the largest river cruise operators in Europe, offering more itineraries and destinations than ever before. The 2028 season is now open for bookings and features an 80% increase in European destinations compared to the inaugural 2027 launch.
To celebrate these milestones, Celebrity River Cruises has launched its highly anticipated 2028 season, with more than 160 sailings to over 50 destinations across Europe. Guests can cruise the Rhine to the vineyards of Alsace, follow the Danube to the historic markets of Budapest, or wake up in Prague and end the day in a café in the heart of Vienna. Celebrity River Cruises will debut the Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker in 2027, followed by the Celebrity Wanderer, Celebrity Roamer, and Celebrity Boundless in 2028.
“Guest demand for Celebrity River Cruises has exceeded our expectations, and expanding our fleet allows us to bring this highly anticipated experience to even more travelers,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises. “Whether guests already know and love the Celebrity experience or are discovering it for the first time, they now have new ways to enjoy it along some of Europe’s most iconic rivers. By expanding Celebrity into river cruises, we are strengthening our connected vacation ecosystem, offering more choices, greater access, and more reasons for travelers to keep sailing with us, turning the vacation of a lifetime into a vacation of a lifetime.”.
“Our inaugural 2027 Celebrity River Cruises season sold out in under six minutes, demonstrating how much guests value Celebrity’s unparalleled hospitality and service,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “To meet this extraordinary demand, we are thrilled to open 2028 sailings with 80% more European destinations, five ships, and more than 160 itineraries. There are now more ways than ever to discover Europe’s rivers, Celebrity style.”
In 2028, Celebrity River Cruises will bring the elevated Celebrity experience to even more of Europe’s iconic rivers, from the legendary Rhine Castle Route to the historic capitals of the Danube. Itineraries will include 24 new ports, including new Lower Danube wilderness tours with an overnight stay ashore in Bucharest—a first for Celebrity; sailings to enjoy the tulip season in full bloom; and a new way to experience Europe’s magical Christmas market cruises.
Celebrity River Cruises' 2028 itineraries include:
-
Lower Danube River Cruises (six departures): Journeys from Bucharest through the spectacular Iron Gates Gorge—one of Europe's most breathtaking river journeys—to destinations where history, culture, and natural beauty converge. Each departure includes an overnight stay in Romania's vibrant capital, connecting guests with Bucharest's rich heritage before or after the river cruise.
-
Rhine River Cruises (over 60 departures): Sail between Basel and Amsterdam through Europe's legendary castle region, past vineyard-covered hills and fairytale towns like Strasbourg, Breisach, and Rüdesheim. The romantic Rhine comes alive with captivating views around every bend.
-
Upper Danube River Cruises: Journeys between the historic cities of Regensburg or Nuremberg and Budapest, discovering majestic castles and cultural treasures along the Danube through Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Some departures coincide with the Gäuboden festival in Straubing, one of Germany's largest traditional celebrations.
-
Tulip Season Cruises in the Netherlands: Sail between Brussels and Amsterdam during the height of spring bloom, visiting the famous Keukenhof Gardens, the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk, and charming Maastricht. These seasonal departures showcase the Netherlands at its most vibrant.
-
Christmas Market Cruises: A classic European holiday experience on itineraries between Basel and Amsterdam, with stops in illuminated Rhine Valley towns such as Mainz, Strasbourg, and Heidelberg. Snow-covered vineyards and festive markets make these winter excursions unforgettable.
Celebrity River Cruises' 2028 departures are now available for booking. Guests can explore over 160 European river itineraries and book their trip
Follow cruise news at Cruisesnews.es
