By
Alex Smith |
Celebrity Cruises has revealed details of its first two river cruise vessels, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, scheduled to debut in 2027.
The ships will sail the Rhine and Danube on seven-night itineraries and draw on the design of Celebrity’s Edge-class ocean ships while incorporating new features developed specifically for river cruising. Both vessels will include expanded open decks, a larger proportion of outdoor space, and design features intended to deliver smoother navigation and a quieter on-board experience.
Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker are the first of 10 river cruise ships that Celebrity has ordered for its new Celebrity River Cruises brand, which it announced in January.
“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. “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.”
The ships will feature open decks with uninterrupted access throughout the voyage, designed to maximise outdoor space and provide 360-degree views of the rivers. Facilities will include an infinity-edge plunge pool, transformative shade structures, flexible furniture, and a top-deck bar and grill. Deck areas will be divided into zones designed for different moods, from social spaces to quieter areas for relaxation, and are intended to be used year-round. A distinctive feature will be the Magic Edge dining pods – cantilevered platforms extending over the river, offering guests the opportunity to dine above the water with views of the surrounding landscape.
Skylight Infinite Balcony suites will feature a ceiling window for additional light
Accommodation will consist of five categories of staterooms, all with king-sized beds. The cabins are designed to maximise natural light and provide a close connection with the surrounding landscape through large windows and balconies. The line’s Infinite Veranda concept, introduced on the Edge-class ships, will be available in several categories, allowing guests to lower the cabin window at the touch of a button to create an open-air balcony.
The first-ever Skylight Infinite Balcony Suites will add a separate living area and a ceiling window for additional daylight. Vista Balcony Suites and standard balcony staterooms will include enlarged outdoor areas for seating, while River View staterooms will provide wide windows with unobstructed views.
Each stateroom will feature residential-style interiors, intuitive layouts, and a range of in-room amenities. All guests will have access to a complimentary stocked minibar and destination-inspired amenities such as locally influenced toiletries and welcome gifts linked to the regions visited. Cabins will also be supplied with luxury linens, bedding, bathrobes and slippers. Bathrooms will feature full-height showers and redesigned layouts intended to provide more usable space compared with typical river cruise cabins.
Guests staying in suites will also have access to a dedicated on-demand butler service via ‘Butler Chat,’ complimentary exclusive dining, room service and happy hour experiences, complimentary laundry once per sailing, and priority booking for excursions.
The ships will offer eight restaurants and bars, including Café al Bacio
The ships will offer eight restaurants and bars, including Martini Bar, Sunset Bar, and Café al Bacio, which are already part of Celebrity’s ocean fleet. Destination-inspired menus will change according to the itinerary, with regional pastries, local ingredients and regionally influenced dinners available on board. Guests will also have access to flexible dining arrangements, including 24-hour meal options and complimentary breakfast room service. Outdoor dining spaces will be available on the open decks, alongside the Magic Edge dining pods.
The ships will operate 33 seven-night cruises on the Rhine and Danube. Routes will include multiple port calls each day as well as overnight stays, allowing extended time in key destinations. Planned experiences include wine tastings in Austria, visits to thermal baths in Budapest, Hungary, and cycling along the Danube riverbanks. Guests will also be able to explore the Wachau Valley, view Budapest lit at night, and discover smaller towns and hidden attractions. Pre- and post-cruise stays in cities such as Prague, Czechia, and Budapest will be available from 2026.
The vessels will be built with hybrid propulsion systems and an innovative hull design intended to improve navigation on inland waterways. They will also be equipped with waste management systems and noise- and vibration-reduction technology, in line with parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s long-term sustainability programme.