5 days ago
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November 1, 2025 — 5:00am
River cruising is booming. And recent data released by cruise industry experts show the sector is continuing to grow fast.
Traditional river cruise operators are heeding the call, with the likes of APT, AmaWaterways and Uniworld planning to launch multiple new river ships in the near future.
And ocean cruising companies are also migrating their offerings to fresh water.
Celebrity Cruises will launch two ships on the Rhine and Danube in 2027, and a total of 10 by 2029.
Celebrity is confident its customers will come along for the ride with about half of its guests having experienced, or intending to take, a river cruise, according to president Laura Hodges Bethge.
The first two ships, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, show off the line’s patent-pending river design that promises “the most usable outdoor space of any river ship”.
Other innovations include Magic Edge – cantilevered dining pods that allow guests to dangle above the river enjoying regional culinary offerings.
Distinctive shade structures, a top-deck bar and grill, and an infinity-edge plunge pool are all designed to have guests enjoying the ships’ outdoors year round.
The 86 staterooms are across five categories and all include plenty of storage, king beds and spacious balconies as well as complimentary stocked mini bars and destination-inspired amenities. There is also on-demand butler service through a Butler Chat app, and included exclusive dining, room service and happy-hour experiences.
The ships carry eight restaurants and bars, including Celebrity-favourite venues Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Cafe al Bacio.
The inaugural season in 2027 comprises 33 seven-night sailings on the Rhine and Danube.
Experiences include private wine tastings in Austria, thermal baths in Budapest, cycling the banks of the Danube, and of course, the traditional river cruising highlights of seeing Budapest, in particular the stunning Hungarian Parliament building which dazzles when lit up at night, and the castles and abbeys of the vineyard-lined Wachau Valley.
Importantly, its fleet of river ships will be standard-bearers for parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s commitment to sustainability. The ships are equipped with a best-in-class hybrid propulsion system, waste management systems, and technology to reduce noise and vibration.
Meanwhile, Celebrity Edge has recently returned to Australian waters, starting its third season sailing from Sydney and Auckland. The ship will be here until the end of April, 2026.
And Celebrity Solstice, once dubbed “Australia’s favourite ship” will return on April 9 next year after a substantial renovation and modernisation.
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