The new players shaking up European river cruising

Earlier this year, we reported on the many new ships setting sail on Europe’s rivers in 2025 and 2026 from companies as diverse as Amadeus Cruises, AmaWaterways, APT, Emerald Cruises, Riviera Travel, Tauck, Travelmarvel, Uniworld and Viking.

These new ships face plenty of competition, with at least 400 river ships now operating in Europe. But in the next two years the throng is set to become even greater as three more cruise lines hope to make money from the seemingly insatiable European market.

First to cast off is land-based operator Trafalgar Tours. Its ship Trafalgar Verity will first depart from Amsterdam on April 12, 2026 for an eight-day glide down the Rhine River to Basel in Switzerland.

A second ship, Trafalgar Reverie, will sail out of Budapest on April 18 on an eight-day itinerary up the Danube to Passau in Germany.

The two 128-guest ships aren’t new, but have been chartered from Uniworld, for which they sailed as River Queen and River Princess. The two brands are both owned by The Travel Corporation.

The move looks to capitalise on the growing fondness for longer holidays in Europe that sees many visitors combine both land and cruise tours. Trafalgar will incorporate some of its existing land programs and signature experiences into its shore-excursion offerings.

Prices will be more competitive than on more upmarket Uniworld. The eight-day Danube cruise is from $4399 a person twin share, whereas a similar cruise with Uniworld costs from $6299.

Also launching in April 2026 is National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ new 120-guest ship Connect, which will operate eight-day Rhine River cruises that, unusually, sail between Amsterdam and Brussels or Cologne and Basel.

Both cost from $9214 a person twin share. The inaugural cruise leaves Amsterdam on April 26.

Lindblad, which already operates river cruises in America, India, Egypt and Peru, has hinted at further ships and rivers to come in Europe. Connect is chartered from Transcend Cruises, which launched in 2023 as a charter-only company and aims to have 10 ships by 2028.

A much more significant player is set to emerge on Europe’s rivers in 2027, when Celebrity Cruises ventures into the river-cruise space. The scale of its ambition might well shake up the relatively fragmented river-cruise market.

The first two ships Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker will operate on the Rhine and Danube, and feature cantilevered dining pods, an infinity pool and eight bars and restaurants.

The deep-pocketed company has said it will have 10 river ships in operation by 2029 and, given it has hinted at varying ship sizes, some may appear on other rivers such as the Seine in France or Douro in Portugal.

Celebrity’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, has also suggested that another of its brands, Silversea, might at some point venture into river cruising at the ultra-luxury end of the market. Watch this space.

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