Celebrity River Cruises Announces 10 New Ships and Opens Bookings for the 2028 European Season, Expanding Destinations by 80%
Celebrity River Cruises Announces 10 New Ships and Opens Bookings for the 2028 European Season, Expanding Destinations by 80%
MIAMI (January 29, 2026) – Celebrity River Cruises today announced its commitment to add 10 new ships, expanding its European fleet to 20 river vessels by 2031. The announcement marks the official start of construction, with the first steel cut for Celebrity Compass, the company’s first river ship. This expansion positions Celebrity River Cruises as one of Europe’s largest river cruise operators, offering more itineraries and destinations than ever before.
Bookings for the highly anticipated 2028 season are now open, featuring an 80% increase in European destinations compared to the brand’s inaugural season in 2027.
To celebrate these milestones, Celebrity River Cruises has opened reservations for the 2028 season, offering more than 160 departures across over 50 destinations throughout Europe. Guests can sail the Rhine through the vineyards of Alsace, journey along the Danube to the historic markets of Budapest, or wake up in Prague and end the day at a café in the heart of Vienna. Celebrity River Cruises will debut in 2027 with Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, followed by Celebrity Wanderer, Celebrity Roamer and Celebrity Boundless, which will join the fleet in 2028.
“The demand for Celebrity River Cruises exceeded our expectations, and the expansion of our fleet allows us to bring this highly anticipated experience to even more travelers,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Celebrity Cruises. “Whether guests are already fans of the Celebrity experience or 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, we are strengthening our connected vacation ecosystem, offering more choice, greater access, and more reasons for guests to stay with us—turning a vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations.”
“The inaugural 2027 season of Celebrity River Cruises sold out in less than six minutes, demonstrating how much guests value the distinctive hospitality and service that Celebrity delivers,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises. “To meet this exceptional demand, we are thrilled to open bookings for 2028 with 80% more European destinations, five ships and more than 160 sailings. There are now more ways than ever to experience Europe’s rivers, ‘The Celebrity Way.’”
More Than 160 European River Cruises in 2028
From Dutch Tulips to the Lower Danube
In 2028, Celebrity River Cruises brings its elevated Celebrity experience to even more of Europe’s most iconic rivers—from the legendary “land of castles” along the Rhine to the historic capitals of the Danube. Guests will have the opportunity to visit 24 new ports, explore the wild beauty of the Lower Danube, enjoy an innovative overnight stay in Bucharest, experience the tulip season in full bloom, and stroll through Europe’s festive Christmas markets.
Celebrity River Cruises itineraries for 2028 include:
- Lower Danube Cruises (6 departures):
Sailing from Bucharest through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge—one of Europe’s most spectacular river passages—to destinations where history, culture and natural beauty converge. Each itinerary includes an overnight stay before or after the cruise in Romania’s capital, allowing guests to fully experience Bucharest’s rich heritage. - Rhine Cruises (60+ departures):
Voyages between Basel and Amsterdam through Europe’s famed “castle country,” passing vineyard-covered hills and storybook towns such as Strasbourg, Breisach and Rüdesheim. The romantic Rhine comes alive with breathtaking scenery at every turn. - Upper Danube Cruises:
Journeys between historic Regensburg or Nuremberg and Budapest, discovering majestic castles and cultural treasures while sailing through Germany, Austria and Hungary. Select departures coincide with the Gäuboden Festival in Straubing, one of Germany’s largest celebrations of cultural heritage. - Dutch Tulip Season Cruises:
A smooth springtime sailing between Brussels and Amsterdam at the height of the tulip bloom, with visits to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk, and the charming city of Maastricht—showcasing the Netherlands at its most vibrant. - Christmas Market Cruises:
Experience a cherished European holiday tradition on sailings between Basel and Amsterdam, with stops at candle-lit villages along the Rhine Valley, including Mainz, Strasbourg and Heidelberg. Snow-dusted vineyards and festive markets make these winter journeys truly unforgettable.
About Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises offers a premium vacation experience with a fleet of ocean and river ships sailing to more than 300 destinations in over 70 countries across all seven continents. The brand seamlessly blends the intimacy and personalized service of small ships with the variety and excitement of larger ones, allowing guests either to explore the world—or escape from it. With every detail designed to exceed expectations, Celebrity experiences set the standard and are difficult to compare with any other form of vacation.
A pioneer in the industry for more than 35 years, every Celebrity vacation delivers experiences found nowhere else.
About Navigator Travel
Navigator Travel & Tourist Services stands out as the most specialized cruise-focused travel organization in Greece. Navigator is the exclusive sales representative for Celebrity Cruises in Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus.