Celebrity River Cruises announces 10 additional ships and opens 2028 Europe season

International

With an order for ten new vessels and the opening of bookings for its 2028 European season, Celebrity River Cruises is significantly accelerating its expansion on Europe’s rivers

By 2031, the brand’s river fleet will grow to 20 ships, positioning it among the largest operators in the European river cruise market.

The announcement was made on 29 January 2026 in Miami and coincides with the start of construction for Celebrity Compass, the brand’s first river ship, marked by the initial steel cutting. At the same time, Celebrity River Cruises has opened its 2028 deployment for booking, featuring an 80% increase in European destinations compared with its inaugural 2027 season.

Fleet growth and phased market entry

Celebrity River Cruises will enter the river cruise market in 2027 with Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker. In 2028, three additional ships – Celebrity Wanderer, Celebrity Roamer and Celebrity Boundless – will join the fleet. The commitment to ten further newbuilds will bring the total fleet to 20 ships by 2031, enabling a broader range of itineraries and increased capacity across Europe.

Strong demand drives expansion

“Guest demand for Celebrity River Cruises has exceeded our expectations, and expanding the fleet allows us to bring this highly anticipated experience to even more travelers,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises. He highlighted the strategic role of river cruising within the group’s broader vacation ecosystem, offering guests more choice and connectivity across different travel styles.

Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises, pointed to the rapid sell-out of the inaugural season. “Our 2027 Celebrity River Cruises season sold out in under six minutes,” she said. “To meet this extraordinary demand, we’re thrilled to open 2028 sailings with 80% more European destinations, five ships and more than 160 itineraries.”

More than 160 sailings to over 50 destinations

For the 2028 season, Celebrity River Cruises is offering more than 160 sailings to over 50 destinations across Europe, including 24 new ports. The programme spans some of Europe’s most iconic waterways, from the Rhine’s castle-lined valleys to the historic capitals along the Danube.

New highlights include journeys on the Lower Danube featuring a Celebrity-first overnight land stay in Bucharest, cruises timed to the Dutch tulip season, and an expanded portfolio of Christmas market itineraries. Classic routes on the Rhine between Basel and Amsterdam, as well as Upper Danube voyages connecting cities such as Regensburg, Nuremberg and Budapest, remain core elements of the programme.

Bookings now open

All 2028 Celebrity River Cruises sailings are now open for booking. Guests can choose from a significantly expanded range of European river itineraries, reflecting Celebrity’s ambition to translate its premium ocean cruise experience to Europe’s rivers on a larger scale.