Celebrity Cruises Floats Out First River Cruise Ship Ahead Of 2027 Launch

Celebrity Cruises has floated out Celebrity Compass, its first river cruise ship, as the company gets ready to enter the European river cruise market in 2027.

The float-out began at Zwijnenburg shipyard in Rotterdam on September 9. Once the ship was in the water, it travelled 80 kilometres on the river and reached TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden on September 12.

Celebrity Compass is due to start sailing on the Rhine in August 2027. It is the first of 20 river cruise ships Celebrity Cruises plans to add to its fleet by 2031. The ships will sail on the Rhine and Danube rivers.

The company announced its first 10 river ships in 2025 when it announced plans to enter the river cruise market. In January this year, the company announced another 10 ships, taking the planned fleet to 20 vessels by 2031.

Celebrity Compass will debut alongside Celebrity Seeker in 2027. Celebrity Wanderer, Celebrity Roamer and Celebrity Boundless are due to join the fleet in 2028.

The ships are being designed with features similar to Celebrity Cruises’ ocean-going Edge series. Each ship will carry up to 180 passengers.

The float-out marks the completion of Celebrity Compass’ exterior construction and was the first time the ship touched water.

The ship then made its first 80-kilometre trip on the river before reaching TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden.

Celebrity says its river ships will have open decks and 360-degree views. The design will also include features found on its ocean ships.

Celebrity Compass will have 86 cabins in five boutique stateroom categories. Every cabin will have a king-sized bed.

The ship will also have the Magic Edge platform, where passengers can dine above the river. The platform will have cantilevered dining pods, which Celebrity describes as the first of their kind on a river ship.

The food served there will be inspired by the destinations on the cruise.

An infinity-edge plunge pool will be located at the aft of the ship. Passengers will also have access to open-air bars and lounges.

The ship will include some familiar Celebrity venues, including Café al Bacio, Martini Bar and Sunset Bar.

Celebrity says its river ships will have eight restaurants and bars in total, more than any other river cruise line in the world.

The ship will have a lightweight hull designed for river navigation. It will also use a hybrid propulsion system and technology designed to reduce noise and vibration.

The company says the hull will give the vessel a versatile design for sailing on rivers.

Rhine and Danube Routes

Celebrity’s river cruise programme will cover the Rhine and Danube rivers. Planned destinations include Alsace, Budapest, Prague and Vienna.

The company says the ships will combine the design used on its ocean fleet with experiences focused on the destinations they visit.

Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, said the float-out was an important step as the company develops Celebrity River Cruises.

Hodges Bethge said the company wants to combine design, hospitality and destination-focused experiences on its river cruises.

References: aol, cruisecritic