Celebrity River Cruises

Celebrity River Cruises (CelebrityCruises.com/int/river) is a division of Celebrity Cruises that manages luxury riverboats deployed year-round in Europe.

In January 2025, the parent company, Royal Caribbean Group/RCG, established and launched the new brand "Celebrity River Cruises". It is managed under the Celebrity Cruises umbrella and operates exclusively in Europe.

Celebrity Cruises and Celebrity River Cruises' President and CEO is Laura Hodges Bethge (formerly Executive VP), who succeeded Lisa Lutoff-Perlo in May 2023. Lutoff-Perlo now serves as Vice Chair and External Affairs Officer for RCG. Michael Scheiner is Celebrity's Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), and Tim Jones is the VP and Managing Director for Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia Pacific region.

As of February 2025, Claire Stirrup is Celebrity Cruises' Managing Director for the UK and EMEA. She manages the regional day-to-day operations, sales, and marketing, reporting to Giles Hawke (VP of International).

Celebrity's river cruise fleet comprises only newbuild ships.

On January 29th, 2026, the initial plan for a 10-ship river fleet was officially expanded to a 20-ship fleet by 2031. The announcement was made during the steel-cutting ceremony of the first boat, Celebrity Compass.

Revenue operations are scheduled to start in 2027 with two boats (Compass, Seeker).

Four more boats (Celebrity Wanderer, Celebrity Roamer, Celebrity Boundless, and TBN) are planned for launch in 2028.

Another four vessels (TBN) are slated for 2029.

The other boats are planned for deliveries by 2031.

Celebrity's river ship design is influenced by the company's EDGE-Class ships.

Bookings for the inaugural season (2027) opened on September 25th, 2025. Bookings with a fully refundable deposit of US$500 received early booking access to all scheduled for 2027 river voyages (33 total). The remaining inventory was opened for booking on September 25th.

Bookings for season 2028 opened on January 29h, 2026. The additional voyages represented an 80% increase in destinations compared with 2027.

Celebrity River Cruises fares are inclusive of all onboard meals, unlimited beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), Wi-Fi connectivity, organized onboard events and entertainment, and one guided shore excursion/land tour each day.

Available for optional purchase are pre- or post-cruise packages with (transportation and overnight hotel stays) in Prague (Czechia) and Budapest (Hungary).

Celebrity's loyalty program "Captain's Club"

In June 2021, Celebrity's "Captain's Club" loyalty program for returning guests was updated to include:

• Onboard events such as the "Captain's Club Sneak Peek Series" (ship tour with cocktail sampling), "Create and Pour" (wine tasting), Welcome Parties (outdoor events at the Lawn Club and Rooftop Garden), and "Captain's Club Cocktail Hour" (complimentary drinks daily between 5-7 PM at all bars and lounges).
• Spa discounts: 10% off for Select and Elite members, and 15–20% off for Elite Plus and Zenith members. Discounts exclude MedSpa and Spa Retail items. Elite and higher-tier members also receive complimentary Persian Garden access on a port day of their choice.
• Photo discounts: 25–50% off all photo packages (up to US$300 off Studio Packages). New offerings include green screen photo sessions (with changing background scenery), as well as aerial and 360-degree photography.
• Laundry packages (on select voyages only), including the "Evening Chic" dry cleaning service (US$35 for up to 8 items), with an optional unlimited pressing add-on for US$20 (valid for the entire cruise).
• Internet discounts: 10–35% off all Internet packages, plus bonus minutes for Elite and Elite Plus members. An extra 10% discount (combinable) is offered with pre-cruise booking. Zenith members receive the Stream package (for one mobile device) complimentary.
• Beverage package discounts: 5–10% off when upgrading from "Classic" to "Premium" (if purchased pre-cruise). Zenith members receive the "Premium Beverage Package" complimentary.
• Wine discounts: 20% off per bottle on all wine brands sold onboard. Zenith members also receive one complimentary dinner per voyage at a specialty restaurant, including complimentary wine and flowers.

The Captain's Club loyalty tiers for ocean travel also extend to river voyages with the company. River cruise bookings add 18 points (Suites), 12 points (Balcony), and 8 points (Infinite Balcony and Riverview).

Celebrity river cruise fares are per stateroom (based on double occupancy) and inclusive of unlimited beverages (wine by the glass, beer, cocktails, premium coffee and tea, soft drinks, in-room filtered water) and one land tour/guided shore excursion per day. Wireless audio systems are available for use during the excursions.

Homeports (embarkation/debarkation) ports used by Celebrity's boats include Budapest (Hungary), Prague (Czechia), Vienna (Austria), Bucharest (Romania), Basel (Switzerland), and Amsterdam (Holland).

Inaugural tineraries (2027)

Next are listed the scheduled for 2027 itineraries (all are 7 nights/8 days in length) as themes and ports.

"THE DANUBE CRUISE - VIENNA & BUDAPEST" visits BUDAPEST (DAY 1-2/overnight), BRATISLAVA (DAY 3), HAINBURG and VIENNA (DAY 4), VIENNA (DAY 4-5/overnight), WACHAU VALLEY (passing) and MELK (DAY 6), ENGELHARTSZELL and VILSHOFEN (DAY 7) and ends in VILSHOFEN (DAY 7-8/overnight).

• In 2025 (early booking brochure pricing), the voyage was priced US$6,900 (VISTA BALCONY SUITE), US$5,900 (SKYLIGHT INFINITE BALCONY SUITE), US$5,100 (BALCONY), US$4,200 (INFINITE BALCONY), and US$3,000 (RIVERVIEW).

"THE DANUBE CHRISTMAS MARKETS CRUISE - VILSHOFEN TO BUDAPEST" visits VILSHOFEN and PASSAU (DAY 1), PASSAU/SALZBURG (DAY 1-2/overnight), LINZ (DAY 3), MELK, WACHAU VALLEY scenic cruising and VIENNA (DAY 4), VIENNA (DAY 4-5/overnight), BRATISLAVA (DAY 6) and ends in BUDAPEST (DAY 7-8/overnight).

"THE DANUBE CHRISTMAS MARKETS CRUISE - BUDAPEST TO NUREMBERG" visits BUDAPEST (DAY 1), BRATISLAVA (DAY 2), VIENNA (DAY 3), WACHAU VALLEY passing and MELK (DAY 4), PASSAU/SALZBURG (DAY 5), REGENSBURG (DAY 6), and ends in NUREMBERG (DAY 7-8/overnight)

• In 2025 (early booking brochure pricing), these Xmas-themed voyages were priced US$8,600 (VISTA BALCONY SUITE), US$7,200 (SKYLIGHT INFINITE BALCONY SUITE), US$6,000 (BALCONY), US$4,800 (INFINITE BALCONY), and US$3,300 (RIVERVIEW).

"THE DANUBE CHRISTMAS MARKETS CRUISE - NUREMBERG TO BUDAPEST" visits NUREMBERG (DAY 1-2/overnight), REGENSBURG (DAY 3), LINZ/SALZBURG (DAY 4), MELK, WACHAU VALLEY cruising and VIENNA (DAY 5), VIENNA (DAY 5-6/overnight), and ends in BUDAPEST (DAY 7-8/overnight).

• In 2025 (early booking brochure pricing), the voyage was priced US$9,000 (VISTA BALCONY SUITE), US$7,600 (SKYLIGHT INFINITE BALCONY SUITE), US$6,400 (BALCONY), US$5,200 (INFINITE BALCONY), and US$3,700 (RIVERVIEW).

"THE RHINE NEW YEAR'S CRUISE - NUREMBERG TO AMSTERDAM" visits NUREMBERG (DAY 1), BAMBERG (DAY 2), WURZBURG (DAY 3), MILTENBERG (DAY 4), KOBLENZ (DAY 5), COLOGNE (DAY 6), and ends in AMSTERDAM (DAY 7-8/overnight).

"THE RHINE HOLIDAY CRUISE - NUREMBERG TO BASEL" visits NUREMBERG (DAY 1), BAMBERG (DAY 2), WURZBURG (DAY 3), MILTENBERG (DAY 4), MAINZ (DAY 5), STRASBOURG (DAY 6), BREISACH (DAY 7), and ends in BASEL (DAY 8).

"THE RHINE NEW YEAR'S CRUISE - BASEL TO AMSTERDAM" visits BASEL (DAY 1), BREISACH (DAY 2), STRASBOURG (DAY 3), SPEYER/HEIDELBERG (DAY 4), MAINZ (DAY 5), DUSSELDORF (DAY 6), and ends in AMSTERDAM (DAY 7-8/overnight).

• In 2025 (early booking brochure pricing), these voyages were priced US$6,900 (VISTA BALCONY SUITE), US$5,900 (SKYLIGHT INFINITE BALCONY SUITE), US$5,100 (BALCONY), US$4,200 (INFINITE BALCONY), and US$3,000 (RIVERVIEW).

Itineraries 2028

Celebrity's 2028 river cruise schedule comprises 160+ voyages visiting 50+ European destinations. The itineraries are on the Rhine through Alsace’s wine country, Danube sailings to Budapest and its historic market halls, and routes that start in Prague and end in Vienna.

The 2028 itineraries added 24 new ports, including Lower Danube routes and the first overnight land stay in Bucharest (Romania). The season also expanded special voyages around spring (tulip blooms) and winter (Christmas markets).

Lower Danube itineraries (6 sailings) travelling from Bucharest through the Iron Gates gorge and into destinations where natural scenery and regional history intersect, with overnight stays in the Romanian capital either before or after the cruise.

The 60+ Rhine cruise routes are between Basel and Amsterdam, passing through traditional towns (such as Strasbourg/Kehl, Breisach, and Rudesheim) and featuring scenic cruising by vineyards and castles.

Upper Danube routes link Regensburg or Nuremberg with Budapest, visiting cities in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Selected departures are timed to coincide with Straubing's folk festival, Gaubodenvolksfest.

Seasonal programs include Dutch waterways (tulip blossom/spring-time) cruises between Brussels and Amsterdam, visiting Lisse's Keukenhof Gardens, Kinderdijk's windmills, and Maastricht's medieval architecture. Christmas Market cruises on the Rhine (between Basel and Amsterdam) visit festive cities such as Mainz, Strasbourg, and Heidelberg.