Celebrity River Cruises has reached a major milestone with the launch of Celebrity Compass. The first river cruise ship from Celebrity Cruises has been moved from the building dock into the water at TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden, the Netherlands, where work will continue over the coming months ahead of her debut on Europe’s rivers in 2027.
The launch marks an important stage in the construction of a new ship. With work in the building dock completed, much of the remaining outfitting can now take place while the ship is afloat. For TeamCo Shipyard, it is also an important step in a major construction programme for Celebrity River Cruises, which is ultimately planned to comprise twenty ships.
Celebrity Cruises announced its entry into the river cruise industry in 2025. The original order covered ten ships, but the fleet was expanded by another ten in January 2026. By 2031, Celebrity River Cruises aims to operate a fleet of twenty river cruise ships in Europe.
Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker are the first two ships scheduled to enter service in 2027. They will be followed by Celebrity Wanderer, Celebrity Roamer and Celebrity Boundless, among others, which will join the fleet from 2028.
The first ship features a design that reflects the contemporary style of Celebrity Cruises while being specifically developed for cruising Europe’s rivers. Outdoor space is a key element of the concept. Celebrity Compass will feature spacious open decks that remain accessible throughout the journey, giving guests expansive views of the surrounding scenery.
The upper deck will feature several areas for relaxing outdoors, alongside a bar and grill and an infinity plunge pool. One of the most distinctive features will be the Magic Edge. These floating dining pods will give guests the opportunity to dine above the river while the ship is underway.
The accommodation is another important element of the design. Celebrity River Cruises has announced five stateroom categories, all featuring natural light, residentially inspired interiors and king-size beds. Depending on the category, guests will have access to a balcony or one of several variations of the Infinite Balcony concept, bringing the outdoors further into the living space.
The suites will offer additional amenities, including personal butler service through Butler Chat, exclusive dining experiences, room service and priority access to selected excursions. All guests will also benefit from a stocked minibar and amenities including luxury linens, bathrobes and slippers.
The culinary offering will also play an important role aboard the new river ships. Celebrity River Cruises will feature eight restaurants and bars, including familiar names from the ocean fleet such as Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Café al Bacio. Menus will reflect the destinations along the way and change throughout the journey, with regional ingredients and dishes forming part of the experience.
For its first cruises, Celebrity River Cruises is focusing on the Rhine and Danube. In 2027, the programme will feature 33 seven-night sailings, visiting multiple destinations on each itinerary. From 2028, the offering will expand significantly, with more than 160 sailings to over fifty destinations across Europe.
The programme will also introduce new itineraries and seasonal experiences. On the Lower Danube, one itinerary will include an overnight stay in Bucharest, while other cruises will follow the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basel. During the Dutch tulip season, sailings between Brussels and Amsterdam will include visits to destinations such as Keukenhof and Kinderdijk. Christmas market cruises will also form part of the programme.
Celebrity River Cruises is also placing greater emphasis on spending time in the destinations themselves. The company has previously announced several types of local experiences, allowing guests to explore cities and regions with local residents, artists, craftspeople and other destination experts. Multi-night stays before or after the river cruise are also part of the offering. In 2027, these will be available in Prague and Budapest, followed by Amsterdam and Lausanne in 2028.
Celebrity Cruises’ expansion into river cruising therefore goes beyond the introduction of a new class of ships. The company is simultaneously developing a new portfolio of itineraries, excursions and extended stays across Europe’s rivers. The ships form the centrepiece of a programme that is set to grow considerably over the coming years.
For Celebrity Compass, the next phase of construction is now underway. Following the launch, the ship will continue to be fitted out and technically completed before the final preparations for entering service begin. In 2027, the ship is scheduled to welcome her first guests alongside Celebrity Seeker.
Pictures Celebrity Cruises.
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