Celebrity Cruises is making waves in the river cruise industry with an exciting new venture - introducing a fleet of 10 luxury river cruise ships. Set to launch in 2027, these ships will bring the signature elegance and modern design of Celebrity Cruises' renowned Edge Series ocean liners to some of Europe’s most breathtaking waterways.
While details are still under wraps, the announcement comes as Celebrity Cruises’ parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, shared its financial results for 2024. The company promises that this move will redefine river cruising, offering travellers a fresh and luxurious way to explore historic cities along iconic rivers. Bookings are expected to open later this year.
A statement from Celebrity Cruises highlighted that the first 10 ships will introduce a transformative approach to river travel, blending cutting-edge design with immersive cultural experiences. More details on destinations, onboard features and shore excursions will be revealed in the coming months.
Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, expressed enthusiasm for this expansion, stating: “We’re thrilled to announce our entry into the river cruise market through our Celebrity Cruises premium travel brand.
“Our guests and travel partners should expect us to do what we do best - innovate and elevate the river cruise experience as we meet the growing demand for intimate, culturally enriching travel experiences.
“With about half of our guests having experience or intending to vacation on a river cruise, we know they will enjoy Celebrity’s elevated offering on the river.
“By leveraging our valuable loyalty programmes across our three brands, we will deepen customer engagement and further our ability to keep guests within our ecosystem of vacation offerings. We are the best in the world at delivering the vacation of a lifetime, and this is the latest example of how we are building the capabilities to deliver a lifetime of vacations.”
He also emphasised the opportunity to leverage Royal Caribbean’s loyalty programs, ensuring that guests continue to enjoy exceptional holidays across the company’s portfolio of brands.
Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises, added: “Celebrity River Cruises will bring the quality and sophistication of our Edge Series ocean ships to the most iconic rivers, starting with Europe.
“We’ve redefined travel on the ocean with our best-in-class hospitality, award-winning food and beverage experiences, and elevated design and style.
“We are thrilled to bring these experiences to the river and combine them with authentic, destination-rich itineraries that will give our guests an experience unlike any other.”
Celebrity Cruises’ expansion into river cruising is expected to shake up the market. Giles Hawke, Vice President and Managing Director for the UK, Ireland and EMEA, shared his excitement: “It’s really exciting for river cruise and Celebrity Cruises.
“We feel there’s a big opportunity for us in this market. We know our trader partners will love having Celebrity Cruises river cruises to sell, and we know our customers will love it too.”
