Celebrity River Cruises

Celebrity Cruises Announces Entry into River Cruise Market with Celebrity River Cruises

Celebrity Cruises is embarking on a new chapter in its history by announcing the launch of Celebrity River Cruises, a premium river cruise line set to redefine travel on the world’s iconic rivers. The brand will begin taking bookings this year for an initial fleet of 10 transformative ships, designed to combine the elevated sophistication of Celebrity’s Edge Series ocean ships with the intimacy and cultural immersion of river cruising.

Launching in Europe, Celebrity River Cruises will take travelers to the heart of historic cities, offering locally inspired cuisine, unique shore experiences, and breathtaking 360-degree views. By merging innovation with Celebrity’s signature hospitality, the new venture promises to deliver unforgettable journeys—The Celebrity Way.

Innovation Meets Demand

“We’re thrilled to announce our entry into the river cruise market through our Celebrity Cruises premium travel brand,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “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 approximately half of Celebrity’s ocean cruise guests having either experienced or expressed interest in river cruising, Liberty highlighted the strategic value of the expansion. “By leveraging our valuable loyalty programs 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.”

The Celebrity Way on the River

Celebrity River Cruises will bring the premium quality, design, and sophistication of the Edge Series to river cruising, creating a new benchmark for this category of travel. Guests can expect immersive itineraries through culturally and historically significant destinations, complemented by Celebrity’s award-winning hospitality and culinary excellence.

Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises, shared her enthusiasm for the brand’s latest innovation: “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 ocean travel 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.”

A New Era of River Cruising

The introduction of Celebrity River Cruises marks a natural evolution for the Celebrity brand, which has consistently set new standards in luxury travel. With an eye on delivering culturally enriching and immersive experiences, Celebrity River Cruises will allow travelers to explore the heart of Europe and beyond with the style and service that have become synonymous with the Celebrity name.

Celebrity Cruises continues to cement its reputation as a leader in innovation and hospitality as the brand prepares to launch this premium river cruise offering. The river cruise market will never be the same for those seeking intimate, enriching, and unforgettable travel experiences.