Cruise Ship Celebrity Compass Launched is currently under construction as the first river cruise ship of Celebrity Cruises. The ship was launched on September 9, 2026, at the Zwijnenburg shipyard in Rotterdam and was transferred to the installation workshop. Celebrity Cruises predicts that this ship will enter service in August 2027, thus entering the European river cruise market.
Development of River Cruise Programs
In January 2025, Celebrity Cruises announced its intention to expand its operations to European river cruises and decided to build 10 new ships for this purpose. As of June 30, 2026, the parent company of this brand, Royal Caribbean Group, reported that contracts for the construction of the first four ships out of the initial ten had been signed. Additionally, in January 2026, Celebrity River Cruises announced a new commitment to build 10 additional ships, which will increase the river cruise fleet of this brand to 20 ships by 2031.
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Details of Ship Construction and Design
The construction of the hull of the Celebrity Compass began in January 2026, and on September 12, 2026, this ship, approximately 135 meters (443 feet) long and with a capacity of 170 passengers, was transferred to the TeamCo installation workshop in Heusden. The Celebrity Compass is designed to be lighter, which can help improve the ship's movement even in low water conditions. Celebrity Cruises also expects that the modern design of this ship will lead to a reduction in scheduled disruptions on cruise routes.
The new ships will include amenities such as six dining options and a bar and lounge area on the upper deck. The interior design of these ships features familiar spaces from ocean-going vessels, such as the Martini Bar, Café al Bacio, and Sunset Bar.
Each ship will have 86 passenger cabins, including 12 suites, 27 cabins with balconies, 31 cabins with “infinite” balconies, and 16 cabins with river views. Given the challenges that river cruises and commercial transport have faced this year due to low water levels in some rivers, including the Danube and Rhine, these ships are expected to be added to the European river cruise market.
The Royal Caribbean Group has announced that it may expand river cruise operations to its other brands in the future. This group is also evaluating new opportunities to expand its activities in this market due to its various brands, including the mainstream Royal Caribbean International and the luxury Silversea Cruises.
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