Celebrity Compass Floats Out Ahead of 2027 Danube Debut
The one hundred seventy-two-passenger vessel will have eighty-six staterooms and six dining venues, with Martini Bar and Cafe al Bacio carried over from ocean ships.
Updated September 24, 2026
Celebrity Cruises’ first river ship, Celebrity Compass, has completed its float-out in the Netherlands. It is now at TeamCo’s fitting-out yard in Heusden ahead of an August 2027 debut on the Rhine. The float-out completed the ship’s exterior construction and put it in the water for the first time.
The hull entered the water at Zwijnenburg’s Rotterdam shipyard on Sept. 9, 2026. It then traveled approximately 80 kilometers, or 50 miles, by river before arriving at TeamCo Shipyard on Sept. 12.
The ship will accommodate up to 180 passengers and is the first vessel in Celebrity’s planned European river fleet, which is expected to reach 20 ships by 2031.
Celebrity disclosed its river cruise plans in January 2025 with an initial commitment for 10 ships. It added another 10-vessel commitment in January 2026, when construction of the first hull began. As of June 30, Royal Caribbean Group had signed binding construction agreements covering the first four ships from the initial order.
Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty has described the river product as part of the company’s effort to deepen guest loyalty across its brands. “We’re effectively miniaturizing an Edge Class ship and putting it on River,” Liberty said, adding that the group has high ambitions for the business.
Fitting-out and onboard design
Zwijnenburg built the first hull at its Rotterdam shipyard under contract to TeamCo, which will complete the ship’s interiors in Heusden. Celebrity Compass measures approximately 135 meters, or 443 feet, and has four decks, including three passenger decks.
The vessel will have 86 cabins across five boutique stateroom categories. Every cabin will have a king-sized bed. Celebrity says its river ships will feature open decks and 360-degree views. Design elements and venues from its ocean ships will also carry over.
Celebrity Compass will have eight restaurants and bars, including Cafe al Bacio, Martini Bar and Sunset Bar. The Magic Edge platform will provide dining above the river in cantilevered pods, with menus inspired by destinations along the itinerary. An infinity-edge plunge pool will be located at the aft, while open-air bars and lounges will provide additional outdoor spaces.
Celebrity says the lightweight hull is designed for river navigation and to support operations during low-water conditions. The ship will also use a hybrid propulsion system and technology intended to reduce noise and vibration. Low water affected cruise and commercial shipping on sections of the Rhine and Danube during 2026.
Rhine debut and fleet rollout
Celebrity Seeker is also due to enter service in 2027, joining the program in October, with further Rhine itineraries beginning in December before the inaugural season concludes around New Year’s. The wider river program will cover the Rhine and Danube, with planned destinations including Alsace, Budapest, Prague and Vienna. Celebrity Wanderer is expected to arrive in April 2028, followed by Celebrity Roamer in July and Celebrity Boundless in September.
Royal Caribbean Group executives have also said they would consider extending river cruising to other brands within the company. Zwijnenburg expects the second river ship hull to follow the first within 12 weeks.
