Century Cruises to Launch Century Diamond on Rhine in 2027

Century Cruises plans to introduce Century Diamond on the Rhine in August 2027, with capacity for up to 174 guests. The new river ship will primarily sail eight-day itineraries between Basel and Amsterdam.

Century Diamond will be the second of four new vessels planned for the company’s European fleet. Its announcement follows the inaugural Danube voyage of Century Star, the first ship in that program.

The 135-meter vessel will be built by Concordia Damen Shipbuilding in Werkendam, the Netherlands, with gross tonnage of approximately 2,900. It will have 76 cabins and suites across four decks.

The ship will use hybrid diesel-electric propulsion, and approximately 60 percent of the steel used in its construction will be recycled material.

The European ships take the Chongqing-based company beyond the Yangtze, where its cruises generally run between Chongqing and Yichang through the Three Gorges.

David Fredericks, Century Cruises’ president and general manager for the Americas, said the European ships were designed specifically for North American and European travelers. “We are bringing two worlds together, East and West, the Yangtze and the great rivers of Europe,” Fredericks said.

The company calls its interior design approach “Rivers Intertwined.” Fredericks credited Thomas Rooch and the Century One team in Basel with putting that concept into practice.

Century Diamond’s main restaurant will take its design cues from Germany’s Black Forest, incorporating details drawn from the brand’s Chinese roots. The lounge will use a traditional Viennese coffeehouse as its model, with artwork drawing on the company’s Asian origins.

Dining will include regional dishes and locally sourced wines and beers from destinations along the itineraries. The menus will also feature a Chinese dish as a connection to Century’s Yangtze operations.

Selected departures will extend beyond the standard Rhine route to other waterways within Century’s European program.