Celebrity Compass floats out ahead of 2027 river debut
Celebrity River Cruises’ first ship has reached a construction milestone before planned sailings on the Danube and Rhine.
Celebrity River Cruises announced that Celebrity Compass floated out on September 12, 2026, advancing preparations for the brand’s scheduled river cruise debut in August 2027.
The float-out process began September 9 at the Zwijnenburg shipyard in Rotterdam. The vessel then traveled 80 kilometers by river to TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden, arriving September 12.
Celebrity Compass is scheduled to begin seven-day river voyages in August 2027, initially sailing the Danube between Budapest, Hungary, and Vilshofen, Germany. Rhine itineraries are also planned. Celebrity Seeker is due to enter service in October 2027, followed by the addition of Rhine sailings in December.
The company’s planned 2028 expansion includes Celebrity Wanderer in April, Celebrity Roamer in July and Celebrity Boundless in September. Parent company Royal Caribbean Group said that, as of June 30, 2026, binding construction agreements had been completed for the first four vessels in Celebrity River Cruises’ initial 10-ship order.
Planned features aboard Celebrity Compass include open decks providing 360-degree views, Magic Edge cantilevered dining pods and an infinity-edge plunge pool. The vessel is also designed with hybrid propulsion intended to limit noise and vibration, along with a lightweight hull structure planned to support navigation.