Celebrity Cruises’ First River Ship Floats for the First Time

Celebrity River Cruises celebrated the float-out of their first river ship this weekend at the Zwijnenburg shipyard in Rotterdam.

The float-out of Celebrity Compass marked a major construction milestone for the ship that will debut in August 2027. The ship will be the inaugural vessel in Celebrity’s premium fleet of river ships.

The multi-day float-out process began at Zwijnenburg shipyard in Rotterdam on Wednesday, September 9. Following a successful float-out, the ship then traveled her first 80 kilometers on the river, arriving at TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden on Saturday, September 12.

Celebrity River Cruises will offer revolutionary open decks with an intuitive design the cruise line is known for on the ocean. They will offer 360-degree views, and guests will be able to dine floating above the river on Magic Edge. Magic Edge will be the first-ever cantilevered dining pods on a river ship.

The ship will also have an infinity-edge plunge pool at the aft of the vessel.

Five boutique stateroom categories will be available to book, with a king-sized bed in every cabin.

Celebrity will have more restaurants and bars, eight in total, than any other river cruise line in the world. This includes the cruise line’s favorites Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Café Al Bacio.

An innovative hull will deliver a lightweight, versatile design for river navigation. The vessel will also have a hybrid propulsion system and advanced technology to reduce noise and vibration.

Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, gave the following statement:

“The float out of Celebrity Compass is a defining milestone as we bring our vision for Celebrity River Cruises to life. With Celebrity Compass, we’re reimagining river cruising The Celebrity Way, combining elevated design, exceptional hospitality, and destination-rich experiences to create a journey unlike any other on the river. As our inaugural ship enters the next phase of construction, we’re one step closer to welcoming guests aboard in 2027 and showing them a new way to discover the world’s iconic waterways.”