This milestone marks the completion of the vessel’s exterior construction and the first time the ship has touched water, bringing the brand one step closer to launching a new premium river cruise experience when Celebrity Compass sets sail in August 2027.
As the inaugural ship in the fleet, Celebrity Compass introduces Celebrity Cruises’ signature approach to elevated travel on the world’s iconic rivers, combining contemporary design, exceptional hospitality, destination-focused experiences and industry-leading innovation.
The multi-day float out process began at Zwijnenburg shipyard in Rotterdam on Wednesday, September 9. Following a successful float out, Celebrity Compass then traveled her first 80 kilometers on the river, arriving at TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden on Saturday, September 12.
“The float out of Celebrity Compass is a defining milestone as we bring our vision for Celebrity River Cruises to life,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “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.”
Get To Know Celebrity’s New River Cruise Fleet:
Revolutionary open decks expand guests’ horizons. Celebrity River Cruises features the intuitive design the brand is known for on the ocean, connecting guests to the world around them like never before. Revolutionary open decks immerse vacationers in each destination with uninterrupted, 360-degree views. Guests can dine floating above the river on the Magic Edge — the first-ever cantilevered dining pods on a river — while enjoying regional, destination-driven culinary offerings. An infinity-edge plunge pool invites guests to cool off while taking in the sights.
Uniquely elegant staterooms offer more room to vacation. Innovative stateroom design delivers intuitive storage, enhanced configurations, king-sized beds in every stateroom and spacious balconies to make guests feel at home on the river. Five boutique stateroom categories, each bathed in natural light, are designed not just for staying but for living with residential interior design.
More flavors to savor on the river. Designed for every mood and any taste, guests will enjoy flavorful dining at eight restaurants and bars — including Celebrity-favorite venues Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Café Al Bacio — offering the most choice and variety on the river, all served with the unmatched hospitality Celebrity Cruises is known for. Guests can savor the day on their own time with complimentary breakfast room service and flexible, all-day dining access that offers the only 24/7 meal options on the river.
Industry-leading ship design. With an unrivaled exterior profile, Celebrity River Cruises will turn heads while maintaining respect for the scenery and history of destinations. An innovative hull delivers a lightweight, versatile design that improves river navigation, while a best-in-class hybrid propulsion system and advanced technology reduce noise and vibration.
