Celebrity Cruises Announces Priority Booking Access for New River Cruises

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 12:25 PM ET, Tue August 19, 2025

Celebrity Cruises will open deposits for its inaugural 2027 river cruises next month.

Starting at 9 a.m. EDT on September 3, guests who make a fully refundable $500 deposit will receive early access to book a 2027 sailing ahead of the general public. The priority booking access also means guests will be among the first to receive itinerary and stateroom details.

“Guests will enjoy the warm hospitality Celebrity is known for, on innovative ships, with land experiences unlike any other, as we set sail on Europe’s iconic Danube and Rhine rivers,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity first announced its plans to launch river cruises in January. So far, the company has revealed few details about the new offerings, but says it plans to share more details in the future.

Celebrity plans to have ships sailing on the Danube and Rhine rivers in Europe, onboard a fleet of ships that blend the “elevated design and sophistication of Edge Series ocean ships with European charm,” according to the company.

Fares will include all meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, onboard experiences and one shore excursion each day. Guests will also have the option to add a pre- or post-cruise stay in Prague and Budapest when bookings open in 2026.

Celebrity is just one of the brands making the leap into river cruising, which is becoming increasingly popular. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions also recently announced that it will begin offering river cruises in 2026, with two new eight-day itineraries on the Rhine River.