Celebrity’s 1st River Cruise Ship Floats Out

Celebrity Cruises has celebrated the successful float out of Celebrity Compass, the first ship in the Celebrity River Cruises fleet.  

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 of next year 

As the inaugural ship in the fleet, Celebrity Compass introduces Celebrity Cruises’ signature approach to elevated travel on the world’s iconic rivers. 

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 Celebrity Cruises president Laura Hodges Bethge. 

“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.”  

Here are some of the features that will make Celebrity River Cruises stand out: 

• 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, with intuitive storage, king-sized beds in every stateroom and spacious balconies. 
• Guests will enjoy flavourful dining at eight restaurants and bars — including Celebrity-favourite venues Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Café Al Bacio — offering the most choice and variety on the rivers.
• Passengers will enjoy complimentary breakfast room service and flexible, all-day dining access.  
• 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.