Celebrity Cruises is set to launch its inaugural European river trips in 2027, marking a significant expansion for the brand, which is primarily known for its large ocean-going ships. President Laura Hodges Bethge confirmed the introduction of 10 river vessels under the new brand, Celebrity River Cruises. With reservations opening in 2025, the company aims to tap into the river cruise market, catering to the high demand expressed by customers. The initial itineraries will likely include classic routes along the Danube, Rhine, and Rhone waterways, featuring iconic cities such as Budapest and Vienna.
This is a brand-new adventure for us," said Hodges Bethge, who has been with Celebrity's parent company for 25 years. "We've never dabbled in river [cruises] at the Royal Caribbean Group."
About half of our guests have experienced or intend to vacation on a river cruise, [so] we know they will enjoy Celebrity's elevated offering on the river," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, in a statement shared with T+L.
We will, over time, bring all of Europe's best rivers to our guests," Hodges Bethge told T+L. "You can extrapolate if you look at where all the other river cruise companies go: they're on the Danube, the Rhine, the Rhone.
The two biggest are the Danube and the Rhine, and it's realistic to start in the biggest places," she observed. "For us, it's making sure that we know exactly what's going to be the mo.
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