Celebrity will convey acquainted options to its river cruise enterprise: Travel Weekly

Though the ships will likely be smaller, they are going to really feel acquainted. 

Celebrity Cruises company who step onto Celebrity River Cruises’ 172-passenger vessels when the road debuts in 2027 will spy acquainted parts, together with the Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Cafe al Bacio. And journey advisors say this strategy, bringing aboard tried-and-true designs and venues Celebrity followers already know and love, will assist appeal to these shoppers to the river product.

Celebrity, which has sailed ocean cruises since 1988, earlier this month revealed the river line’s first Rhine and Danube itineraries. Its first two river ships — the Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker — are being modeled after Celebrity’s Edge-class ocean vessels. 

It was a purposeful option to create a cohesive model, stated Celebrity Cruises president Laura Hodges Bethge. 

“It’s important for us that we are Celebrity Cruises. Whether that’s the ocean or the river, we truly are Celebrity Cruises,” she stated. “So we took our favorites … those will all be sized down a little bit, more petite, than they are on the ocean.”

Compact measurement apart, the expertise and really feel would be the identical, Hodges Bethge stated, including that company can anticipate the identical degree of high quality and luxury of their rooms and what she referred to as the corporate’s “signature hospitality.”

Stephanie Goldberg-Glazer, founding father of Live Well, Travel Often in Key West, Fla., stated meaning Celebrity followers could have the issues they’re “used to having.”

“I think they’re trying to capture their current clientele that is used to sailing in the Aqua class and the Retreat, the higher-end rooms,” she stated. “They’re adding those things to appeal to their existing clientele as well as new clientele.” 

Missy Skoog, of Travel Leaders Market Square in Maple Grove, Minn., referred to as the leap from ocean to river “an easy conversion” for her shoppers given the reliability of the model, likening it to the crossover between Viking’s river and ocean product. 

Celebrity River Cruises ships could have a Cafe al Bacio onboard. Photo Credit: Celebrity River Cruises

Making some new Magic

Celebrity has signed an preliminary order of 10 river ships and can launch two in its first yr. The Celebrity Compass will debut in August 2027 with 5 itineraries, and the Celebrity Seeker will start crusing in October 2027 with seven itineraries. Both ships will sail the Rhine and Danube. 

A restricted variety of keen vacationers have been capable of get precedence entry to bookings by putting a $500 refundable deposit in early September. Those spots bought out in simply six minutes, Celebrity stated, demonstrating the piping-hot demand for its river product.

“It was like a Rolling Stones concert in the ’80s,” stated Goldberg-Glazer, who was capable of place a deposit for a consumer.

The Edge class is thought for its innovation, together with the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered platform venue.

Something related will likely be on the Seeker and Compass referred to as the Magic Edge, which Celebrity says would be the first cantilevered eating pod on a river ship. 

Hodges Bethge referred to as the brand new ships “the most innovative on the water” and stated the corporate is searching for patents for some designs, although she declined to debate specifics.

River cruise ships are restricted in measurement because of the locks and bridges they have to move on their sailings. But as a substitute of viewing this as a difficulty that have to be tolerated, Hodges Bethge stated the design staff considered it as a possibility to interrupt the mildew; the Compass and Seeker will every have an open sundeck with unobstructed views.

The plunge pool will likely be positioned on the aft of the Celebrity Compass. Photo Credit: Celebrity River Cruises

The plunge pool, as a substitute of being on the sundeck as regular, will likely be positioned one deck under on the aft. Everything positioned in entrance of the wheelhouse will likely be decrease down so visitor experiences there will not be interrupted by passing beneath a bridge or by means of a lock.

“Our guests have told us that they love coming to Europe with us,” she stated. “So we wanted to get them as close to the destination as we could, and we didn’t want that exterior to be closed down at any point during the process.” 

Goldberg-Glazer stated the renderings of the ships recommend that Celebrity is bringing inspiration from its Retreat suites, including that she thinks vacationers who love the Retreat will doubtless be drawn to the river cruises.

The ships could have eight eating places and bars, greater than what company sometimes see on river ships. In addition to the three venues replicated from the Edge-class ships, the vessels can even have a bar and grill, a spot to dine alfresco and a chef’s desk expertise, Hodges Bethge stated.

Food will likely be obtainable 24/7, and complimentary room service will likely be obtainable for breakfast throughout all room classes. Suites can have room service delivered for any meal at no further cost.

“One of our guest passion points is food and drink,” Hodges Bethge stated. “They expect really high quality — that also means variety.”

Skoog stated she anticipates the meals high quality to be the identical as on the ocean ships or higher. Hodges Bethge referred to as out the small galley — and lack of space for storing — as a possibility to reap the benefits of crusing within the coronary heart of Europe, the place cooks can often procure contemporary meals when the ship docks, enabling the crew to acquire “really fresh local ingredients and really drive great cuisine from the places that we’re at.”