- There has been a lot of focus on Royal Caribbean’s big river cruise play in 2027.
- But the ocean line’s foray isn’t the only one.
- All the lines are growing their fleets to meet a tidal wave of demand.
River cruise is booming. As we first reported back in March this year, many lines are reporting record interest. In 2025, bookings in Europe were well over 80% even before the start of the season. In recent months, most of the major lines have announced new ships for the 2027 river cruise season, boosting capacity with as many as eight additional vessels. New itineraries and special early booking access are further proof that river cruising shows no signs of slowing down.
These are the new ships to look out for in 2027.
AmaWaterways
This week, AmaWaterways announced an order for eight new European river ships, to be launched by 2030. They will bring the total fleet to 40 ships – double their vessel count from 2020. “Our expanding fleet is a direct response to the strong demand from guests eager to discover river cruising and Europe’s beautiful rivers,” said Catherine Powell, CEO of AmaWaterways. Specific details and destinations have yet to be revealed.
These ships come on top of AmaWaterways’ 2025 launches; AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia in Colombia, and AmaSintra in Portugal. Currently under construction and launching in 2026 are AmaSofia, to sail the Rhine and Danube, and AmaMaya on the Mekong. In 2027, the line will launch AmaRudi, a twin to the double-wide AmaMagna, and AmaFiora, both sailing in Europe.
Celebrity River Cruises
The brand-new river line from Celebrity Cruises will launch its first two ships in 2027, with eight more to follow by 2029. The revolutionary Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker will sail the Rhine and Danube, carrying 180 passengers. The will have open decks with more outside space than any other river ship, infinity edge swimming pools, six restaurants (including the only 24/7 dining options on these rivers) and unique cantilevered dining pods that jut out over the side of the ship.
Viking
The world’s largest river cruise line, Viking continues to expand each year and will have a total of 112 river ships around the world by 2028. In February, Viking announced a further eight of their signature Longships to be built by their long-standing partner, German shipyard Neptune Werft. The ships will sail in Europe and launch in 2027 and 2028. They also represent an enhanced commitment to sustainability, with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system that significantly reduces fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
Viking is currently rolling out 10 European ships that were commissioned in 2023, with five launching in 2025 and five in 2026. Two new ships launched in Egypt this year, Viking Amun and Viking Thoth, with five more to come on the Nile in the next two years. The 80-passenger Viking Brahmaputra is currently under construction and will launch the line’s first ever Indian river cruises in late 2027.
Tauck
In response to “unprecedented guest demand” Tauck will launch to European ships in 2027, one on the Seine and one on the Douro. In France, the as-yet-unnamed vessel will be sister ship to Serene and feature the same expanded wellness area, The Retreat. The Douro River ship will mirror the design of MS Andorinha, which launched in 2021. “Every detail on these new ships has been designed to elevate the guest experience while cruising along two of Europe’s most storied rivers,” said Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh. Reservations for 2027 sailings are already open.
Two new Tauck ships will launch in France in 2026, cruising the Seine and Rhone rivers. The line also boosted capacity on the Seine this year with the redeployment of MS Esprit, which was originally based in Central Europe.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
It’s been a long time between new ships for Uniworld. The line – which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 – hasn’t launched a new build vessel since 2021. In 2027, three of their signature Super Ships will start sailing the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. These luxurious new vessels will take their inspiration from historic figures linked to the region. “2027 will mark an extraordinary milestone for Uniworld as we complete our transformation into a fully Super Ship fleet with the addition of three incredible new builds,” said President and CEO Ellen Bettridge. “Our focus has never been on simply adding more ships, but on continually raising the bar on the luxury river cruise experience.”
In 2026, Uniworld will launch the S.S. Emilie on the Danube. The newly built ship’s Art Nouveau interiors are inspired painter Gustav Klimt and the name comes from his partner and muse Emilie Floge. Uniworld also launched S.S. Elisabeth in 2025, one of two ships acquired from European hotel group Seaside Collection.
Emerald Cruises
Emerald will add just one new ship to the fleet in 2027, Emerald Lumi. It’s the line’s first ship purpose built to sail the Seine, with round-trip itineraries from Paris and French-inspired cuisine and wine on board. She joins Emerald Astra, which will start sailing the Rhine, Moselle and Danube in 2026. In recent weeks, Emerald Cruises also announced they have already opened pre-bookings for the 2027 season – the earliest release in their history. “Travellers are booking further out and seeking fresh ways to experience Europe with comfort and style,” said Ken Muskat, president of Scenic Group, USA/LATAM.
Where are we sailing on a 2027 river cruise?
The expansion is not without its challenges. Docking space has been a contentious issue for many years. When Viking Cruises CEO Torstein Hagen spoke at the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) River Expo, he acknowledges that docking space is a “critical resource” and takes time to develop. Instead of oversaturating existing ports – especially smaller ones – new destinations could be on the horizon.
AmaWaterways co-founder and chief brand ambassador Kristen Karst said the key would lie in the partnerships forged with the small communities. “We want to make sure that we do partnerships with villages and countries in the most meaningful, purposeful way, and that, of course, our achievements become their achievements.” Look for lines expanding their itineraries away from the Rhine and Danube, cruising more in Holland and Belgium, along the Moselle, and even into Italy’s Po River.
Many lines are also expanding their offering outside of Europe, launching new ships and itineraries in Asia, Egypt, South America and Africa.
AmaWaterways is leading the charge to new frontiers, becoming the first line to offer overnight itineraries on Colombia’s Magdalena River on two ships that launched this year. “We’ve seen strong bookings for Colombia coming out of Australia and New Zealand this year, with travel advisors telling us this has been very appealing to their well-travelled clients who have been everywhere and done everything,” said Steve Richards, the Managing Director of AmaWaterways.
Abercrombie & Kent is seeing increased interest in China’s Yangtze River from Australian travellers. “River cruising is not always front of mind for travellers when planning a trip to China; however, the opportunity to explore the storied Yangtze River in comfort aboard an all-balcony river cruiser is music to the ears,” said Michelle Micken, the Head of Marketing at Abercrombie & Kent.
