Celebrity River Cruises priority booking access opens tomorrow

• Priority Booking Access for Celebrity River Cruises opening at 11pm on September 3.
• Bookings will be allocated based on Captain’s Club loyalty status.
• Celebrity will launch two ships on the Rhine and Danube in 2027, and a total of 10 ships by 2029.

The wait for Celebrity River Cruises is (almost) over. Australian travellers can secure Priority Booking Access from 11pm tomorrow night with a refundable deposit of $800 per cabin.

Don’t start packing your suitcase just yet – the deposit doesn’t actually guarantee a booking. From September 9, Celebrity will begin converting those deposits into reservations based on Captain’s Club loyalty status. These first cruises will be on the Rhine and Danube rivers, though sailing dates and specific itineraries are yet to be released.

Celebrity carries more than eight million cruisers each year and has a database of 35 million, so expect a lot of people online when Priority Booking Access opens. And with just two ships launching in 2027, it could be some time before you’re river cruising with Celebrity.

“With about half of our guests having experienced or intending to vacation on a river cruise, we know they will enjoy Celebrity’s elevated offering on the river,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

“There’s an avalanche of demand. Celebrity’s waitlist…and the calls to the call centre…” Liberty told Seatrade. “It goes back to trust. They trust we’ll be able to deliver an elevated experience.”

This unusual system is in place because Celebrity Cruises is anticipating a high level of interest in its river cruises. It’s the first mainstream ocean line to launch a dedicated river cruise arm and expects people will be eager to get on board, even without knowing many of the details.

To join the Priority Booking Access list, click here.

Celebrity River Cruises – what we know so far

The ocean and expedition line has kept the details of its river cruises to a minimum. The ships will carry around 180 passengers, making them some of the largest on the European rivers. The design will be inspired by the innovative Edge series of ocean vessels. Deck plans, stateroom categories and on board facilities have yet to be announced.

“Celebrity River Cruises will bring the quality and sophistication of our Edge Series ocean ships to the most iconic rivers, starting with Europe,” said Celebrity Cruises president Laura Hodges Bethge.

“We’ve redefined travel on the ocean with our best-in-class hospitality, award-winning food and beverage experiences, and elevated design and style. We are thrilled to bring these experiences to the river and combine them with authentic, destination-rich itineraries that will give our guests an experience unlike any other.”

The first itineraries will cruise the Rhine and Danube rivers with the option to add pre- or post-cruise stays in Prague and Budapest. With an initial order of 10 ships to be launched in stages until 2029, expect more rivers around the world to be announced.

The on board experience will mirror that of Celebrity’s ocean ships, promising their ‘unique service-first approach’. Selected alcoholic drinks throughout the day (not just at meal times), Wi-Fi and one shore excursion per port will be included in the fare, which is a departure from Celebrity’s ocean inclusions but in line with other river cruise operators.

Though river cruising typically skews towards an older demographic, many travel advisers are predicting Celebrity River Cruises will attract younger travellers. They will also welcome guests from as young as four years old, expanding the potential of river cruising for family market.

Celebrity has also teased the possibility of combining river and ocean cruises. With multiple ocean ships sailing in the Mediterranean and the rest of Europe during peak season, it would be simple for guests to transfer between two Celebrity vessels.