by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 1:35 PM ET, Mon September 14, 2026
Celebrity Cruises’ first river cruise ship has completed its float out, marking a major construction milestone ahead of the launch of the line’s new river cruise operation in August 2027.
Celebrity Compass began the multi-day float out process at the Zwijnenburg shipyard in Rotterdam on September 9. After entering the water, the ship traveled approximately 50 miles along the river before arriving on September 12 at the TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden, where construction will continue.
The float-out marks the completion of the ship’s exterior construction and the first time Celebrity Compass has touched water. The ship will be the first vessel in Celebrity River Cruises, which will offer itineraries on some of Europe’s major rivers starting next year.
Celebrity Cruises is positioning the new river ships around the same contemporary design and hospitality concepts found across its ocean fleet. Celebrity Compass will feature open decks with 360-degree views, along with a cantilevered dining area called the Magic Edge and an infinity-edge plunge pool.
The ship will have five categories of staterooms, with king-sized beds, additional storage and balconies. Dining and bar venues will include eight restaurants and bars, among them the Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Café Al Bacio. Celebrity also says the ship will offer complimentary breakfast room service and all-day dining, including 24/7 meal options.
Celebrity Compass will also feature a lightweight hull designed to improve river navigation and a hybrid propulsion system intended to reduce noise and vibration.
“The float out of Celebrity Compass is a defining milestone as we bring our vision for Celebrity River Cruises to life,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “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.”
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