Celebrity Compass completes float out in Rotterdam

Celebrity Cruises has reached a major construction milestone with the successful float out of the Celebrity Compass, the first vessel in its new Celebrity River Cruises fleet. The float out, marking the completion of the ship’s exterior construction, took place on September 9 at the Zwijnenburg shipyard in Rotterdam.

Following the launch, the ship traveled approximately 80 kilometers by river to reach the TeamCo shipyard in Heusden for the next phase of production. The Celebrity Compass is scheduled to begin its inaugural voyages on the Rhine and Danube rivers in August 2027.

The new vessel is designed to bring ocean-cruise amenities to river travel, featuring 86 staterooms, eight restaurants and bars, and industry-first innovations such as Magic Edge cantilevered dining pods and an infinity-edge plunge pool. The ship will also utilize hybrid propulsion and a specialized hull designed to reduce noise and vibration during river navigation. Celebrity Cruises plans to expand its river fleet to 20 ships by 2031.