River Cruises might become the hot new thing in the next few years
Are we going to see river cruises become popular this decade?
They already exist, that’s true, and here at Famvia, we have guides and news on some of the best river cruise lines, like Viking and A-Rosa. However, river cruising is still considered niche, especially compared to traditional ocean cruises.
This is starting to change. The proof? Even major cruise lines that have traditionally focused solely on ocean cruises are now dipping their toes into the river cruise market.
One example is Celebrity Cruises. On January 28, 2025, the brand, owned by Royal Caribbean Group, announced the creation of Celebrity River Cruises.
The new river cruise brand will eventually feature 10 ships sailing throughout Europe, although few additional details have been released. What we do know is that Celebrity promises the new river ships will showcase the premium design elements of some of their newer Edge-class vessels. Could we even see something like the Magic Carpet aboard these ships?
Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, had this to say: “We’re thrilled to announce our entry into the river cruise market through our Celebrity Cruises premium travel brand. Our guests and travel partners should expect us to do what we do best - innovate and elevate the river cruise experience as we meet the growing demand for intimate, culturally enriching travel experiences.”
With ocean cruises breaking records in 2024 and continuing strong into 2025, and with so many guests booking cruises, there’s a good chance that major cruise lines will begin to invest more in river cruises. Maybe you’re looking for a break from Castaway Cay or Perfect Day at CocoCay to explore the Seine or the Nile? That sounds pretty nice, too.
