Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has unveiled plans for a significant expansion in the river cruise sector, with 21 new ships set to launch in 2027. These vessels will navigate prominent rivers such as the Rhine, Danube, Douro, Seine, Mekong, and Amazon, as well as waterways in North America.
The new fleet includes three ships from AmaWaterways—AmaRudi, AmaFiora, and AmaMaya—and two from Celebrity Cruises, marking its entry into the river cruise market with Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker. Emerald Cruises will introduce Emerald Lumi and Emerald Nova, whilst Uniworld will launch S.S. Audrey, S.S. Marlene, and S.S. São Rafael. Other notable additions include Amadeus River Cruises' AMADEUS Mira and CroisiEurope's RV Brasilian Dream.
Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland managing director, highlighted the investment at an industry event on 13 October 2026, stating, “River cruise continues to offer an enormous amount of choice, and the investment we're seeing for 2027 demonstrates the incredible breadth of the sector.”
The expansion coincides with CLIA's efforts to enhance river cruise training and engagement, including a 'Week on the Rivers' webinar series and the upcoming RiverView conference in March 2027. The conference will feature a two-night sailing from Budapest to Vienna, offering agents hands-on experience.
Emerging trends in the sector include a growing demand for long-haul destinations, shorter sailings, and immersive travel experiences. The rise of solo river cruising is also notable, with increased demand for dedicated solo departures and accommodation options.
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