CELEBRITY RIVER CRUISES INNOVATES PRE- AND POST-CRUISE EXPERIENCES | News
Starting today, Celebrity River Cruises guests can explore even more of Europe with guided, multi-day pre- and post-stays – carefully curated, end-to-end destination experiences. Before and After Stays, Celebrity’s innovative take on pre- and post-cruise experiences, are available before a river cruise voyage begins or after it ends. 2027 programs in Prague and Budapest and 2028 programs with Amsterdam and Lausanne are now open for booking.
Extending the onboard experience of Celebrity River Cruises, each two- or three-night stay offers locally guided, highly personalized and richly immersive destination discovery opportunities. The Before and After Stays are designed to allow guests to return home with stories that no one else can tell. They offer the elevated feeling and signature hospitality that Celebrity Cruises is known for.
“Every element of a Celebrity River Cruises sailing trip is designed to bring guests closer to European culture, history and people, on board and ashore,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “Our before and after stays are more than an extension of a Celebrity River Cruises vacation; these stays are designed to deepen connections – with the cities, with the people who bring them to life, and with each other – giving guests the kind of stories and feelings that only come from getting truly close to a place.”
Personalized, authentic experiences, led by locals
Local experts lead each Pre and Post Stay, including a Discovery Collection tour each day. Celebrity River Cruises’ Discovery Collection tours are experiences built around each city’s most rare, remarkable and authentic stories.
Guests can choose from at least three thematic tour options each day, allowing them to explore each city based on their own interests – whether it’s history, food, art or just the feeling of wandering somewhere that feels completely new – at their own pace.
Local storytellers are local experts, not guides. They lead small groups on one included tour per day. The tours go beyond landmarks and into the moments that define local life.
Destination Insiders act as trusted local friends. They know every city better than any travel guide and help guests find the most authentic experiences.
In Amsterdam, a contemporary artist who calls the city home guides guests through Amsterdam’s street art scene, revealing a city where creativity lives in public. This Local Storyteller takes guests to Amsterdam’s most vibrant creative neighborhoods, where monumental murals and evolving walls demonstrate how the city has protected creative freedom. The day ends with guests grabbing a spray can and creating a wall art piece of their own, transforming them from observers of Amsterdam’s vibrant art scene to active participants in its creative expression.
If guests are drawn to history and mystery in Prague, they will follow the mystical trail of alchemists and ancient scholars through Gothic spiers and hidden symbols. For the history buffs who want an even richer experience, descend into Prague’s shadowy defenses: medieval walls, secret bunkers and Cold War hideouts that witnessed centuries of survival. For guests who best discover a destination through its food and drink culture, they can trace the soul of the city through centuries of Czech beer heritage, historic taverns and the stories poured into every glass.
A seamless, end-to-end experience, The Celebrity Way.
Pre- and post-stays are an extension of the premium experience onboard Celebrity River Cruises, bringing Celebrity’s service-oriented approach to every city. With centrally located, high-quality accommodations and daily destination programming, guests can enjoy a balance of guided discovery and personal exploration, with optional premium experiences available for an even deeper immersion.
The program covers every detail in advance. Guests don’t coordinate or confirm so they can just enjoy their stay. Each pre- and post-stay also includes premium or ultra-premium hotel accommodations, daily breakfast and ship transfers.
The Pre and Post Stays 2027 and 2028 are now for sale.
With 33 sailings in 2027 and 160 sailings in 2028, Celebrity River Cruises will take guests to more than 50 destinations along the Rhine and Danube. These sailings invite travelers to experience Europe at its most authentic – from tasting regional wines to strolling cobbled village streets – as they discover a new perspective every day.
As part of Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity Cruises partners with regional organizations and small businesses along Europe’s rivers to create year-round economic opportunities, supporting local artisans, farmers and cultural institutions in each destination. Programs help protect heritage by supporting traditional crafts, music and storytelling, allowing guests to experience authentic local culture while communities preserve and celebrate their identities. Through volunteer work and charitable contributions, Royal Caribbean Group supports education, social inclusion and infrastructure improvements in cities and towns across Europe.
To book and experience Europe’s rivers The Celebrity Way, visit https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/river, call Celebrity Cruises on 0344 293 2043 or contact a trusted travel advisor.
