Danube And Rhine Get New Century Star River Cruises

Published on Dec 3, 2025, 10:28 am CST

7 min read

Key points

Century Star Danube river cruise debuts on September 18, 2026 with an eight day Blue Danube itinerary from Budapest to Passau
Century Cruises adds a second Century Star itinerary on the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel starting November 6, 2026
The 174 passenger ship has 78 cabins hybrid propulsion and a hull built from recycled steel to meet EU sustainability goals
Interiors by MDesigns weave Danube landscapes with Chinese and European influences from Black Forest restaurant themes to Serbian inspired cabins
Century Star marks Century Cruises entry into Europe after decades on China’s Yangtze River and increases competition on core river cruise routes

Impact

Where Impacts Are Most Likely: The biggest changes will be on classic Danube and Rhine routes between Budapest Passau Amsterdam and Basel where Century Star will compete with established lines
Best Times To Travel: Sailings from late September through mid October should balance milder weather with slightly lower demand while still avoiding the coldest low season months
Onboard Experience Highlights: Expect an East meets West feel with Chinese style hospitality European menus regional design cues and wellness touches such as tai chi and yoga
Onward Travel And Changes: Budapest Passau Amsterdam and Basel are all major rail and air gateways so travelers should plan extra time for transfers and pre or post cruise stays
What Travelers Should Do Now: Travelers targeting 2026 and 2027 European river trips should compare Century Star launch fares and inclusions against other Danube and Rhine options and lock in flexible bookings early

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Century Star Danube river cruise itineraries will debut in Europe in September 2026, as Chinese operator Century Cruises prepares to send its first river ship to the Danube before adding a second route on the Rhine in November. The 174 passenger vessel will run an eight day "Blue Danube Cruise" between Budapest, Esztergom, Bratislava, Vienna, Linz, and Passau, then shift to an Amsterdam to Basel schedule that covers one of the busiest stretches of the Rhine. Travelers weighing 2026 and 2027 river options should treat Century Star as an additional, eco focused East meets West choice layered on top of existing European brands rather than a complete reset of the market.

The Century Star Danube river cruise program will launch on September 18, 2026, with the inaugural sailing departing Budapest, Hungary, and calling at Esztergom, Hungary, Bratislava, Slovakia, Vienna and Linz, Austria, and Passau, Germany, over eight days. From November 6, 2026, the ship is scheduled to operate a Rhine itinerary between Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Basel, Switzerland, placing it squarely on two of Europe's most in demand river corridors.

Background: Century Cruises Comes To Europe

Century Cruises built its reputation on China's Yangtze River, where it operates a modern fleet that has won regional awards and positioned the brand at the higher end of that market. Moving a ship into Europe is a logical extension of that strategy, and company statements frame Century Star as the first in a planned series of vessels for the Danube and Rhine, with additional ships under consideration for the Nile from 2027.

Executives present the move in cultural as well as commercial terms. David Fredericks, Century Cruises president and general manager of the Americas, has described Century Star as the first of several vessels planned for the Danube and Rhine and a culmination of a three decade vision to bring Chinese river hospitality into the heart of Europe, where "Eastern elegance and hospitality meet Western style" on established river routes.

Ship Design And Sustainability Features

Century Star is being built by Dutch yard Concordia Damen, with a length of about 135 meters and 78 cabins designed for a maximum of 174 guests. The hull is constructed from recycled steel and paired with a hybrid propulsion system, an unusual combination on European rivers that is intended to reduce emissions, noise, and vibration while meeting current European Union sustainability standards and longer term net zero targets.

Inside, design firm MDesigns has leaned hard into a story driven concept that uses the Danube's geography as inspiration. The main restaurant takes its cues from Germany's Black Forest, the river's source region, in a layout that has already been shortlisted as a Concept of the Year finalist at the Cruise Ship Interiors Awards 2025. The lobby pays homage to Bulgaria's Rose Valley, the bar and lounge blend Baroque architecture with the coffee house traditions of Vienna, and standard cabins are styled to echo the feel of a Serbian home, complete with touches of local folklore.

For travelers, that translates into a ship experience that should feel noticeably different from the minimalist or hotel style interiors on many European river vessels. The company also plans enrichment programs that include lectures on Danube history and Eastern wellness elements such as tai chi and yoga, which could appeal to passengers looking for a slower, more contemplative cruise framework.

Itineraries On The Danube And Rhine

On the Danube, Century Star's core product is the eight day Blue Danube itinerary. Starting in Budapest, it moves upstream through Esztergom, Bratislava, Vienna, and Linz before concluding in Passau, covering many of the marquee capitals and river towns that first time European river cruisers seek out. The routing mirrors those offered by incumbents such as Riverside, Viking, and AmaWaterways, which makes it easier to compare on price, inclusions, and onboard style.

Once the ship redeploys to the Rhine from November 6, 2026, it will operate between Amsterdam and Basel, threading much of the Middle Rhine gorge, a region known for castles, vineyards, and sometimes problematic water levels in late summer and autumn. Travelers planning these sailings should pay the same attention to seasonal water level patterns that they would for any other Danube or Rhine cruise, especially in low water years. Adept Traveler's broader 2025 European River Cruise Water Level Outlook remains a useful primer on how those risks typically play out season by season.

How Century Star Fits Into The River Cruise Landscape

Century Star arrives into a river market that is already adding capacity. Riverside Luxury Cruises recently opened bookings for its 2027 European season, with ships on the Danube, Rhine, and other core rivers, while other lines such as Emerald Cruises have also pushed their 2027 programs into the market early. Against that backdrop, Century Cruises will need to compete on a mix of price, distinctive design, and cultural positioning instead of simply filling an underserved route.

For English speaking travelers, one key factor will be how Century structures distribution. The company has historically sold Yangtze itineraries through tour operators, and more recent reporting highlights new North American offices and ambitions to build direct relationships with mainstream travel advisors. That could translate into competitive launch pricing or inclusive packages, especially for the first 2026 and 2027 seasons, as the brand works to raise awareness beyond passengers with Chinese or Chinese American backgrounds.

Travelers deciding between Century Star and established European lines should focus on a few concrete checks: cabin size and layout, balcony type, included excursions, beverage and gratuity policies, and how well the ship's Eastern wellness touches and design language match their own tastes. Those who have already sailed Yangtze ships like Century Glory or Century Oasis may find the Europe deployment particularly appealing as a way to revisit a familiar service style in new geography.

Planning Tips For 2026 And 2027 Bookings

Because Century Star's inaugural Danube sailing on September 18, 2026, sits close to the shoulder between high summer and early autumn, it should offer relatively pleasant temperatures and long enough days for sightseeing without peak summer crowds in every port. The subsequent Rhine departures from November 6, 2026, will be cooler and darker but may line up with early Christmas market preparations in some cities, which could appeal to travelers who prefer a quieter, more atmospheric cruise.

Given how quickly prime departure dates can sell out on new river products, travelers who want to be among the first on Century Star should look at refundable or changeable fares and be ready to commit once full pricing and deck plans are published. Those who are more flexible on timing can treat 2027 as a more relaxed window, by which point feedback from the inaugural season will clarify whether Century's East meets West promise delivers on food, service, and excursion quality.

For additional context on how Century Star fits into a broader set of choices, readers can compare it with offers highlighted in recent coverage such as Riverside Europe 2027 River Cruise Bookings Open and Emerald Opens 2027 European River Cruise Pre Bookings, which map out other new capacity on the same rivers.