Celebrity River Cruises has opened bookings for new guided before and after stay programmes in Europe, expanding the line’s river cruise offering with multi-day land experiences in four destinations.

The programmes are available before a cruise begins or after it ends, and the first departures include 2027 stays in Prague and Budapest, followed by 2028 options in Amsterdam and Lausanne.

The company said the curated experiences are designed as end-to-end destination stays for guests who want to add time on the ground to their river journey. The move comes as cruise operators increasingly package pre-cruise and post-cruise hotels, tours and transfers into a single booking.

Before and after stays are a familiar part of the wider cruise market, but Celebrity is branding its version as a more guided and integrated product. Rather than leaving travellers to arrange their own hotel nights and sightseeing, the line is offering structured itineraries that extend the holiday beyond the ship.

Prague and Budapest are among Europe’s most established city break destinations, both popular with river cruise passengers for their historic centres, walkable streets and links to the Danube. Amsterdam and Lausanne add two more high-demand stops, giving travellers options in both river and lake-based European itineraries.

The company has not disclosed full itinerary details in the source text, but it has said the new stays are thoughtfully curated and aimed at delivering a seamless experience. The focus suggests Celebrity is targeting travellers who value convenience and want a more complete trip without having to piece together separate bookings.

The launch also reflects a broader trend in cruising, with operators looking to sell more of the overall journey. Pre- and post-cruise stays can increase revenue for cruise lines while also helping guests spend more time in the destination and reduce the stress of same-day transfers.

For travellers, the appeal is simple: more time in Europe, a smoother itinerary and a chance to see cities that may otherwise be rushed between embarkation and disembarkation. For the cruise line, the new programmes create another way to stand out in a competitive river cruise market.

Celebrity River Cruises is pitching the stays as part of a more complete holiday product, rather than an add-on. With bookings now open for 2027 and 2028, the company is giving guests an early chance to plan longer European trips around its river sailings.