Celebrity Cruises reveals its biggest Europe season yet for 2028

If you've been waiting for the right time to book a cruise to Northern Europe, Celebrity Cruises' newly released 2028 season may be your sign.

Not only is the premium cruise line expanding its brand-new European river cruise offerings , it's sending four of its premium Edge Series ocean ships to Europe for the first time in 2028 to sail its most extensive Northern European program yet.

The cruise line just announced its 2028-2029 global deployment and while the new itineraries encompass sailings across all seven continents, Europe is clearly the star. Not only will the new Celebrity Xcel return to the Mediterranean in 2028, the freshly renewed Celebrity Beyond will sail immersive adventures across Scandinavia. Plus, the season includes the line's first-ever call at sought-after Galway, Ireland on Celebrity Apex's new British Isles itineraries.

Celebrity Beyond will return to Europe for the first time in years with a reimagined pool deck

Celebrity Beyond hasn't sailed in Europe since 2023, and its return will come with real upgrades. Following a November 2026 renewal, the ship debuts the Celebrity Pool Club, an elevated poolside space anchored by two new food and drink concepts, Orange Peel Bar & Grille and Tacos del Sol, along with the Mediterranean restaurant Bora for al fresco dining.

Starting in 2028, Celebrity Beyond will offer seven- to 14-night sailings from Southampton, England to Norway, Iceland, and beyond. For those looking for deeper northern exploration, Beyond's 14-night itinerary offers a standout option, featuring stops in Reykjavik, Isafjordur, Akureyri, and Seydisfjordur in Iceland, followed by a journey through Norway's iconic fjords in Geiranger, Alesund, Flam, Nordfjordeid, and Bergen. The Edge Series ship's outward-facing design will bring travelers closer to the dramatic scenery as they sail through some of the world's most breathtaking landscapes.

Celebrity will make its first-ever Galway call, return to Bari, Italy

Two ports stand out as rare highlights in Celebrity's expansive 2028 Europe season: Galway, Ireland and Bari, Italy. Celebrity Apex will make Celebrity Cruises' first-ever call at Galway, Ireland as part of new 12-night British Isles sailings that also cover Scotland and England. Celebrity Constellation will bring Celebrity cruisers back to Bari, Italy, for the first time since 2014 on 10- and 11-night sailings that showcase Italy and Croatia.

Celebrity Apex will highlight Scandinavia and the Baltic on 12-night sailings to Oslo, Norway; Skagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Tallinn, Estonia; Helsinki, Finland; and Copenhagen, Denmark. Meanwhile, Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Eclipse will sail through the sunnier side of the map on seven- to 11-night voyages to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey.

Celebrity Infinity will continue its year-round Europe presence, adding Egypt sailings with overnight visits to Alexandria — the line's first Egypt cruises since 2023. Shoulder-season departures from Athens hit Santorini, Kavala, Rhodes, Mykonos, and Ephesus, and off-season sailings from Barcelona chase winter sun in the Canary Islands, Portugal, and Morocco.

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The rest of the world isn't an afterthought in Celebrity Cruises' 2028-2029 program

While Europe leads the deployment, Celebrity's 2028-2029 program spans the globe. Alaska gets three ships, including Celebrity Equinox, which will sail in the region for the first time with seven-night open-jaw sailings between Vancouver and Seward — and travelers can extend the trip with a land-based Cruisetour stopping in Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali.

Celebrity Equinox also picks up new round-trip Hawaii sailings from Los Angeles, an extended South American season, and a return to Antarctica — including a 16-night holiday sailing that rings in the new year among glaciers and penguin colonies.

In Asia, the renewed Celebrity Solstice will sail its first full Japan season from April through October 2028, with stops timed to festivals such as Golden Week and Gion Matsuri, plus overnight stays in Kyoto and Aomori.

Related: Renewed Celebrity Solstice to sail full Japan cruise season

Winter sailings on Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Millennium shift to Southeast Asia, with overnight visits to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand; Benoa, Bali, Indonesia; Hanoi, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China; and Penang, Malaysia — including a Hong Kong New Year's Eve overnight to watch the fireworks welcome 2029 on Celebrity Millennium.

Australia and New Zealand get 23 sailings on Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice from Sydney and Auckland, ranging from four-night getaways to 14-night journeys.

Celebrity Summit will sail Bermuda cruises from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, followed by 12-night fall foliage cruises through Canada and New England from Boston featuring an overnight stay in Quebec City.

When do Celebrity's 2028-2029 sailings open for booking?

Celebrity is staggering its on-sale dates for 2028-2029 sailings:

• On sale now — Summer 2028 Japan

• Aug. 25, 2026 — Europe, Bermuda, Canada, and New England

• Sept. 1, 2026 — Alaska, Hawaii, and South America 

• Sept. 29, 2026 — Australia and Winter 2028/29 Asia

• Coming soon — Caribbean and 2029 Galapagos 

If any of the new itineraries caught your eye, reach out to a travel agent who specializes in Celebrity Cruises, like Postcard Travel Planning , to start planning so you're ready to put a deposit down on your dream sailing when it goes on sale.

Related: How to choose the right cruise for your travel mood

"We recommend planning early for the best pricing — 12-18 months in advance for Europe," said Dennis Post, co-owner of Postcard Travel Planning. "When you see something just put a deposit down; it will lock in your vacation and price."

If you're eyeing a new Northern Europe itinerary on a popular ship like Celebrity Beyond, you may want to book as soon as itineraries go on sale for the best availability, as interest in Europe trips isn't cooling off among U.S. travelers. European destinations make up the majority of the top 10 destinations U.S.-based travelers are making plans to visit in 2026, according to a recent Forbes Advisor study .

(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)

Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel , or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.

This story was originally published by TravelHost on Aug 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.