Second European river ship moves closer to its 2027 maiden voyage

KLADOVO, Serbia — 23 October 2026 — Century Cruises has announced that the hull of its new European flagship, Century Diamond, has successfully floated out at Kladovo Shipbuilding in Serbia. The milestone marks the completion of hull construction and the start of afloat outfitting, bringing the ship’s 2027 maiden voyage a significant step closer.

Century Diamond follows sister ship Century Star, which made its maiden voyage in August 2026. Together the two ships form Century Cruises’ European “Twin Star Fleet”, sharing the same premium positioning and service standards while offering distinct interior designs and itineraries. The second ship gives the brand the capacity to run several routes at once in high season.

Steel cutting began in summer 2025, with the hull and primer coating completed this October. Century Diamond will now be towed to the Concordia Damen shipyard in Werkendam, the Netherlands, for electrical and mechanical outfitting, interior fit-out and full systems commissioning. Testing of watertight integrity, propulsion and safety systems will follow, ahead of sea trials in July 2027.

At 134.99 metres long and 11.45 metres wide, Century Diamond has 87 staterooms for up to 174 guests, in three categories: standard staterooms, French balcony staterooms and executive suites. Public spaces include a grand central atrium, panoramic restaurant, panoramic aft lounge, main bar and fitness centre.

Developed jointly with Dutch shipbuilder Concordia Damen, the ship has hybrid power and an advanced electric propulsion system that reduces noise, vibration and emissions. More than 60% of the hull is recycled steel, and the ship can run solely on HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), fully complying with EU maritime environmental regulations.

Interiors are by Dutch cruise design studio MDesigns, under the theme “Rivers Entwined”, inspired by the Rhine and the Danube. Conceived as a “Floating Asian Salon”, the ship pairs refined, Nordic-influenced interiors with Eastern motifs drawn from Chinese ink wash painting and peony embroidery.

“Century Diamond’s successful float-out represents a pivotal milestone for our European Twin Star Fleet,” said David Fredericks, President & CEO of Century Cruises Inc. “Building on the legacy of Century Star, we elevate our premium ‘East-Meets-West’ river cruise experience from a single-vessel benchmark to the strength of a scaled fleet. We eagerly anticipate delivering river-cruise holidays defined by Eastern warmth and world-class quality.”

Century Cruises has a strategic partnership with United Waterways, Europe’s biggest river cruise operator, covering maritime safety, service standards, navigation, vessel operations and docking. On board, a multilingual international crew, experienced Cruise Directors and expert local guides will look after guests, with curated shore excursions throughout. The East-West Gastronomy menu offers more than 50 chef-curated dishes, pairing European fine dining and regional wines with Century Cruises’ signature Asian-inspired cuisine.

Once in service, Century Diamond will sail alongside Century Star on 8-day/7-night Rhine and Danube itineraries and 15-day/14-night voyages linking the Danube, Main and Rhine. Ports of call include Amsterdam, Cologne, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Basel, Budapest and Vienna, across Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary and Austria.

ENDS

About Century Cruises

Owned by Chongqing Gaund Holding Group, Century Cruises operates river cruises on the Yangtze in China, the Rhine and Danube in Europe, and the Nile in Egypt. With more than 30 years of heritage on the Yangtze, the brand is rooted in Eastern hospitality and guided by its philosophy, “A Destination of True Leisure”.

  • Yangtze River, China: a 12-ship fleet including Century Voyage and Century Vision, offering the classic Three Gorges cruise (Chongqing–Yichang), full-length Yangtze voyages (Chongqing–Shanghai) and the Yangtze Panorama day cruise. The brand’s first all-suite ultra-luxury river ship is due in 2028.
  • Rhine & Danube, Europe: flagship Century Star began sailing in August 2026, with Century Diamond to follow in 2027.
  • Nile River, Egypt: plans for a new generation of five to ten hybrid-powered luxury vessels.

Committed to its brand ethos of “A Destination of True Leisure”, Century Cruises has earned widespread global acclaim and multiple industry honors, including World Cruise Awards for “Best River Cruise Company – Asia” and Travel Weekly Magellan Awards. Moving forward, Century Cruises will continue focusing on high‑end river‑cruise markets worldwide, expanding its product portfolio and championing the new travel ethos: Sailing the World’s Great Rivers in Refined Luxury.