China Meets Europe with new Danube River Ship

thumbnail_Century Star Century Cruises Europe Budapest — Century Star in Budapest rendering--Century Cruises

Century Cruises is expanding into Europe with a new Danube River ship, Century Star.

The Chinese line which has specialized in ships touring the Yangtze River is launching a 78- luxury -cabin ship, being designed and built in the Dutch yard Concordia Damen with delivery scheduled in the fall of 2026 to begin cruising on the Danube.

Century Star features hybrid propulsion, a hull crafted from recycled steel, and full compliance with EU sustainability standards, aimed at achieving net-zero carbon performance. The ship will carry up to 174 guests, Century calls it “a blend of Chinese vision with Western craftsmanship. Its lush interiors by MDesigns draw inspiration from the diverse cultures and landscapes along the river’s route.”

The Bar and Lounge are influenced by Baroque architecture and the appeal of Vienna’s traditional coffee houses. The lobby pays homage to Bulgaria’s Rose Valley and the standard cabins are influenced by local folklore.

The inaugural Blue Danube Cruise, departing on Sep 18, 2026, begins in Budapest and continues through highlights including Esztergom, Bratislava, Vienna, Linz, and Passau. A second itinerary will sail the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel.

Onboard, passengers will enjoy European culinary menus that are complemented by Asian classics from Century Cruises’ chefs. Enriching lectures on the Danube’s history, along with Eastern wellness practices such as Tai Chi and Yoga.

Century recently opened a new North America office in South Florida to expand the North American market. Previously, Century had sold its China cruises on 550-guest ships to North Americans through tour operators, including Viking.

Century Star is the first of three vessels planned for the Danube and Rhine, and Century also plans to launch of up to five vessels on the Nile, starting in 2027.

“Europe represents a strategic growth market for us,’ Alex Ye, CEO of Century Cruises told Cruise Industry News. Since opening its own office in Los Angeles in 2019, the company has so far sourced about 6,000 guests from North America. While most of them are Chinese Americans, Century is now successfully penetrating the mainstream market in the U.S., he added.

“That’s one of the main targets of our five-year plan. That’s why we’ve been working to set up our brand awareness and build our own distribution channels for mainstream travel advisors.”