A Guide to Shore Excursions With Celebrity River Cruises

Shore excursions on Celebrity River Cruises are built around local people and hands-on moments, so each port day feels personal. They’re organized into four series: locally led Storyteller tours, hands-on Skillmaster workshops, self-guided Keys to the City and the once-per-sailing Celebrity Takeover. You get one included per day, with upgrades available and plenty of room to wander solo.

Here’s what each one offers and how to pick.

Celebrity River Cruises Shore Excursions at a Glance

Note: Shore excursion options may vary by itinerary.

How Shore Excursions Work on Celebrity River Cruises

Every Celebrity River Cruise fare includes one shore excursion per day in port. Each port offers multiple experiences, sorted into four categories, so you can follow your curiosity and choose what feels right for the day.

Here’s how it works:

• Included: one excursion per day, already part of your fare
• Your choice: multiple options in each port, organized into the four series below
• Upgrades: optional excursions, including exclusive & premium experiences
• On your own: always fine to skip the excursion & explore independently

For everything else covered in the fare, including dining, drinks and Wi-Fi, see our guide to what’s included on Celebrity River Cruises.

Questions on shore excursions? Contact our certified Cruise Experts at The Cruise Web and they’ll go over your excursion options and available upgrades with you, free of charge.

The Four Experience Series on Celebrity River Cruises

Storyteller Series

Storyteller Series excursions are led by residents, artists and cultural insiders who know their destination from the inside. Instead of reciting dates and landmarks, they introduce you to the customs, family stories and daily habits that shape how people there live.

Experiences may include:

• A canal captain in Amsterdam who takes you through lesser-seen waterways and explains how the canals were engineered
• A local master brewer in Prague who guides you through the city’s brewing traditions

Storyteller excursions are best for travelers who want the story behind a place, not only the sights.

Skillmaster Series

Skillmaster Series excursions trade watching for doing. You’ll work side by side with local artisans and makers, learning traditions straight from the people who keep them going. Celebrity’s own examples range from a family strudel recipe to Viennese waltz lessons.

Two more experiences you might find:

• Shopping for the day's ingredients in Budapest and cooking traditional Hungarian meals alongside a local cook using their family recipes
• A local artist in Amsterdam teaches the techniques behind Van Gogh’s style at the Van Gogh Museum

Skillmaster excursions suit travelers who prefer to take part rather than watch from the sidelines.

Keys to the City Series

Keys to the City is the self-guided option. You decide the pace and where to linger. Celebrity’s digital tools give you interactive maps, audio guides and video content to assist your adventure.

Local hosts are on hand at select working studios and craft sites to take you behind the scenes, with small surprises built into the day. A day can lean toward food, architecture or history, depending on what you want to see.

Examples may include:

• A traditional Slovak pub and a neighborhood bakery whose pastries come from family recipes
• St. Martin’s Cathedral with a resident historian, the climb to Bratislava Castle and a look at the engineering of the UFO Bridge

Keys to the City suits independent travelers who like to wander off the beaten tourist path, but still want guidance close at hand.

Celebrity Takeover Series

Here’s the one series that keeps you guessing. The Celebrity Takeover happens once per sailing, held at historic locations with iconic backdrops, unassuming plazas or even onboard. The details are kept under wraps. Come curious and enjoy the surprise.

How to Choose the Right Celebrity River Cruises Excursion

With four series and multiple options per port, the easiest way to choose is to start with how you want the day to feel.

There are a few ways to plan your days:

• Mix it up. Balance a full day, like a hands-on workshop, with a lighter one, like a self-guided stroll, so you leave room to rest.
• Use Keys to the City as a middle ground. You get the independence of exploring solo with insights close at hand.
• Skip it when you like. Exploring on your own is always welcome, with no obligation to book.
• Add upgrades where they earn their place. Start with your included excursion and upgrade when a port calls for something extra.

How to Book a Celebrity River Cruise

Shore excursions are where a river cruise gets personal, and the right kind makes every port day feel like yours. Our Cruise Experts can match the excursion type to your travel style, help you decide where upgrades are worth it and plan your sailing around the days you’re most looking forward to. With decades of travel expertise and deep relationships with major cruise lines, we help our clients plan the getaway they’ve been dreaming about.

When you book with The Cruise Web, you gain:

• Expert guidance with no booking fees
• Access to exclusive offers & amenities
• Airline & pre- and post-cruise hotel coordination
• Ongoing support before, during & after your cruise

Start your free vacation planning by calling 1-800-377-9383 or visiting CruiseWeb.com.

Note: The contents of this article are accurate as of the publication date. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are shore excursions included on Celebrity River Cruises?

Yes. One shore excursion per day is included in the fare, chosen from multiple options per port.

Do I have to book a shore excursion, or can I explore on my own?

You’re not required to book one. A shore excursion per day is included in your fare, but you’re always welcome to explore on your own schedule.

Can I upgrade my shore excursions?

Yes. Upgrade options are available for guests who want to go beyond their included excursion, including exclusive and premium experiences.

What are the four experience series on Celebrity River Cruises?

The four series are the Storyteller Series (locally led experiences with residents, artists and cultural insiders), the Skillmaster Series (hands-on cooking, art and dance with local experts), the Keys to the City Series (self-guided exploration with digital tools and routes) and the Celebrity Takeover Series (a Celebrity-created event offered once per sailing).

How often is the Celebrity Takeover Series offered?

Once per sailing. Celebrity creates an event for guests, held at a historic location or on board, with the details kept under wraps.

Which rivers do Celebrity River Cruises sail?

Celebrity River Cruises sails the Danube and Rhine rivers in Europe, and the experience series are part of the shore excursion program on its itineraries. Please note that excursion options may vary by itinerary.

Why book Celebrity River Cruises with The Cruise Web?

Our Cruise Experts help you choose the series and upgrades that fit your travel style, and our guidance comes with no booking fees. You also get access to exclusive offers and amenities, airline and pre- and post-cruise hotel coordination and ongoing support before, during and after your cruise.