Cruise trips disrupted with little warning due to low water levels on Danube, Rhine
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Cruise passengers in certain locations have had their vacations disrupted due to record-low water levels on high-traffic rivers in Europe, stranding vessels and switching up itineraries.
The continent has experienced “above-average temperatures with an extensive and prolonged heatwave” in the first half of July, with drought conditions still persisting, according to the European Drought Observatory (EDO)’s website.
The EDO’s latest map shows drought stretching across much of Central and Western Europe, with the most severe “alert” conditions concentrated in parts of France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania and the Balkans.
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The drought has impacted two of Europe’s major river routes — the Danube and the Rhine.
Hungary’s Paks Nuclear Power Plant reported July 27 that the Danube’s lowest water level at Paks — minus 42 inches — broke all previous records.
Drought conditions across parts of Central and Western Europe are affecting river cruise routes along the Danube and Rhine. (Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, images of the Rhine show exposed sandbars and dried-up riverbanks as ships traveled through a shrunken waterway.
Several river cruise operators, including Avalon Waterways and AmaWaterways, have warned that low water levels on parts of both rivers may alter itineraries.
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The Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, flows from Germany’s Black Forest to the Black Sea, passing through or along the borders of 10 countries, including Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
The Rhine originates in the Swiss Alps and flows to the North Sea. The river goes through or along the borders of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
Record-low water levels on major European rivers are disrupting river cruises, forcing itinerary changes for travelers across the region. (Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)
Both rivers are popular cruise routes, so the drought has disrupted travel for passengers. Some tourists have been bussed to other ships farther down the river.
One user writing on a social media thread expressed concern about her family members’ trip on the Danube and Rhine rivers.
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“My elderly mom and aunt are going on the grand tour from Budapest to Amsterdam in 10 days,” the person wrote on Reddit on Monday.
“It was disappointing. The entire point of the cruise was to see the castles.”
“With the water levels of the Danube and Rhine being what they are and only hot weather on the horizon, I fear they will be bussed many times on the trip. … I am unsure if they can really pack/unpack and [be bused] multiple times without any help.”
A different Reddit user expressed disappointment after drought-driven low water levels forced changes to a Rhine river cruise.
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“Just got back home on Sunday. The ‘castle’ part of the Rhine was too shallow to traverse,” the person wrote last week.
Travelers on some European river cruises have been transferred by bus after low water levels prevented ships from completing planned routes. (Emiel Muijderman/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
“Our line did their best to overcome things [outside] their control, but it was disappointing, to say the least. … Not that I’m blaming the company, they were amazing, but the entire point of the cruise was to see the castles.”
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Another traveler described having to switch ships after low water levels made parts of the Rhine impassable, resulting in missed excursions and hours-long bus transfers.
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“We traveled by bus about 5 hours to [a] new ship. The bus ride was broken up, but we missed our [prepaid] excursions,” the commenter said.
Cruise passengers shared online that river cruise companies have worked to adjust itineraries despite conditions beyond their control. (Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
“I totally understand the water levels are what they are. We still had a great time with friends, but it was a slog to change ships! We had to pack everything up — unpack and organize again on [a] new ship.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to Avalon Waterways and AmaWaterways for comment.
