When all is said and done, there is no way to accurately predict whether your river cruise will be affected by low-water or high-water levels for river cruises in Europe. But in general, high water occurs in the spring while low water occurs in heat of the summer, usually August. The summer of 2018 saw record low water levels for river cruises in Europe on the Danube. However, contrary to the conventional wisdom, I saw record lows on the Rhine in November of 2015. While high or low water can impact your river cruise, in 50+ river cruises, I’ve never experienced a major disruption because of high water or low water. I should add that I did not river cruise in the summer of 2018. In the comments below, some readers say their dream vacations were disappointing because of low water levels for river cruises in Europe. Others had their trips scuttled altogether because the river cruise companies could not operate due to high or low water levels for river cruises in Europe. My hope is that this page will serve as a useful forum for sharing information about the conditions on the rivers and how the cruise companies are handling adverse water levels for river cruises in Europe.– Ralph Grizzle
Whether a river has high or low water levels is something you’re unlikely to consider when planning your river cruise – until it happens to you.
Unlike ocean cruising, river cruising is all about narrow margins. Low bridges make the air draft of a ship – how much of it sticks out of the water – critically important. Most river cruise ships have collapsible upper deck railings, removable furniture, and even navigation bridges that lower completely into the floor.
Being aware of water levels for river cruises in Europe can greatly enhance your travel experience.
Understanding water levels for river cruises in Europe is vital for ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey.
Monitoring water levels for river cruises in Europe is essential for a trouble-free adventure.
What’s under the keel – or hull – of your river cruise ship also makes a difference. In some cases, there can be less than a foot of water under the keel. River cruise ships have incredibly shallow drafts to begin with, and river cruise operators construct their ships as efficiently as possible. They’re the high-performance sports cars of the cruising world.
Understanding Water Levels for River Cruises in Europe
Understanding the significance of water levels for river cruises in Europe can help travelers make informed decisions.
Unfortunately, low water and high water conditions can exist – and they can throw a real wrench into an otherwise flawless cruise.
For current updates from river cruisers currently on the rivers (or from those who have returned recently) be sure to see the comments at the bottom of this post.
In fact, keeping an eye on water levels for river cruises in Europe could save your trip.
The Rhine is perhaps the most dependable river when it comes to being able to continue navigation due to low water. I felt the boat scraping the bottom of the Rhine in Rudesheim in November of 2015, but we made it past. See Is AmaWaterways The Champion Of Low Water?
Water levels are unpredictable. In many cases, the cruise line may only find out on your actual sailing, or a few days beforehand, that a particular stretch of water isn’t navigable.
See related article: Low Water Levels Continue To Affect River Cruises; Plus Why This Happens In The First Place
Water levels aren’t uniform. That is to say, if there’s low water on the Danube, the entire Danube isn’t affected. In 2014, water levels were too low for many ships to pass between the German cities of Passau and Regensburg. In past years, the stretch heading across the Austria-Hungary border has been problematic.
History isn’t a good indicator of high or low water. In June of 2013, Passau was hit by the worst flooding – and the highest water levels – since the Middle Ages. In 2018, the Danube was so low that many cruise ships terminated their journeys in Passau.
What happens if high/low water levels affect my sailing? River cruise lines will typically attempt to keep your itinerary as operational as possible. Generally, when high/low water levels hit, three options are available to cruise lines:
- Continue the affected itinerary by having guests ‘swap ships’ – typically, being bussed from one town to the next, where you will embark a sister-ship or similar vessel to continue the rest of your journey. Read about our ship swap on Viking.
- Complete the itinerary as far as possible aboard your ship, and then transition to hotels (on the company’s expense) to complete the remainder of your itinerary.
- Outright cancellation. This is the rarest option, exercised when no other options are available.
I’m not sure if I should cancel my river cruise because of high/low water levels. What do I do?
Unless you have travel insurance that covers cancellation, do not cancel your river cruise over high/low water. Wait for the cruise line to either pull the plug or offer alternatives. If your sailing commences in a few weeks, cancelling your sailing will result in you losing all monies paid. If you wait for the cruise line to pull the plug, offers typically include the ability to switch to another sailing at no cost; the offer to complete your cruise as scheduled at a discount or rebate; or the offer to cancel with minimal or no penalties. Of course, such offers are determined by the cruise line, but typically favor the guest.
Curious as to what the current conditions on the rivers of Europe are? A reader has provided us with a map showing the water levels on rivers in Germany. From reader “Sabine” see this link: https://www.wetteronline.de/pegelstaende?gid=HES
We have found the Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BFG) to be helpful. The organization published maps like the one below and forecasts. Find BFG’s 14-day water levels forecasts here and the six-week forecasts here.
It’s advisable to check the latest updates regarding water levels for river cruises in Europe before you travel.
To see what our readers had to say about how their trips were impacted by low water levels, click here.
Additionally, understanding how different seasons affect water levels for river cruises in Europe will enhance your planning.
In summary, staying informed about water levels for river cruises in Europe is crucial for a rewarding travel experience.
We are scheduled to embark on the Jarl on August 21st in Budapest, heading to Regensberg. Hopefully we can wave as we cruise along the Danube. There are ten of us, so we will have fun on whatever this adventure turns out to be. Life is about experiences.
Hello Jean, we are on the Aug 27th trip as well (B to A) Assuming you are on Viking also. Will be nice to meet you on the cruise. Keeping are fingers crossed that we get some good rain before we depart.
Matt, looking forward to your 3 day comment ( and further updates) on your experience and any issues with water depth. We are on the September 13th boat Basel – Amsterdam.
Thank you. We are scheduled to depart Basel for Amsterdam on 8/19 so we will be very interested in your comments. Does Viking ever cancel river cruises due to water levels?
We are doing that trip in late September…..please post how it goes.
Peter we are leaving on the 24th on Scenic same itinerery. Will follow your posts. Good luck.
Hi, We are departing Budapest on 8/19, going to Regensburg. We hope the Danude is full enough for that trip.
Has anyone had bad experiences lately while traveling from Budapest, the Danude up?
I hope you have better luck and experience than we did, back in 2018. A 15 day Amsterdam to Budapest with APT. was a nightmare bus trip , we packed and unpacked for bus or alternative ship 15 times during that period, and the trip of a life time was a horror. In our case the boat should never have left departure port, it got to Cologne, and that was it, long bus days, changed schedules, virtually no river after Day 2. As a further aside, so many boats at berth, our suite and dining view was obstructed by other vessels at every step of the way, pick a cruise on waterways not stacked with other vessels. Still traumatised by the trip, 4 yrs later.
Thanks for sharing. Our family leaves from Basel to Amsterdam on 8/27, so I’m thankful for updates from those on the Rhine now. Enjoy!
Jean
We did Amsterdam to Basel 7/24 – 7/31. We had to go slow due to water levels. Each day was questionable as to whether or not the ship would be allowed to continue. We got lucky and made it to Basel. We heard we were the last Viking ship in that direction at that time. Hopefully they got rain.
I also need to cancel by this Friday and am really not sure what to do.
Thanks for the update. We are traveling Amsterdam to Basel beginning on August 28. I have until this Friday to cancel. Please keep the news coming! Thank you. Did you get to see Cologne before driving to the next stop?
While ship changes and busses keep the cruise going…numerous
packing and unpacking 2 wks of clothes is a PIA
Ok more on Day 4 tomorrow.
Stop in Koblenz. Take walking tour. Get on smaller boats to go up river 3 hours to see the sights on the river. Then 3 hours on the awesome bus to Strausberg. We are missing one or two stops (?). I am not sure.
Good update Gabriella. We are to leave Basel to Amsterdam on Aug 16. Forecast is for rain around that time so keeping fingers crossed. Please update as you can.
Marie
Day 3 Amsterdam to Basel
Dropped off about 30mins from Cologne because the boat is traveling too slowly to drop in Cologne. No big deal.
Boarding the tour bus in the morning to go to the next stop(?) then on to the next boat. They have not said yet, but it is near Strausberg. Not sure how long this will take or what kind of inconvenience this will cause. At least with the Silver spirit package… nothing is off the menu… even the $500 bottle Highland Park Ragnvald and JW Blue 🙂
Day 2 on Viking Amsterdam to Basel
Minor schedule adjustments. Boat is traveling slower than normal. Capt says running at normal speed in the lower water will cause the boat to shake.. Ok.
Will be moving to another boat after night 3
I’m also watching the posts as we are traveling Amsterdam to Basel on September 10.
Departing 8/14 Amsterdam- Budapest on Viking. Will post about water level impact on trip.
We are on the Viking Alruna from Amsterdam to Basel on September 10-17, so I am following these updates.
We have a 2 week limit also to decide about our Viking Rhine cruise in September. Since we cannot chance having disruptions and busing, we will cancel rather than wait to see.
If we had more leeway we might wait longer, but since they make us decide two weeks in advance we will cancel now.
Today we are cancelling our Viking Rhine cruise that starts in September.
This was from an interview with the head of the ICPR:
—————————————————————
‘“If it stays dry then we are going to have a big problem,” said Marc Daniel Heintz, the head of the secretariat at the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR), an organization through which countries coordinate efforts to cut pollution.
Over coffee on the first floor of the ICPR’s office overlooking the Rhine in Koblenz, just meters from where it meets the Moselle, Heintz said it would now take prolonged, torrential rainfall to meaningfully increase the depth.
Such downpours aren’t forecasted for the next two weeks, and levels at the Kaub chokepoint are already lower than they were at the same point in 2018 ahead of that October’s historic low of 25 centimeters.’
Source:
http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-rhine-river-climate-change-heath-shallow-rhine-undermines-europes-waterways-push/
Today we are cancelling our Viking Rhine cruise that starts in September.
This was from an interview with the head of the ICPR:
—————————————————————
‘“If it stays dry then we are going to have a big problem,” said Marc Daniel Heintz, the head of the secretariat at the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR), an organization through which countries coordinate efforts to cut pollution.
Over coffee on the first floor of the ICPR’s office overlooking the Rhine in Koblenz, just meters from where it meets the Moselle, Heintz said it would now take prolonged, torrential rainfall to meaningfully increase the depth.
Such downpours aren’t forecasted for the next two weeks, and levels at the Kaub chokepoint are already lower than they were at the same point in 2018 ahead of that October’s historic low of 25 centimeters.’
Source:
http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-rhine-river-climate-change-heath-shallow-rhine-undermines-europes-waterways-push/
Today we will be cancelling our Rhine Viking Cruise that leaves in September.
This article was posted recently with an interview with the head of the ICPR:
————————————————————————————————–
“‘If it stays dry then we are going to have a big problem,’ said Marc Daniel Heintz, the head of the secretariat at the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR), an organization through which countries coordinate efforts to cut pollution.
Over coffee on the first floor of the ICPR’s office overlooking the Rhine in Koblenz, just meters from where it meets the Moselle, Heintz said it would now take prolonged, torrential rainfall to meaningfully increase the depth.
Such downpours aren’t forecasted for the next two weeks, and levels at the Kaub chokepoint are already lower than they were at the same point in 2018 ahead of that October’s historic low of 25 centimeters.”
Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-rhine-river-climate-change-heath-shallow-rhine-undermines-europes-waterways-push/
On Viking, even with a medical reason, you receive only a partial refund. Viking is keeping almost 50% of the total cruise price with documentation of not being able to travel due to a medical situation reason 88 days out. Read the fine print. The trip insurance is practically worthless.
oops. We board in Basel September 6 going to Amsterdam.
very interested too. We board Viking in Amsterdam September 6.
We personally have a whole ship charter with Croisi Europe, from Passau to Budapest, so we are hopeful. We sail Aug. 19th from Passau to Budapest, disembarking Aug. 23. We will try to post.
The Danube has locks and can hopefully control water levels better than the Rhine. Our MS Douce France has a draft of 1.6 M so we are hopeful. We chartered three ships in 2019 and Croisi has been wonderful to partner with. Soooo looking forward to sunsets on the Danube with a glass of Red and our French chef and the hardworking Croisi crew.
Happy sailing and don’t forget why you want to travel… Flying to MUC soon…. Best wishes to all my fellow river cruising fans. Europe beckons an your neighbors will be home cutting their grass while you hopefully will be sailing with a shallow keel and a happy heart. We’ll toast to you all from Vienna!
Thanks Matt. I cruise from Basil to Amsterdam on August 21. I would appreciate you letting us know how your cruise is progressing. Rain in Basil is promising news.
Thank you so much for the update! We are supposed to be leaving September 1 Amsterdam to Bucharest and are quite concerned. I would appreciate you sharing information along the way. We are traveling with Grand Circle. I called them and they are not giving out information.
We will be on this tour/ Inspire on 8-10. Just received an email fr Tauck, saying river levels may cause disruptions
Kathleen,
We have until the 10th to cancel Viking, same direction. Have you heard any updates?
Stacey, would like to hear about the remaining part of your trip. In 3 days we fly to Amsterdam to do the Grand Tour starting Aug. 14. We do not want to be spending days on a bus instead of cruising on the rivers.
Please let us all know which cruise line cancelled your trip. Thanks!
Does anyone have any news about Viking’s Elegant Elbe River cruises?
Matt keep the updates coming. We leave for cruise A to B on 11th Aug. thanks Diane
Dale, agree with your Viking comments. But keep in mind that not all Viking Boats are in the same condition. The Modi is one of the newer boats which is wonderful. Identical in structure and décor, our 2nd ship was quite worn and in need of simple minor repairs: Cabin carpet, curtains and pull rods etc. Lack of communication re: boat transfers are weak. Also we spent way too much time on our buses, ( ours got lost and we got pulled over by the Police/immigration that wanted to see our passports). I get sick on buses so this was not what I paid for.
On Viking from Basel to Amsterdam. We started on August 5th. We had to switch to a sister boat today. Left Strasbourg by bus to Speyer for that visit. Then bus to Braubach to get on new boat to continue to Koblanz. Missed stopping in Rudesheim completely. Yes it unfortunate, but quite frankly there a bigger things in the world that are problematic. Viking has handled it well. So we had to pack and sit on a bus. As my husband says “First world problems”.
We had a dreadful experience with Apt in 2018.Keepingit simple the cruise should never have left Amerstdam.A glorified bus trip,on a very expensive 15day cruise. A nightmare, low water levels were known by the company prior to DPT,elaborate con then took place.
Thanks Matt. We’re going from Basel to Amsterdam the first week of September so are watching your comments with great interest.
Stacey we are are scheduled for that cruise on Aug.27. It does not sound good. I do not want to do two week bag drag. I would really appreciate an update from you to help me with my cancellation decision.
We bought our cruise in January 2021 under their no risk guarantee. We can cancel up to 24 hours before our flight leaves and get 100% of all monies paid on the form of a voucher.
Please keep us updated…leave Sept 4
How are you able to receive a full refund on your cruise we were considering canceling and bought the additional insurance. But reading over the fine print it looks like it has to be a medical or some type of excuse like that to get the full refund
Day 1 on Viking Amsterdam to Basel.
On the boat in Amsterdam and they say that we ought to be on the boat for 3 days before a possible interruption. Current rain in Basel might help…we’ll see.
Even AMA Waterways are now halted on the Rhine. The Amasiena is docked in Koblenzand unable to proceed through the gorge.
My husband sopke to Viking yesterday about our upcoming cruise and the water levels, sharing with them the fact that due to mobility issues a bus was not a great alternative for us and should we cancel? They assured us there were no issues at present and that we should just stay the course. In reading all these reviews it does concern me about the honesty of the PR people at viking and where the truth lies, I think I know. Wishing fr the best, good luck to al and let it rain at least for a couple of days.
We are on the Alruna 8/13 Amsterdam to Basel. We’re not sure what to expect.
2 questions: How many hours have you been on a bus? How many hours has the ship(s) actually sailed? We paid to cruise the rivers, not spend hours on a bus, and only unpack once for 16 days.
Viking is awful about this situation. Happened to us in 2018 and haven’t book a Viking Cruise since. Their cancellation offer was awful.
We’re currently finishing up a trip on Uniworld’s La Venezia – northern Italy and Venice. We were not able to cruise on the Po river due to low water levels. We did plenty of cruising in the bay with bus trips to some of the sights