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Water Levels On The Rivers Of Europe

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:

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.

August 12, 2022 map data © OpenStreetMap-Mitwirkend Sourced from Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde

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.

2,271 Responses

  2. I would appreciate knowing about the water level sustainability, also. We are scheduled for the Viking Grand European Cruise on Sept. 26th Amsterdam to Budapest. Are things improving along the rivers or do we need to consider canceling?

  3. We are doing the same trip for Oct 19 – Nov 5th. I look forward to any information you may supply particularly about waterlevels and changes to itineary.
    I, too, have been having issues with finalizing seat assignments on Aer Lingus flights through Viking Air.

  4. We did Amsterdam to Basel 8/10-17 and it was wonderful. However, we did have to swap ships. The mid Rhine was too shallow to traverse with the viking boat, so they put us on a river day boat for about 20 miles with free food and drink. This was a castle cruise. We put our luggage out before we left viking, and they transported it to the new viking in the same room. Everything Viking did during during our week was first class to ensure we had a great time. Do not cancel your trip, viking will make it happen.

  7. we are also a party of 6 on the Grand European with Viking – Amsterdam to Budapest – leaving Sept 13-30 (few days in Prague at end) interested to hear from others that might be ahead of us and will be happy to post our experience once we start our cruise – am expecting that we will still go forward with it unless we get word of extended bus transportations etc
    thanks

  9. Thanks for the update Brian! We are going on an Avalon Cruise starting on Friday from Basel to Amsterdam. Kept hearing the water levels were very low and might need to do a swap, but your update makes me feel better.

  10. Thanks for the update Karen. Did you originally embark in Budapest? If you did you’ve done really well to get that far. With a couple of weeks to go before I join Scenic Amber, and a bit of rain on the way, it’s encouraging news. I hope you have had a lovely trip and Scenic met/exceeded expectations (I’ve only cruised with Viking previously).

  11. We are on the Riviera Emily Bronte….travelled today from Boppard to Rudesheim via Rhine Gorge without difficulty and going to Maintz tomorrow. Have been told no water level problems for next few days but levels on the Danube not yet known.
    Have seen a variety of different boats from various companies.
    Will post every couple of days if this helps.

  12. Excellent news.
    We are travelling with APT on 21 st Sept Amsterdam to Budapest do have been monitoring both the Rhine and Danube. Is there anyone else out there going to be doing this trip?

  13. Thanks Brian,
    We depart Basel 8/30 for Amsterdam and appreciate you keeping us all updated on your cruise. Glad we didn’t cancel too.

  14. Any updates on the Viking Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel or Basel to Amsterdam? We’re booked on the B-A cruise on September 14th, and need to make a decision on whether to reschedule. Any info on this trip or current conditions on the Rhine would be appreciated.Thank you.

  15. Thank you so much for the updates. Really appreciate you taking the time to keep others informed. Boarding Viking in Basel on Sept 6 and looking forward to the trip.

  16. We are on the Scenic Amber in Regensburg today& just received word from the captain that we cannot make it to Nuremberg tomorrow due to low water levels. That would have been the disembarkation point for us.

  17. Viking. Basel to Amsterdam. Left 8/19. We are just entering Cologne to begin the last two days of our cruise. There have been no low water level issues for us. Things have gone smoothly and Viking has done a good job. I think we were very lucky to have begun our cruise just after the heavy rains in Switzerland (just before we embarked). I am glad we did not cancel.

  18. Sonia, Which cruise line are you with, leaving Budapest on Sept.28?
    Any chance it is Monarch Empress with Gate 1?

  19. Great to hear! We’re on Viking A-B departing on 8/26. I also see there is rain forecast for Friday and Saturday. Hopefully things will go well

  20. Hi,
    Best check to see if Christmas Markets will be running. The governments may curtail these due to energy crisis iin Germany due to lack of natural gas.

  21. Dawn,
    I will be interested in hearing about your trip, as we are doing the same a week later. I’m especially interested in knowing if you get good seats for the Passion Play. Enjoy! I’ve been waiting 51 years to see it!

  23. We are booked on Uniworld from Amsterdam to Basel leaving 9/4. We have heard nothing concerning any cancellations. Anyone have any information on Uniworld itineraries between now and 9/4?

  26. That’s great news! I’m also traveling on Emerald departing 9/10 from Budapest.

    Please post updates on how your cruise goes! Thanks!

  27. Brian, Thank you for the update. Do you hear any talk about how long the water level will likely be sustained in that area? In other words, has it risen significantly to last a few weeks, or could it fall just as quickly next week?

  28. I’ve received an email from Emerald this morning to inform me that the Mosel/Rhine cruise I am sailing on from Sun 28 Aug will be going ahead as planned!

  29. We are departing from Vienna on the same date heading to Nuremberg. We have made plans for a few days in Vienna prior for departure on the Beatrice that might also need to be cancelled, not to mention the night mare of dealing with fights. Might we be exchanging ships?? After 2 plus years of waiting through Covid this is exasperating to say the least. Guess we will not know anything until right before sailing. Please pass along any updates received.

  30. I’m travelling from Nuremberg to Budapest with Scenic from 8 September. I’ve seen a Viking ship managed to arrive in Budapest yesterday from Passau, but does anyone have any news on the Nuremberg to Passau stretch of the river and/or how the Scenic cruise ships are progressing along the Danube? Thanks in advance.

  32. Just a brief addendum to this post. Despite repeated attempts to get clear information on plans, timelines and alternative for Aug 28 sailing from Basel, we have heard nothing definitive from Uniworld. The lack of communication is disappointing (and embarrassing). For a line that advertises they are the “best”, I expect a lot more than generalized “we will do what is in best interest of passengers”. They instead have opted for what is in THEIR best interest. We did not pay for bussing, hotels or ship swaps. This has long passed the time of an unexpected circumstance and is now a situation where clear communication is required–I should not have to get information from scanning sites like this one. Regardless of whether this goes off without a hitch, I will never be involved with this company again.

  35. Viking. Basel to Amsterdam. Left 8/19/22. Cruise has gone well so far. River has been high enough to keep cruising. Went from Rudesheim to Koblenz today with no problem. Should be able to complete cruise without ship swap or bussing. Very nice cruise.

  36. I believe Ken was a day or two ahead of my trip. I can confirm we made it from Passau to Budapest the whole way on the river. We were one of the first ships in – on August 22nd – after two days of rain. There are many ships here in Budapest today – August 23rd – from various cruise lines. We were are on Viking. Happy sailing!

  37. So happy to hear that conditions have improved and holidays are back on track! I love this site for keeping cruisers informed!

  38. We are flying out of Budapest on Brussels air. We had to call the airline directly to do our seat arrangements ( which surprisingly we had to pay for the seats).

  39. I can see why you would be disappointed in the amount of River cruising. That’s a really big deal with us also. Still glad to hear that you were not subjected to the ship swapping. We are on the Viking Amsterdam to Bucharest on Sept 27th and would hate to spend it all on a bus. Thank you for your input, not sure what we will do yet.

  40. Our travel agent spoke with Ama on 8/17. Our itinerary is Budapest to Vilshofen on Ama in mid-November 2022. I wanted a report as we needed to make our 90-day out payment last Friday (at this point, we are proceeding) . As of five days ago, Ama reports there have been no ship swapping on our section of the Danube. Since then, and I have been monitoring weather reports in the region, the river level has improved.

  41. This is excellent news! I have been following these posts daily, trying to decide what to do about our Sept 7 departure Basel to Amsterdam on Viking. Tomorrow (August 23) is the last day that we would be able to cancel under the risk-free guarantee to receive a voucher for monies paid. I was shocked to learn that the same trip in 2023 is $2100 more per person! Also, that trip insurance will not cover a trip rebooked with a voucher. So we are going forward with our fingers crossed — and feeling hopeful based on the recent reports from current Rhine River cruisers.

  44. Good news !
    We joined the ship today 22 Aug at Cologne (the Emily Bronte with Riviera) and have just had talk from the staff re activities to come. All seems normal,no mention of low water levels at all. We will go to Koblenz and then on to Boppard tomorrow as planned.
    Full complement of passengers is 167 but there are only 79 of us, just two having cancelled.
    Seems to be a lot of cargo boats moving freely so fingers crossed for no alterations to the planned itinerary.

  45. We have a party of six scheduled for a Christmas Markets departure on Uniworld (Passau to Bedapest) on December 1, 2022. We will be on the River Princess.

    We would like to have any information on Uniworld cancellations or diversions by bus on that itinerary and river up until our departure date.

    Thank you so much for your help.

    David

  46. Thank you for the update Susan! This gives me hope. We leave August 25 on the Viking Var from Regensburg heading toward Budapest with stops in Passau and Vienna. We are just going to take it as it comes and enjoy the adventure! We will report our progress here!

  47. Great news! We are sailing on Viking Sept 25 from Passau to Budapest. Glad you have had a nice trip!

  49. That’s fantastic news!! Thank you for updating. We are going 9/10 on Emerald leaving Budapest and this is easing my fears. I just keep hoping for more rain!!

    I hope other cruisers share their updates as well.

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