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.
I’m currently on the Viking Vili halfway into our trip travelling Budapest to Amsterdam. We have been very fortunate as we will make it the whole way on the same boat. Though the water levels are very high so we are not allowed on the top deck (all the railings have been removed) because the bridges are low. There isn’t a way to predict what it will be like on your trips as the weather makes the determination and conditions can change quickly. We have been lucky, sunny weather every day but hot.
Yes, what can you tell me? Thanks………Nick who is scheduled to depart Basel on Sept. 1st
We’re boarding the Viking Atla on 9/3 for the cruise to Budapest. I don’t think that low water will be a problem. I’ve been keeping an eye on the water levels using this site… https://www.pegelonline.wsv.de/gast/karte/standard
You can check the Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany 10-Day Weather Forecast here… https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/de/regensburg
Do you do the Danube? We are going 9/3. We are worried about low water
Hi Joy – yes I am wondering too. We are travelling Budapest to Amsterdam in September so, I have everything crossed that the levels will be perfect 🙂
Anyone on a Viking River Cruise Basel to Amsterdam? Wondering about the water levels?
Is there anyone on the Basel to Amsterdam VIking now that can tell me how the water levels are?
We took the Amsterdam to Basel cruise July 12-19 and water levels were normal. They told us as water levels sink, certain areas of the Rhine will be impassible as soon as the following week. All in all great cruise and breathtaking scenery through the middle Rhine valley.
Travelled from Amsterdam to Budapest leaving Amsterdam 15th May on Emerald and completed the whole trip without issue. It was amazing, weather was about mid 20’s most days, pleasant to walk about and enjoy the lovely villages.
I decided that May would be the best time to travel as the river levels would be quite good after the winter and it proved correct.
Thank you Roberta for your updates on the water levels. We are cruising Budapest on Amsterdam the end of August so keeping a close eye on how the levels are affecting cruising. It does seem to be a day by day thing though.
Where did you swap ships. We are doing the same trip late August
The Viking Lif (Amsterdam to Bucharest) has had no problems with the water levels as the rains have been daily – light showers to 15-min downpours. We are approaching Budapest today (Aug 1) and the crew does not anticipate any trouble to the end. But then again, we are past the crucial Regensberg-Passau stretch.
We just did Budapest to Amsterdam and there was a stretch that too low so it impacted several days of our trip, we were bussed (5hours on bus) and had to switch boats. Still had a good vacation and they really worked hard to make it smooth, but that part wasn’t ideal.
Update – Sun July 30 – Vienna Austria
We made it past the point of no return – Regensburg to Passau. More water in the river than just the minimum depth needed. Melk and Krems were a breeze and we had good docking locations in both, with Viking offering several shuttles to City Center in Krems.
Today in Vienna – We docked a full 2 hours ahead of schedule. So far (1723 Vienna time) we have had two HUGE rain storms. Came down in buckets for a good 15 minutes each time. I think we will be alright for the rest of the trip to Bucharest, and anyone who started a cruise in Amsterdam or Bucharest in the last 7 days should have more than enough river depth to cruise through easily. If the rains do not keep up their daily appearance, no matter the volume, then it might be back to touch and go. I’d teach you all my rain dance if this was a video. Of course, you would also need Meg as a good luck charm.
Thanks for the update. Please keep us posted on the water levels when you are onboard the river cruise ship.
Our neighbors just got back from a Viking Danube cruise and had to disembark at Passau. They were then bused to another ship to continue. The passengers on the other ship did the same, basically just swapping ships.
Roberta,
I’m so glad it has rained for you. Hopefully by the time you get to Regensburg, the sky will be blue and you can wander around the town, as I think the cruise ships dock very close to the centre. Hopefully all good till you get to Passau.
CD – guess I am finding out that my friend was correct in a way, and that you are correct in a way. Viking does NOT always supply hourly buses from docking to city center. I contacted Viking time and time again asking for specifics. In Cologne. We were 1st docked a 45-min bus ride to town. The ship moved while we were in town on tours or doing your own thing, but you still needed to catch one of the buses to return to the new docking area which was still a good 15-min bus ride away from city center, in the middle of an industrial area, and not ON the Rhine or Main River itself. And we only learned of the docking locations the night before we hit Cologne.
For the Miltenberg docking, we docked in Freudenberg, a 15-min bus ride north, and there was only one bus to go there and one bus to return to the ship.
Bamberg – docked a 25-min bus ride away with only one bus to go back to the new docking location 10-mins away. Most of the passengers were at the bus pickup point 1 to 2 hours earlier than the scheduled pick up time – not convenient at all. Because the ship was on the move between the docking times, there could be no other shuttle buses arranged.
So if this is complaining, I am of that group. If Viking had been honest and forthcoming in answering my scheduling questions, I would not be AS upset. I could have planned my time accordingly, rather than be shocked that instead of being in Regensberg at 8:30a with time to do a self-tour in the morning after breakfast and then joining the included tour at 2p after lunch, with free time in Regensberg until 6p,.But we did not dock there until 12;30p – only finding that out the night before. It was a waste of my time to research things to do, to plan and print a routing, only to be disappointed.
I’m just stating the obvious. Viking should be upfront with a paying customer before a trip when asked a direct question.
Meg! You must have been our good luck charm.
Our Viking Program Director told us yesterday, that with the rains the area has been having, the home office has cleared us for a direct sailing – NO BUS TRANSFER! Yeaaaaaaaa!
And with the rains we had in Bamberg yesterday, all day, the rivers must be even higher.
GREAT NEWS! Our Viking Program Director told us yesterday, that with the rains the area has been having, the home office has cleared us for a direct sailing – NO BUS TRANSFER! Yeaaaaaaaa!
And with the rains we had in Bamberg yesterday, all day, the rivers must be even higher.
Viking needs to get their act together, it’s Americans who keep those River cruises floating. We have done several
Hi Roberta
Hopefully as you weren’t able to dock at Miltenberg, you maybe able to dock in Bamberg close to town and enjoy a bit of a walk around and not have 5 hours docked in middle of “nowhere”.
I guess the big test is coming up soon when you arrive in Passau.
Thanks for all your reporting. I’m very interested in how your cruise is going.
Have been watching the European weather and have my fingers crossed for you.
We did a trip from Amsterdam touring through the Netherlands and into Belgium with Avalon Waterways. It included a tour to Kuekenhof Gardens. It was excellent although be prepared as our weather was fairly cool. I think there’s less chance of low water levels in the spring.
In 2022 we did a river cruise in July with Scenic. It was exceptional with a number of excellent Signature experiences but we did have to change boats due to low water levels. However, the experience was painless . We were bused between ships and the crew handled the luggage transfer. Slightly disappointing not to cruise into Budapest, but we were bused in from where we’d docked, about an hour on the bus.
That was our first river cruise and it was a first rate experience.
Water levels have been good, but we are still on the Rhein. Yesterday, instead of being docked in Miltenberg, we were docked in Freudenberg – a 15-min bus ride away. Again, no explanation and there were no other Viking and/or other cruise ships docked in Miltenberg.
Today, unless you take one of their optional pay excursions, you are stuck on the ship a full 5-hours longer than those who took an optional tour, even the one that is IN Wurzburg. A total rip-off.
Bernard – I was sure hoping that this would not be the case, but you are correct. The lies, misinformation, concealment of information has really saddened this trip. I inquired numerous times to different Viking Reps – when and where do we dock so I can plan my day accordingly. Although I knew times would be approximate, I was NEVER told that unless you take one of their optional pay excursions, you would not be getting off the ship until hours later, thus eating up the time you have in a particular city. Also, chances are you will not dock close enough to walk to-and-from the ship to break up the time there, use the restroom, rest your tired feet and legs, etc. I have already commented on the Cologne disaster and today’s visit to Wurzburg had me in tears. If you took the Hiking the Hills PAID excursion, you were off and exploring at 8:30am and getting into Wurzburg a full 5 hours before the rest of us. I asked if I could hitch a ride to the starting point and NOT go on the tour – NO!
I guess the biggest disappointment is being LIED to. Do not lie to me and do not ignore me are my only two rules. I can handle NO and I can always work around what I find out. Also, it would have influenced my decision of what shore excursions to take and IF I would take Viking AT ALL. Maybe that’s their point – hide the bad. So sad. If you are booked for a Viking cruise, get out now. Rebook with River Cruise Advisors and DO take their advise, their suggested cruises, and more importantly, maybe ones that they will be on themselves.
new update – according to my fantastic cabin lady (housekeeper) Eva, they reported light rains in Amsterdam and parts of Germany. She said the crew has been told that this might be enough to keep us from changing ships. They are monitoring it daily. Fingers, toes and eyes are crossed.
Well here’s an interesting development. This was one of the news feeds that came up today and caught my attention – https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/amsterdam-bans-cruise-ships-to-limit-visitors/ar-AA1e8Krs?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=37edc269667b4fc4823ec99f5a8ef33f&ei=8
Looks like Amsterdam is going to close their cruise port. The article did not clarify if this was only to LARGE ships, or ALL ships. The only thing I can say or add is the pot smoking is really prevalent and if you don’t like the smell, it’s sometimes overpowering. And it was wall-to-wall tourists until you got off the main streets.
As far as the cruise goes, it’s only day 3 and we hit Cologne today. Unfortunately, the Viking Lif had to dock a 45-min bus ride from the City Center. No real explanation was given. And when the ship caught up to us IN Cologne, it was not a walkable distance from CC to the ship, but Viking arranged bus shuttles – on the hour going INTO Cologne, on the half for the return to ship, from 2p until 5:30p being the last shuttle back.
Then we set sail again around 6:30p and not the expected 10p, but docking once again in Wesseling to pick up the folks who took the Optional Dinner w/Beer Excursion, who were bused from dinner to Wesseling.
All-in-all, I think this is going to be a “go-with-the-flow” trip because there’s not much you can do about it.
We’re planning a trip from Budapest to Amsterdam next May (2024). Does anyone have any reliable forecasting tools so we can make a decision this month, before we finalize our trip?
Hi Roberta
I have been monitoring your blogs for some months now and you always offer ideas and sound advice, for which I am very grateful.
Although this year I won’t be travelling till November and on the Seine, I am always interested on how the water levels are on the Amsterdam to Budapest trip, which is my favourite
Thank you again Roberta for your reports. I’d be very interested to see how your cruise goes.
Will also be cruising in July. Was scheduled to board the Viking Vidar on July 19th in Amsterdam. Just received an email from Viking – we will be boarding the Viking Lif instead. I have been tracking the Vidar for 2 months now and it looks like they can’t get past Passau. There’s a post below that mentioned they had to leave the ship Regensberg and bus to Passau. Looks like this is what will probably happen unless some of you know a good rain dance.
Viking Var June 30 docked at Passau. Next day 90 mins Bus to Regensburg for the day trip. Smooth cruise from there to Budapest. Lots of ships in Passau waiting it out. Levels varied day by day
Hi, Just finished a cruise with Travelmarvel from Amsterdam to Budapest. Low Water passed Nuremberg so we had our tours of Nuremberg and then carried on by coach to Passau and joined a sister ship, completely identical, we had the same cabin number etc. A very smooth transition and carried on to Budapest.
If you’re up to it, a lot of ships have bicycles you can take.
Hi Ray. Thanks for the update. Were water levels too low? Which cruise line? Did they do a ship swap?
We leave cruise on July 13 Amsterdam to Budapest on Viking. Any updates would be appreciated!
Could not cruise from
Passau to Regensburg
at very end of June 2023.
Thanks for that great up-to-the minute news. I sure hope things stay this way throughout the summer.
We just completed a Viking Budapest to Amsterdam cruise and water levels were perfect. No delays, no ship changes, no bussing! All was perfect.
Thx for sharing Mike!
We are on a Basel to Amsterdam Viking cruise right now. We did the Lake Como pre trip which was terrific and enjoyed a spectacular ride over the Alps to Basel on Friday, with a lunch stop in Lucerne. The Rhine water level is fine and the ship and crew are amazing! We dock in Strasbourg tomorrow and the only glitch is we can’t dock downtown due to construction on a pier or bridge, can’t remember which but I guess it’s going to be that way all season. Viking will be running shuttles all day to accommodate the passengers.
Hi
Just returned (27 may) from Amsterdam Budapest cruise with Amadeus. No water level problems or any “talk” of problems. Water levels in all rivers look to be “high” we had one small scrape under a bridge on the Main but that’s all. Weather brilliant with both warm (24) afternoons and cold mornings/nights (10).
Hope you enjoy your trip
0
Hi
Had dreadful experience. 2018 October (early). Amsterdam to Budapest with AP.
Glorified bus trip and 2 boats used, many alternative last minutes hotel stays, and long bus trips to new desitnations/hotel accom. Very little river cruising.
With great difficulty finally got a 30% refund. Crew did their very best, it was dealing with the company that left its mark, a traumatising and difficult time which we will never forget!
Thanks Sylvia! Good to hear! I was worried the water levels were dropping more quickly than last year. I realize a lot can change between now and mid July but hopeful our timing is right!
Exactly!
It is difficult to say! We did the same last year & although people on river cruises were complaining about hotels & being buses, Viking spoke person always said there were no problems… when there is outright lying it makes it difficult to make a sensible decision… as it turned out, if we had gone last year we probably would have changed ship once and bused for a few hours….. but with the misinformation we could not trust Viking… the sad part, practically criminal is they keep your money for a year, then increase the cost of the trip by 50% for the next year…
That is it, blame the customer!
We just returned from a Viking cruise Amsterdam to Budapest May 5-22, 2023. There were showers most days and water levels were high. We had to swap ships in Regensburg but Viking made the swap very easy. All in all a great cruise.
That’s Budapest, not Bucharest…
It’s a bit strange that we’re not seeing a lot of response by this time in the season! I’m hoping that rivers are flowing well!
Hi Craig,
Not travelling until November on the Seine, but nevertheless very interested in all rivers levels. Last year travelled from Budapest to Amsterdam in mid October and had no problems with water levels.
What have you found out, we are doing the same cruise Sept 12. Craig N