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.
Any current updates are appreciated. We leave November 17 and was curious about any disruptions. Thanks.
Got on Viking in Budapest Nov 4th, heading to Vienna for tomorrow. River levels are fine. No disruptions.
Thanks for the update!
In Budapest now. Getting on our ship tomorrow. Our ship is here as are many others. Looks like the water levels are fine now
Can anyone update water level from Koblenz to Basel on the Rhine? Thank you
We continue to have no disruptions to our Passau to Budapest Viking river cruise. Our captain says he doesn’t anticipate any problems with low water levels. We are enjoying Krems today.
We are sailing Budapest to regensburg boarding on Oct 29. Any updates would be appreciated. At this time, Viking is saying we will board in Budapest. No interruptions to itinerary.
Thank you Patti. We’re traveling Budapest to Regensburg starting Nov 4th. Any further updates are appreciated. Enjoy your trip!
We are on a Viking cruise from Passau to Budapest. Left Passau today with no problem. So far no problems anticipated for low water levels per Viking. It’s drizzly today but mild temps. We were able to get our walking tour of Passau in today with no rain.
Hello Barbara we are embarking from Budapest the 24 for the grand European cruise
I just got an email that we have to embark at Komaron 60 miles up .
I called the Viking asking more questions but no clear answer.
Please if you hear something else please let me knows
See my comment today
Please see my comments below
Update we received an email at 6.30 pm today to say our itinerary had changed (36 hrs notice) the new itinerary was for 5 days in Austria with the option of going to Bratislava by coach on day 3 If we accepted grey would give us a 10% refund and £50 holiday voucher The other option was to rebook betweenNov 23 and Oct 24 We didn’t want either of these options and when we rang asking for a refund The guy said he would have to discuss with his senior and would ring back Half an hour later he did and said it had been approved. So we will be refunded but very disappointed as it’s too late to book anything else for our planned dates
Viking provided a bus for the Budapest excursion; we had done that excursion before so we stayed in Kamarom for the day. Not much there to see, but it’s a nice little town; had a coffee in the town square.
Considering all the issues, Viking did a great job taking care of us, but it definitely affected our trip, sad to say. Two hours on a bus at Passau, and we weren’t able to do a morning excursion in Nuremberg. We also lost a day in Budapest, and then a half-day because of a lock workers’ strike.
We sailed from Budapest to Amsterdam, starting on October 4th, arrived in Amsterdam on the 19th.
Water was low in Budapest, so all ships were forced to leave early; we left a day early, docked in Kamarom, and then excursions were run by bus from there.
Then in Passau, we had to swap ships because of low water; it wasn’t as bad as I expected, but forced a 2-hour bus ride.
Finally, a lock workers’ strike stopped us for 7 hours in the middle of the night.
We are embarking in Budapest to go to Vienna on 24th with Tui we had an email last Wednesday to say they were monitoring the water levels and would let us know if they have to change the itinerary We have heard nothing since with 4 days to go !
Hi there, as of the past 2 days there are no ships travelling to Budapest from Vienna as the water levels are too low. Also between Nuremberg and Passeau. So a change of ships is required and some bus trips between ports. We have just disembarked from an Amsterdam to Budapest Cruise.
We received the following message this morning….our Emerald cruise was suppose to start today. Very late notice.
“due to low water between Bratislava and Vienna, Emerald Sky is unable to reach Budapest for the embarkation of your cruise. Therefore, we have had to make the decision to move the first night of your cruise to a hotel stay to allow for the commencement of your itinerary”
Plans are to bus us to Bratislava for a tour and then continue bussing to Vienna where are cruise is suppose to start.
Hi, We are supposed to be sailing on Viking from Vienna to Bucharest starting on Oct 29. Does anybody have an idea of how the water levels may impact our trip?
We are supposed to board in Budapest on Oct 24th. Not sure what is happening
Same! Also curious.
We are leaving from Passau to Budapest October 23rd on Viking. Is anyone on the Danube currently and have a water level report?? Just received an email from Viking stating low water levels.
Thank you for the update. We appreciate hearing the latest information.
Please keep posting on water levels and how the cruise lines are handling the changes to itineraries. I’ve asked Viking what their contingency plans are and am not getting any information. I’m trying to find out if they will be running shuttle service back into Budapest or if we are on our own.
Hi everyone about to embark on a Danube cruise to Budapest.
We returned yesterday from an Imagine Cruising holiday on the A-Rosa Donna starting on 7th October and finishing on 14th October. We started at Englehartszell near Passau and we were supposed to go to Budapest and back to Englehartszell, but we couldn’t go past Bratislava due to low water levels and were unable to visit Budapest. This caused significant disappointment and disruption to our holiday.
We understand this problem also occurred the previous week. We feel we should have been told and given the opportunity to cancel. Be warned if you are about to embark on a Danube cruise.
Scheduled to depart Regensberg October 21 s@7:00 PM. Between now and then there is rain in the forecast. This will likely raise the river levels a bit.
We are also embarking in Budapest on Oct 24th with Avalon Waterways. I haven’t heard anything yet about what’s going on. What company are you travelling with.
I’m also on that cruise Fred. Hoping no issues but I haven’t seen anything
We are sailing then, too (Oct 28-Nov 5), and I’m curious about the water levels, also. We took a Viking trip on the Rhine a few years ago, and it was great! Looking forward to another memorable trip!
Can you please keep us updated on this as you cruise? We sail next week and have been told nothing.
Can you update the low water situation as you cruise please? We leave out of Budapest on October 28th.
We are embarking from Budapest on Oct 24. Does anyone know if water levels will still be low. We’ve never done a river cruise before and are wondering how this affects the entire cruise. Seems like you would miss a huge part of the trip . Todays the 10th for you and I’m wondering how it the process. Seems like a let down..
Helen, I’m looking for the same information as Bill. Since the boat is docked in Komarno, does Viking provide any type of transportation Budapest and back for people that want to tour the city on their own? Not part of one of Vikings organized excursions?
Thank you, any information is appreciated
Hi Roberta, reading all the comments on here – did anyone actually manage to get ashore in Miltenberg this year?
Hello Helen, Since you are not arriving in Budapest did Viking provide transportation into Budapest so you can tour the city and get back to the ship?
Sailing on Viking 10/13-10/20 Budapest to Regensburg. Was just told Budapest water levels are too low to sail, so ship will depart from Komárom, with tours bused from there. Also this: “due to low water levels near Passau, there is a possibility your ship will be unable to reach its regular disembarkation port in Regensburg. If this occurs, on Day 7 your Regensburg shore excursions will operate out of Passau (75 miles east of Regensburg) by motorcoach, and on Day 8 you will disembark from Passau. Your Program Director will have more information once you are onboard.”
May be bused from Komarno, not Bratislava. We were told it would be 1.5 hour trip by bus.
On the Viking Grand European Tour Amsterdam to Budapest 9/26-10/10. Water was too low Regensburg to Passau. We switched ships. Just received word tonight that Danube is too low for us to reach Budapest. We will do Vienna tomorrow and the next day. The remaining trip will be busing from the ship at Bratislava to Budapest 1.5hr each way.
Was due to sail Budapest to Vienna on Monday 9 Oct with Titan. Told today water too low for Budapest so cruise will start from Komarno and we’ll be bused from Airport to Komarno then following day be bused Komarno to Budapest for city tour before being bused back to start cruise from Komarno!
I am sailing on Viking from Budapest to Regensburg Oct 28-Nov 5. Is anyone sailing on the Danube now? How are the water levels? Are there any problems?
Have there been low water levels on the Douro River? River cruising the end out Oct. 2023.
I also am curious where the Rhine water levels are at. We leave from Basel on October 2 to Amsterdam
I’m wondering about Rhine water levels too. We cruise on Alruna this Saturday from Basel
I’m wondering too. We cruise on Alruna this Saturday
How are the water levels ,currently, on the Mosel?
Thank you!
Left Basel on August 28th, will be in Koblenz in a few hours. Water levels are fine and actually have been rising. We head west on the Mosel, so can’t say for the northern Rhine.
Hi Nick! We are doing the same route, but departing on Sept 15th. I’d love an update from your trip if you’ve got the time when you return. Hoping all is smooth sailing!
We just finished Avalon Danube Dreams with 2 Nights in Prague (Eastbound). We boarded the Avalon Impression in Vilshofen and ended in Budapest with no water level problems. The temperatures were in the nineties all week with just a brief shower one morning.