Low Water Levels Disrupt European River Cruise Operations
Low water levels caused by a sustained period of drought this summer are disrupting river cruise operations on some of Europe’s major waterways, including the Danube and the Rhine.
Water levels in European rivers
A hot summer with a prolonged spell of drought in Europe is causing all kinds of problems for locals and tourists alike.
The extremely dry weather conditions are fuelling wildfires in countries like Spain, France and Greece, while other European countries are grappling with low river water levels.
The low water levels in major European rivers such as the Danube and Rhine are creating tons of issues for shipping.
Because of the low water levels, transport companies have been forced to reduce the loads on their river barges to prevent them from running aground.
On certain river stretches in Europe, local authorities have been forced to restrict shipping traffic due to the limited space available for vessels to manoeuvre.
How low water levels affect river cruises
The low water levels in major European rivers such as the Danube and Rhine are also affecting the river cruise industry.
River cruise ships face similar constraints to barges, with vessels having to navigate traffic restrictions on stretches of river affected by low water levels, disrupting originally planned itineraries.
In Germany, stretches of the lower and middle Rhine, as well as the upper Danube, have recorded low water levels that are approaching previous records or even breaking them.
The river gauge in Cologne measured the Rhine at just 67 centimetres – two centimetres below the previous record low set in October 2018.
Fabian Spiess, deputy managing director of the German Inland Navigation Association (BDB), explained that there is “generally” no official closure of the Rhine during periods of low water, unlike during times of extreme high water.
Mr Spiess said that “shipping continues as long as it is physically and safely possible”.
Danube
The low river water levels are also causing disruption to shipping in countries along the Danube, such as Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
The river cruise ship Viking Ullur ran aground on a sandbank in shallow waters on the Danube near the Bulgarian city of Vidin.
A total of 186 cruise passengers on board had to be brought ashore by Bulgarian river police boats.
Docking
On the Danube, several other low-water-related issues are affecting the river cruise industry this summer.
In Budapest, docking has become a major challenge for river cruise ships.
Water levels in the Danube in the Hungarian capital have fallen so much that ships can no longer reach the quays to dock safely, making it impossible to transfer passengers on and off the vessels.
This has led to several river cruises having to transfer their passengers by bus to the nearest river port where cruise ships can dock, which in the case of Budapest is currently Komárom, just over 90 kilometres (56 miles) away by road.
What to do if you have an upcoming river cruise
European river cruises have grown increasingly popular in recent years, especially among overseas visitors such as Americans.
Dozens of river cruise lines operate on European waterways, with ships of various sizes.
This makes it difficult to predict how the current drought and low water levels will affect your river cruise, as the impact depends on your itinerary and the size of your vessel.
While there are currently many issues affecting river cruises on the Danube and Rhine, other popular European cruise waterways, such as the Douro, are facing fewer or no disruptions.
As always, it is best to contact your cruise operator directly to inquire about the latest developments.
Last minute changes
Even when you embark on your European river cruise, you should still take into account possible last minute changes to your itinerary.
Due to the extremely low water levels and uncertainty over whether the drought will continue, cruise ship captains may only be able to decide at the very last minute whether they can proceed to the next river port.
As a result, it is possible that:
– Certain intermediate stops may be cancelled altogether.
– The cruise company may replace one destination with another where docking is possible.
– Parts of your itinerary may be covered by bus instead of by cruise ship.
– If a certain section of river is blocked, you may have to bypass it by bus and transfer to another river cruise ship on the other side.
Conclusion
An unusually severe summer drought across Europe has affected water levels on some of the continent’s major waterways, with shipping on rivers such as the Rhine and Danube currently being impacted.
This has led to several river cruise itineraries being disrupted, as ships can no longer dock in certain cities or navigate certain sections of river.
If you have a river cruise booked in Europe this summer, be aware that your itinerary could change at the very last minute, with stops being cancelled or passengers being taken by bus to their destination instead of travelling by ship.
