Low water levels on some of Europe’s rivers are causing headaches for cruise companies as they seek to maintain normal operations.
Europe’s recent heat waves have particularly impacted the Danube where levels are the lowest in 30 years on stretches of the river in Romania.
Water levels on the Rhine and Main rivers are also low with some stretches currently not suitable for navigation.
Avalon was forced to make select cancellations for Avalon Impression, as the ship was unable to reach the embarkation location for several cruises.
“Avalon has a long history of making every effort to keep cruise itineraries intact. When Mother Nature makes other plans, we work closely with our guests to present alternate experiences and opportunities, so they can determine how they'd like to navigate their next steps and journey,” Avalon noted on its website.
Scenic said its local operations teams continue to monitor conditions and review sailing schedules on an ongoing basis.
“If any changes are anticipated to an upcoming sailing, affected guests and their travel advisors will be contacted directly as a priority with further information,” said Scenic.
Other river cruise lines, including Viking and AmaWaterways, are also making modifications to some itineraries.
Viking has a fleet of sister ships and is able to transfer guests around affected sections of the rivers while maintaining cabin assignments and onboard experiences.
“This approach helps preserve itineraries and reduce disruptions to the guest experience,” Viking said in a statement.
All cruise lines advise booked passengers to contact their travel advisors for updates on sailings.
And while river cruise operators love to see blue skies over Europe, their hopes for some dark clouds may soon be realised. German authorities are predicting rain later in July.