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High Water Disrupts European River Cruises
The Bad of River Cruising – High Water
I’ve seen several reports about recent high water levels forcing changes to river cruise itineraries. Cruise lines are canceling ports, delaying cruises, and busing passengers to the next stop.
Almost all river cruise lines have been grounded on Upper Rhine River due to high water. Those affected are Emerald Waterways, CroisiEurope, Viking River Cruises, Uniworld, Scenic and APT. Rivers affected are the Rhine, Rhône, Saône, Danube and Seine rivers.
As reported by Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com), below are the statements and changes made by the river cruise companies.
APT:
APT is monitoring the effects of the high water levels currently affecting lock and bridge access to river ships on the Rhine, Rhône & Saône rivers. As yet, APT has only had minimal disruptions to ships including AMAReina on the Rhine, and in France AMADagio, whose passengers will disembark in Avignon instead of Arles.
CroisiEurope:
CroisiEurope is maintaining all itineraries on the Rhine with a stopover in Mannheim instead of Strasbourg. All itineraries on the Rhône are also going ahead. However, due to the high water levels and for safety reasons, CroisiEurope is offering full-day itineraries by coach while the affected ships move to the next stop on the itinerary where guests then re-embark.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection:
Sections of the upper Rhine remain closed to sailing; however, Uniworld anticipate shipping to reopen on the river in the next day or two. Alternate touring plans and options are in place for passengers onboard the River Queen and River Empress, and Uniworld has offered compensation to passengers on these sailings.
Water levels on the Rhône in France have caused Uniworld’s SS Catherine to remain in port in Lyon for three days. Passengers embarked on May 3 in Lyon on schedule, according to the line. The ship will remain in Lyon through today (May 6) — when the line expects the river to reopen to shipping — and will begin cruising toward Avignon. Additional tours are being provided via motor coach.
Viking River Cruises:
Viking has had to make adjustments to the cruise schedules of several ships sailing on the Rhine, Danube, Rhône and Seine Rivers. Guests who are scheduled to depart within the next week and whose cruise itinerary has been adjusted will be contacted directly; guests currently traveling and in need of assistance are asked to call their vessel’s telephone number.
So far only Viking River Cruises has announced any adjustments:
May 6: Portraits of Southern France (Avignon to Chalon) aboard Viking Delling — Guests embarking on Viking Delling will be staying at Hotel Novotel Avignon Centre for the first two nights. (Novotel Avignon Centre phone: +33 (0) 432 74 70 10)
May 6: Paris & the Heart of Normandy (Paris to Paris) aboard Viking Neptune — Paris embarkation and docking location will be Quai Maurice Berteaux in Le Pecq instead of Quai de Grenelle in Paris.
May 8: Rhine Getaway (Amsterdam to Basel) aboard Viking Mani — This cruise will now take place on sister ship, Viking Eir.
May 8: Rhine Getaway (Basel to Amsterdam) aboard Viking Eir — This cruise will now take place on sister ship, Viking Mani.
