There are problems for river cruises operating along a number of European waterways this week, as record-breaking flooding along the Danube and Elbe Rivers.
The beautiful city of Passau, Germany is under nearly 42 feet of water – the worst flooding to hit that city in over 500 years. Photographs taken last week in Passau show water covering streets and inundating buildings nearly up to the famous Baroque Dom that typically towers high above the city. Now, it is nearly at water level.
The situation in Passau is so dire that the town’s electrical supply has been turned off, and damage to structures is expected to be substantial.
The berths where river cruise ships typically tie up are completely submerged. The water reportedly surged so quickly that streets were covered in water in as little as 30 minutes. Passau is also notable for having markers on buildings indicating where the water level of the 1954 flood rose to – but these, too, are submerged.
Flooding has also hit major ports of call that include Bratislava, Prague, Dresden, Magdeburg, and Budapest, where the Danube has reached the steps of the Hungarian Parliament buildings and has fully engulfed tram lines and the lower Danube promenade. The town of Melk has also experienced flooding, along with The waters of the Danube have almost reached the underside of the famous Chain Bridge, though reports indicate that barriers erected by the city seem to be holding for now.
Travel via water remains difficult on the Elbe and the Danube, both of which are still closed or face heavy traffic restrictions.
There have been numerous sailing changes and departure cancellations for river cruises scheduled to depart in the near future. While we have detailed these below, it is important to remember that towns like Passau are facing a disaster on a scale that simply doesn’t exist in recent memory, and that once the water levels on the Danube return to normal, it will take months – if not years – to fully recover. Visitors expecting to call on these cities should remain flexible with their travel plans over the next coming months, as cruise and tourism infrastructure may be limited.
Some itinerary changes and cancellations, current as of Monday, June 10:
Avalon Waterways:
No new cancellations or modifications from last week.
AmaWaterways:
No new modifications or updates for cruises departing after this date, though port and ship swaps may still occur.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises:
Cancelled:
- June 16, European Jewels departure on the River Empress.
Modified:
- June 16, 2013 | River Ambassador (Vienna to Belgrade)
The program will operate as planned onboard the River Empress. We will be contacting all bookings today to advise of the ship change.
- June 23, 2013 | River Ambassador (Belgrade to Vienna)
The program will operate as planned. Embarkation will take place in Belgrade on June 23 onboard the River Empress. On approximately June 27 in Budapest, we will change over to the River Ambassador and finish the cruise on that ship. Please note the date and location of the changeover is subject to change without notice. We will be contacting all bookings today to advise of the ship change.
Viking River Cruises:
Cancelled:
- June 12th Romantic Danube (Nuremberg to Budapest) aboard Viking Odin
- June 12th Romantic Danube (Budapest to Nuremberg) aboard Viking Freya
- June 15th Elegant Elbe (Berlin to Prague) aboard Viking Fontane
- June 15th Elegant Elbe (Prague to Berlin) aboard Viking Schumann
Modified:
- June 12th Grand European Tour (Budapest to Amsterdam) aboard Viking Sky — This cruise will begin on Viking Legend. Due to water levels, the ship will not be in the normal port of embarkation. Viking representatives will meet all guests at the airport—regardless of whether or not air/transfers were purchased from Viking—and transport guests to where the ship is. There will also be a representative at the normal port of embarkation near the Chain Bridge in Budapest, along with transportation to the ship’s current docking location. When Viking Legend meets up with the Viking Sky along the Danube River, guests will be transferred to their original ship and the itinerary will then proceed as scheduled, with minor additional alterations necessary.
- June 15th Romantic Danube (Budapest to Nuremberg) aboard Viking Njord — There is a possibility that this cruise will now take place on a sister ship (Longship, built 2012). Aside from the possible ship switch, this itinerary is expected to proceed as scheduled, with minor additional alterations if necessary.
- June 15th Romantic Danube (Nuremberg to Budapest) aboard Viking Idun — There is a possibility that this cruise will now take place on a sister ship (Longship, built 2012). Aside from the possible ship switch, this itinerary is expected to proceed as scheduled, with minor additional alterations if necessary.
- June 16th Grand European Tour (Amsterdam to Budapest) aboard Viking Bragi — There is a possibility this cruise will now take place on a sister ship (Longship, built 2013). Aside from the possible ship switch, this itinerary is expected to proceed as scheduled, with minor additional alterations if necessary.
- June 16th Grand European Tour (Budapest to Amsterdam) aboard Viking Skadi — There is a possibility this cruise will now take place on a sister ship (Longship, built 2013). Aside from the possible ship switch, this itinerary is expected to proceed as scheduled, with minor additional alterations if necessary.
- June 16th Romantic Danube (Nuremberg to Budapest) aboard MS Vienna — Depending on river conditions and the ability of the ship to reach its port of embarkation in time for departure, this cruise may experience alterations. We will continue to monitor the situation closely in the coming weeks and if necessary, we will contact guests ahead of departure to alert them of possible changes.
- June 19th Romantic Danube (Budapest to Nuremberg) aboard Viking Odin — There is a possibility that this cruise will now take place on a sister ship (Longship, built 2012). Aside from the possible ship switch, this itinerary is expected to proceed as scheduled, with minor additional alterations if necessary.
- June 19th Romantic Danube (Nuremberg to Budapest) aboard Viking Freya — There is a possibility that this cruise will now take place on a sister ship (Longship, built 2012). Aside from the possible ship switch, this itinerary is expected to proceed as scheduled, with minor additional alterations if necessary.
River cruisers scheduled to depart in the next few weeks are advised to contact their travel agent or river cruise line for the exact status of their sailing.
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