Europe River Cruises Upended by Record-Low Rhine, Danube Levels as Drought Disrupts 100s of Trips
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 28
Europe River Cruises Upended by Record-Low Rhine, Danube Levels as Drought Disrupts 100s of Trips
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 28
Summary
Hundreds of river cruise itineraries across Europe have been disrupted this summer, with ships running aground, excursions canceled and passengers shifted onto long bus transfers.
Record-low water on the Rhine and Danube followed weeks of scorching heat and widespread drought that have drained several river basins at the same time since July.
Single-digit centimeter readings near Kaub on Germany’s Rhine have blocked access to major ports including Frankfurt, while parts of the Danube in Romania and Serbia fell to 30-year lows.
The breakdown has hit a travel segment prized for easy, unpack-once itineraries, turning what is usually smooth late-summer sailing into exhausting, stop-and-start vacations.