Extremely Low Water Levels Disrupting European River Cruises

Earlier this month, I embarked on my inaugural river cruise along the Rhine, with an itinerary that included stops in the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Switzerland. I was excited to explore Amsterdam's many museums and stroll through the vineyard villages of Alsace. However, as we set sail from the Netherlands, a persistent sight along the riverbank was a thick white waterline stretching from Germany to Switzerland. It starkly highlighted the difference between the water levels of the past and the current depressingly low state.

To avoid running aground, our ship navigated slowly and cautiously, as certain sections of the Rhine are notoriously tricky due to hidden rocks, especially with the diminished water levels. Although I still managed to experience many of the sights I had anticipated, the entire cruise itinerary was impacted, resulting in significantly less time in ports due to our slower progress. My journey on the Rhine with AmaWaterways was just one of many river cruises this summer feeling the repercussions of climate change, which has caused severe drought and alarmingly low water levels across Europe.

Throughout the continent, a historic heat wave and a volatile Gulf Stream—which typically brings rainfall to Europe—have led to many inland waterways effectively drying up, affecting both cruising and trade vessels. Authorities in Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria overseeing the Danube, a crucial cruising artery in Europe, have begun emergency dredging (removing sediment and debris) to ensure vessel movement. Italy's longest river, the Po, is also facing challenges, with some sections having completely vanished as northern Italy endures one of its worst droughts in 70 years.

The Rhine River, which typically sees cargo vessels transporting wheat, petrol, steel, and coal, has been severely impacted, with water levels plunging below 16 inches in critical navigational zones. Experts caution that the river could experience dangerously low levels affecting trade and cruising within days, possibly leading to a complete halt. The European Commission’s Joint Research Center recently warned that drought conditions are expected to escalate in the coming days. Under normal circumstances, around 2,100 gallons of water flow through any given point per second on the Rhine, but in some areas, this flow has dropped to zero, according to the Associated Press.

While European river cruising is still operational this season, travelers with upcoming sailings should be ready for possible last-minute itinerary changes and cancellations if conditions worsen and vessels are unable to operate—ships depend on real-time river conditions. During drought periods, it’s common for passengers to be bused between problematic ports or to participate in a “ship swap,” where guests on two different ships that can’t proceed due to low water levels disembark, are bused to another vessel, and switch ships operated by the same cruise line to continue their journey.

During my voyage, passengers aboard the new AmaLucia had a delightful experience and we were able to visit all scheduled stops, albeit at a slower pace. However, travelers should anticipate shorter excursion times and potential ship swaps. Since low water levels pose a greater risk in late summer, consider planning a cruise for the spring or early summer months to mitigate concerns.

Reporting contributed by the Associated Press.