Whilst the majority of river cruises will go ahead as planned and without any issues, it is worth keeping an eye on the weather and being mindful of the impacts severe weather conditions may have on your river cruise.
Your river cruise line will be well-versed in dealing with various weather conditions. Read below for a guide on what may happen should you experience extreme weather when on your river cruise.
High water levels
Spring is the most common time to experience higher levels of water. This is because the snow will start to melt on higher ground as temperatures increase, but there is still a good chance of rain. The two combined can cause the river's water levels to increase or even flood.
River cruise ships are all built to strict requirements and sizes. The height of your river cruise ship will ensure that it can pass safely under bridges. If the river level rises too high, the ship will no longer be able to pass under bridges safely, or it may be too dangerous for the ship to moor.
Areas commonly affected by high water levels
When it comes to water levels, the Danube and Rhine Rivers (especially between Cologne and Vienna) are more likely to be affected by high water levels.
The Moselle River is usually less affected by high water, but it has a different challenge: low bridges. This means even a slight rise in the water level can quickly make certain parts of the river impassable for ships.
Low water levels
During extended periods of hot weather (typically at the end of the summer months), the water levels may drop considerably.
If the water level drops too low, the ship will run the risk of grounding on the river bed.
Areas commonly affected by low water levels
The Elbe River is notorious for low levels of water and is most commonly affected by hot weather or periods of drought.
What happens if our river cruise experiences high or low water levels?
Sometimes, due to unseasonably high or low water, a section of the river might become impassable for your ship. When this happens, your cruise line typically has two main solutions:
- Your ship might transform into a "floating hotel," staying docked in one convenient spot. From there, you'll embark on day trips by bus to explore the fascinating towns and sights along your itinerary. In other cases, if a longer stretch of the river is unnavigable, your trip might temporarily become a bus tour, with comfortable hotel stays overnight.
- The "Ship Swap"! This is a very common and often seamless solution, especially for lines that have multiple ships on the same river. If your ship can't pass a certain point, you might disembark and enjoy a scenic bus transfer around the tricky section. On the other side, you'll board a "sister ship" to continue your journey! Since many riverboats are designed to be quite similar, you might even find yourself in the same cabin number. The crew will handle all of your luggage, often sending it ahead so it's waiting for you in your new cabin before you even arrive.
If the water's just a little too low, the crew may lighten the ship by emptying ballast tanks, or in some rare cases, ask passengers to temporarily step ashore, so the ship can glide through before you reboard.