Record-Low Danube, Rhine Water Levels Disrupt European Cruises as Drought Spreads Across 10 Countries
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 4
Record-Low Danube, Rhine Water Levels Disrupt European Cruises as Drought Spreads Across 10 Countries
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 4
Summary
River cruise operators on the Danube and Rhine are rerouting trips and transferring passengers by bus after record-low water levels left some stretches too shallow for ships.
Prolonged heat and drought drove the disruption: the European Drought Observatory said above-average temperatures and an extended July heatwave persisted, while Hungary's Paks station logged the Danube at a record minus 42 inches.
Avalon Waterways and AmaWaterways warned that low water on parts of both rivers could alter itineraries, with travelers reporting ship swaps, missed prepaid excursions and bus rides of about 5 hours.
Drought maps show severe alert conditions across parts of France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania and the Balkans, underscoring wider transport risks on two of Europe's busiest cruise waterways.