by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 1:35 PM ET, Tue September 1, 2026
Low water levels in the Rhine and the Danube continue to impact river cruising—along with major shipping—across Europe.
As we enter September, here’s what we know about the river water levels and what’s happening with river cruises.
Rhine Water Levels
According to Reuters, water levels in the Rhine in Germany have risen due to recent rainfall. Germany's inland navigation agency WSV reported an increase in water depth at Kaub, a critical point in the river for measuring water levels, up from 60 centimeters to 72 cm on Monday, August 31.
The Rhine was previously below 10 cm in mid-August, breaking its previous low record of 25 cm, which occurred in 2018.
The New York Times is reporting that major river cruise companies have been using two ships to navigate a single itinerary, bussing passengers from northern stretches of the Rhine to southern stretches of the Rhine, thus bypassing parts of the river that are no longer navigable.
“This allows guests and their luggage to transfer to their exact same stateroom on an identical sister ship on the other side of the affected section of river,” Viking explained in a statement.
Danube Water Levels
The Danube is faring worse as we enter a new month.
NYT reports that Romania and Serbia water levels have dropped to their lowest in 30 years, hurting critical shipping infrastructure. Several cruise ships have run aground this summer along the Danube, including the Viking Ullur, due to low water levels.
Cleveland Research Company’s latest data shows the river level in Budapest remains very low, at around 33 cm versus 93 cm, with lower Danube flows at just 42% of normal for September.
How Are Low Water Levels Impacting River Cruises in Europe?
Between July and August, 10% of European river cruises booked with Viking were canceled because of low water levels, with over half affected in some way.
AmaWaterways has promised that itineraries will remain running, but with some changes, including itinerary changes, ship swaps, and, if necessary, time spent bussing between ports.
"For guests whose cruises are confirmed as impacted, the options available depend on the individual sailing and circumstances," an AmaWaterways spokesperson explained. "These may include continuing with the cruise and receiving a proportionate Future Cruise Credit as a thank you for their flexibility, rebooking on another European cruise at the same cruise fare and stateroom category, or, in some cases, choosing not to travel and receiving a 100% Future Cruise Credit toward a future booking.
"We aim to give guests as much notice as possible. Typically, when we know an itinerary adjustment will be needed, our teams reach out around two weeks before departure. Because river conditions can change quickly, there are occasions when a determination needs to be made closer to departure, but we work to provide at least a week’s notice whenever possible. Guests are then contacted directly by our Reservations team and their travel advisors to discuss the options available and determine the best path forward based on their individual circumstances."
Viking has also taken to ship swapping and bussing to circumvent the low water levels.
One river cruise line, however, has stopped selling river cruises departing through mid-September.
According to our sister publication, Travel Weekly, Riviera Travel has suspended new bookings through September 13, explaining that the measure was to ensure its “five-point promise” to guests: "What we will not do is replace significant sections of your planned river journey with repeated, long-distance coach journeys simply to keep an itinerary running. If river conditions mean we cannot deliver a genuine river cruise experience, we will take a different course of action and give you clear options."
Still, travelers are worried and must understand that while water levels can change practically overnight after significant rainfall, their chosen itinerary may also change.
River Cruise Pricing Into 2027
Cleveland Research Company’s latest data on river cruising also analyzed 2027 pricing. Overall, while summer bookings are flat in 2027, with July down 5% likely due to perceptions of low water levels this summer, pricing is up 5% year over year.
May prices are up 7% year-over-year, while September through November see the largest increases: 6% for September, 11% for October, and 18% for November river cruises. Cleveland calls it a “strong shoulder season,” perhaps buoyed by the promise of milder weather, more rain, and—hopefully—fewer itinerary changes due to low river water levels in Europe.
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