What is a cruise without water? A ruined vacation. A hot, dry summer has left European rivers with record-low water levels this year, causing travel disruptions and other challenges to cruise companies who operate on the Danube, Rhine, and Rhône rivers.
Jana Tvedt, vice president of Riviera Cruises’ US branch, told The New York Times that the unpredictable water levels can be a nightmare for cruise operators. “Sometimes it’s tough to decide if we should cancel before a trip starts,” she said. “You think it’s going to work one way and then two days later it’s totally different.” Cruise companies like AmaWaterways compensate passengers with a 15 percent discount off a future trip, for each day the cruise deviates from its planned itinerary. If a cruise is cancelled completely, cruise lines will typically issue a full refund.
