Danube River water levels

[cabinluvn]

We are now docked at Melk, Austria. We got notified last night that the Danube is now closed to Budapest and no ships will be allowed to enter the port. We will be docked 1 1/2 hours from Budapest and be bussed in from there for sightseeing and return to the ship for sleeping. Then we will be bussed to our hotels to depart for home. We have 3 days in Budapest. This is disappointing, but everyone is in the same situation. At least we have been sailing and the weather is perfect. Sunny and cool. All is good! Can't argue with Mother Nature.....

We

Are on Gate 1 Sound of Music. Great little ship! We disembark Sunday morning and start out 3 days in Budapest

 

 

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Edited October 1, 2015 by cabinluvn

[CAL7]

Thank you very much for the report. Some recent Viking departures scheduled from Budapest have embarked instead at Komarom, Hungary. Is that where the MS Sound of Music will end up?

 

It's curious that Viking has departures from Budapest scheduled for the next five days, but their status web page does not show any change in the embarkation point.

Edited October 1, 2015 by CAL7

[cabinluvn]

We are now docked at

Vienna. We sail tomorrow for a docking 1 1/2 hour from Budapest. We were

told at the briefing tonight that we would disembark a day early and they would put us up in a hotel in Budapest. They will pay for lunch and have the equivalent of the captains dinner and entertainment at the hotel. This eliminates the problem of the passengers that have early flights out on Sunday. We would have been 1 1/2

hours away and it would have been problematic. They are doing all they can to compensate for the disappointment of not sailing into Budapest. It is a day to day situation and since there has been no rain in the 10 days we have been here, it can only get worse. When we started it was clear sailing into Budapest. It changed within a day. We feel lucky we sailed as far as we did

 

 

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[ProFun1]

We are now docked at

Vienna. We sail tomorrow for a docking 1 1/2 hour from Budapest. We were

told at the briefing tonight that we would disembark a day early and they would put us up in a hotel in Budapest. They will pay for lunch and have the equivalent of the captains dinner and entertainment at the hotel. This eliminates the problem of the passengers that have early flights out on Sunday. We would have been 1 1/2

hours away and it would have been problematic. They are doing all they can to compensate for the disappointment of not sailing into Budapest. It is a day to day situation and since there has been no rain in the 10 days we have been here, it can only get worse. When we started it was clear sailing into Budapest. It changed within a day. We feel lucky we sailed as far as we did

 

 

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Wow, cabinluvn. Thank you for posting your experience. Most helpful. I'm glad that you were able to actually sail for at least some of your trip. It sounds like Gate 1 is doing their best to ensure that you have the best possible time under the circumstances. It appears that you are headed to Komoron, Hungary. I checked "Marine Traffic" and it is reporting Komoron as the destination for the Sound of Music. http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:330272/imo:0/mmsi:269057275/vessel:SOUND%20OF%20MUSIC

 

We have approximately 3 weeks before our cruise is scheduled to begin. There is rain in the forecast for Germany, Austria, and Hungary along the Danube over the next 2 weeks -- but will it be enough?

 

It's in the hands of the river cruise gods now. I think I'll prepare a libation while I drum up another rain dance.

[Lightning Bug]

Well, here's hoping for some rain soon! We depart 10/19 from Budapest (or Komarom...?). Guess I'll start raindancing/praying/presenting burnt offerings!

[goldwingers]

We are currently in Prague. The Vltava appears normal but not being a local can't say for sure. Yesterday in Dresden, the Elbe was barely a trickle. Not even the local tourist site seeing boats were moving. Saw a Viking boat moored there but could not read the name from the bridge.

 

The weather here is perfect for touring but in more than a week we haven't seen a drop of rain. Gorgeous sunny skies,though, so we will just be grateful for that.

 

Supposed to board the Viking Ingvi in Budapest on the 10th. Not looking very likely, but they have still not changed their website and we have received no email yet to tell us where to go.

Need to take a train from Vienna to Budapest on the 9th, now looks like we will be bussed back the way we came...

[CAL7]

Haven't seen the Viking website changed in a week.

[cabinluvn]

I think everyone waits until the last minute as things change so fast. We have seen only a spitting of rain that happened during budding. Otherwise the weather has been sunny, windy and in the low 60s. Perfect but cold winds at times and in the shade. Unpacked for warm weather and have been wearing the same thing for two weeks....one of my two long sleeve shirts and my fleece jacket. A lot

If people packed a really lightweight winter nylon jacket and they have been comfortable. A hat and gloves would have been good and a scarf is a must!

 

 

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[prb1492]

Well, we are scheduled to board the Viking Njord in Budapest on Oct 10th.

 

Sounds like we will have to play it by ear. We will be in Budapest on the 7th, staying at the Hilton, so will have time to check things out, maybe talk with a Viking rep at the hotel.

Edited October 2, 2015 by prb1492

[xpcdoojk]

Well, we are scheduled to board the Viking Njord in Budapest on Oct 10th.

 

Sounds like we will have to play it by ear. We will be in Budapest on the 7th, staying at the Hilton, so will have time to check things out, maybe talk with a Viking rep at the hotel.

 

When we were in Budapest after our Avalon cruise we stayed at the Marriott. Which seemed to be one of the primary Viking hotels. There were constantly Viking people coming and going. So, definitely should be able to find a Viking rep there. That said, what can you do knowing anything when you are already committed?

 

jc

[prb1492]

Knowledge is power.

 

Who knows? Just knowing what to expect is a plus, anticipating alternative plans is always good.

 

Nice MINI, btw =- I've had 2 new ones, 18 classics

[xpcdoojk]

Knowledge is power.

 

Who knows? Just knowing what to expect is a plus, anticipating alternative plans is always good.

 

Nice MINI, btw =- I've had 2 new ones, 18 classics

 

Thanks, ordered the MINI 13 years ago next month, It was born in January, and delivered to me when we got off the plane from a cruise to New Zealand, Tahiti and Hawaii. I have 75,000 miles on it. It is my play toy. 18 classics that is crazy are you from the UK originally?

 

jc

[prb1492]

Nope. Just crazy about Minis. maybe just plain crazy

[xpcdoojk]

Nope. Just crazy about Minis. maybe just plain crazy

 

Ok, back in 2001, I read an article in a auto magazine, saying that BMW was introducing a new MINI. Showed a few pictures and a minimal description, that was not impressive on the HP front or anything else. So, I went hum, so what.

 

Flash forward to late summer 2002, I am walking in a mall and they had the hot cars from a dealer there. Lots of BMWs, and as we were walking into Nordstrom, there was a bumble bee yellow MINI S with a B/W checkered flag roof and I was like holy crap.

 

Flash back to 1968. I am 9, my brother 15 years older has a 1968 Olds 442 that he races in the Amateur (crap can't remember the sanctioning body) road course races. I go watch and "help". It was fascinating. There were Porsches, Corvettes, Ferraris, Jaquars, Mustangs, Cobras, and other awesome cars of the 60s, but if the course was very twisty and most were... coming out of the last corner leading the way were tiny little Minis. The Corvettes and Ferraris would bare down and try to pass the Minis on the straightaway before the first turn... I think I saw more MINI wins than all other cars. The key to road courses are the corners and nothing out corners a Mini.

 

So flash forward... I convince my wife I need a new car, so, we drive to a big city 3 hours away where there was a MINI dealer. We take an S out for a drive. I drive it to a big empty parking lot, and I get out and hand the wheel to my DW. I tell her go as fast as you can for a hundred yards and then put it into a hard turn and go in a circle. She does and after about 8 or nine tight extremely fast circles she is giggling. I ordered the car... 30 minutes later.

 

jc

[cabinluvn]

Arrived in Budapest today. Only small day ships are going up and down the river. Met Viking people today who are being bussed to Kormoron where we disembarked. We disembarked a day early so we did not have to be bussed back and forth and are in a hotel on the Buda side. Heard today that

The river is now closed Nurenburg to Passau. It will take a lot of rain to correct

The low levels. Hopefully people will get some sailing in but if not it is still wonderful seeing Europe. Everyone is in the same boat, so to speak.

 

 

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[CAL7]

Did Gate 1 give you the option of staying onboard at Kormoron or being put up, at their expense, in a Budapest hotel for the last night of your "cruise"?

[cabinluvn]

No, we just end the. Raise a day early. I think since all cruise ships are bussing their passengers, busses are at a premium. Today was to be our half day tour of Budapest and we would have had to come back to the boat. This way we had a whole day tour, lunch and tonight a full goodbye dinner like we would have had on the boat. It is all good

 

 

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[JVilleGal]

Looks like you have learned the fine art of "making lemonade out of lemons" enjoy the rest of your visit!

 

Safe travels home..

[prb1492]

Looks like it is what it is........... will be fun any way !

[Magnum60]

I'm trying to remain optimistic about my Budapest to Nuremberg Danube cruise this November 10th but ..................

According to today's Budapest forecasts there is a chance for some rain in this areas future over the next week or two.

I realize that it's impossible to accurately forecast the weather other than to forecast that tomorrow should be light followed by dark in the evening but I'm starting to wonder if casino odds are better than the Danube once again returning to a navigable waterway in less than 30 days??

I have absolutely no plans to ride around in motor coaches while packing and unpacking every day :o.

The question is, how soon will Viking inform booked guests of any schedule changes, booking options or cruise refunds should the river continue to try and become a wet gravel pit :eek:?

[CAL7]

My understanding is that we have zero chance of a refund from Viking if the boats don't sail. And I believe that Viking, like an airline, will tell us only what they absolutely have to and at the last possible minute. The attitude of most cruisers is that the operators are not responsible for Acts of God and we should just suck it up; I disagree. They, not I, are in the business so the risk should fall on them. If something reasonably approaching a river cruise is not going to be delivered then the consumer should be given the choice of canceling without penalty.

[cabinluvn]

It is my understanding that the fine print in the tour package covers this problem. A refund for low water is not an option. The water has been decreasing all spring, summer and fall so a few rainy days will not correct the problem this fall. Maybe not next spring if there is not snow farther up. If you could see the Danube

Here in Budapest you would appreciate how low it is. The banks are very exposed and steep. Hardly any river traffic. In talking to Viking people here, it appears people are being bussed

from port to port and they are sleeping and eating on the ships that are docked at the port. Not ideal but more interesting than a hotel and you get all the benefits of a

ship. In 2013 they had record floods and the ships could not sail then either. They couldn't get under the bridges. Worse yet, the towns were flooded and could not be visited! For us, Gate 1 has gone out of their way to make it up to us the best they can by giving us lots of extras. I have no complaints!

 

 

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[prb1492]

So.....it looks like we don't have very many options....hope for rain, get locals to wash cars, etc....rain is good, near Myrtle Beach now, sure can fill up a river quickly!

[KnitterA2]

My understanding is that we have zero chance of a refund from Viking if the boats don't sail. And I believe that Viking, like an airline, will tell us only what they absolutely have to and at the last possible minute. The attitude of most cruisers is that the operators are not responsible for Acts of God and we should just suck it up; I disagree. They, not I, are in the business so the risk should fall on them. If something reasonably approaching a river cruise is not going to be delivered then the consumer should be given the choice of canceling without penalty.

 

I agree with you, Cal7. I think Viking and the other cruise lines are taking complete advantage of their passengers. They advertise a river cruise and don't deliver. Some passengers have been bussed on 6 hour round trips!I think what they're doing with this situation is despicable. We cancelled a future cruise with Biking and are rethinking the whole idea.

[JVilleGal]

My understanding is that we have zero chance of a refund from Viking if the boats don't sail. And I believe that Viking, like an airline, will tell us only what they absolutely have to and at the last possible minute. The attitude of most cruisers is that the operators are not responsible for Acts of God and we should just suck it up; I disagree. They, not I, are in the business so the risk should fall on them. If something reasonably approaching a river cruise is not going to be delivered then the consumer should be given the choice of canceling without penalty.

 

Proper Travel Insurance purchased thru someone other than Viking that included Cancel for ANY reason would have covered the low water issues. These issues have been followed on CC all summer. That Viking choose to not inform passengers of the Elbe (dry creek) River issues is unethical IMHO. But the Danube issues I'm not sure how to call that one. Our Avalon cruise sail straight into Budapest a week ago. And it proceeded to rain buckets for 3 days.

 

Travel Insurance and due diligence is the only way to protect yourself. Those beautiful Viking commercials are lovely marketing pieces and should be seen as slick advertising only. Rant over - Pray for rain!