SueFrankuk Posted July 10, 2016 #1 Share Posted July 10, 2016 The captain told us last night due to low water we will not be sailing far, may have to change ships will keep us updated very dissapointing Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT Trips Posted July 10, 2016 #2 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Which cruise line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted July 10, 2016 #3 Share Posted July 10, 2016 When the river boats can't cruise and the cruise turns into a bus tour, the cruise line should either cancel the cruise of give a significant refund. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolllover Posted July 10, 2016 #4 Share Posted July 10, 2016 When the river boats can't cruise and the cruise turns into a bus tour, the cruise line should either cancel the cruise of give a significant refund. No they don't . At the bottom of my cruise info with Avalon it's mentioned they may have to go with a bus tour if there is a water level issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT Trips Posted July 10, 2016 #5 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Unfortunately, non-cruises are all too common on the Elbe. There is a significant difference from the contract's "what the cruise line can/must provide" and what the cruise line should provide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted July 10, 2016 #6 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Low water on the Elbe happens frequently. This should really be a "buyer beware" cruise, especially during mid to late summer. Cruisers need to do a bit of research on some of these cruises other than just looking at the pretty brochures. It's like going to Egypt in May and complaining about the sandstorms or excessive heat! Didn't you do any research at all and consider the odds? Win some, lose some! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueFrankuk Posted July 11, 2016 Author #7 Share Posted July 11, 2016 We are now stranded the ship cannot move and we will have to pack tonight and transfer to another tomorrow, waiting for another meeting, all very dissapointing and not a lot of information from Viking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pully8 Posted July 11, 2016 #8 Share Posted July 11, 2016 sorry to hear and know how disappointing and frustrating that can be. hope you can make the best of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueFrankuk Posted July 11, 2016 Author #9 Share Posted July 11, 2016 We actually did a great deal of research and were in constant contact with Viking who rang us directly the day before we left to say there was no problem with our cruise the water levels were fine and it would run as normal so with that information we expected it to go to plan, so don't treat us like idiots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_T Posted July 11, 2016 #10 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Unfortunately the water levels can change quite quickly, I see that on the Viking website they are warning of impact on several cruises due to begin in the next few days. When did your cruise actually start? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted July 11, 2016 #11 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Cruise Critic has done a report on the current Elbe water level problems: Low Water Levels Affecting Elbe River Cruises http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7125 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT Trips Posted July 11, 2016 #12 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Are more lines than Viking not sailing. The report linked above doesn't say, and so far Viking is the only line specified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted July 11, 2016 #13 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Are more lines than Viking not sailing. The report linked above doesn't say, and so far Viking is the only line specified. Last year when this happened Croisi was able to keep sailing when others had stopped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelingwithstyle Posted July 17, 2016 #14 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Hello Sue, Im sorry to hear about your cruise and have not heard any updates from you since July 11th. I am hoping that the rest of the vacation was super for you. We are going on the same trip on July 28th could you please be so kind to let me know what happened each day when the water levels were low and what Viking did for you. Thank you very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillygirl3 Posted July 17, 2016 #15 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Sue and other: I, too, am anxious to hear about what happened as a result of low water. Didn't sign up for a land tour and with the number of ships Viking has and the money that they generate, they should allow people to cancel. If this isn't the case, I will never cruise on Viking in the future. My friend warned me that the levels on the Elbe were low as she met a couple who were notified of this and then switched to another Viking cruise. I can't think of another one that I would care to switch to as we have done the major river tours. Thanks for keeping us alerted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted July 17, 2016 #16 Share Posted July 17, 2016 The Elbe has risen since the article was posted on cruisecritic by about 90 centimetres. That is substantial for the Elbe. However, I am not familiar with the situation in detail and can only read the official figures. The Elbe is somewhat different to the Rhine for example in that the Elbe is not as "treated by man" to be a large navigable river as some people (speak: traders) would like. In addition to that the Czech Republic likes to keep some water in their country with the help of lock. CroisiEurope built a special river cruise vessel for a reason. I do not like to comment much on indiviudal companies but on the Elbe I have my doubts asbout Viking for their ships - please note they also have a special design for the Elbe waters - not least because of the police of bus tours. For myself I would only use the CroisiEurope paddle steamer, especially as it sails into Prague. Viking cannot or does not. I can only strongly advise anyone wanting to sail the Elbe to get insurance with some good cancelation policy thrown in. Especially with a company that wants US citizens to pay one year in advance. If I booked I would book with the UK administration with European terms and conditions. I hope you can get some more info on the water levels and it should come from the company your are travelling with IMHO. Sorry, but I feel I need to be direct here. Good luck. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelingwithstyle Posted July 18, 2016 #17 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Thank you for the information. Im hoping Sue will write soon with specifics. Our sail date is getting closer and I really am hoping it rains in that area so the water levels are good. Thank you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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