Low Rhine water levels- changing ships mid cruise

[lastof4]

We are Leaving in a little over a week for the Basel to Amsterdam cruise. We were notified today about low water levels on the Rhine and the ships not being able to go through. We would change ships after being bussed to another location further up river. Has anyone else had this experience? How disruptive is it and does it cut into your excursions and plans, let alone having to pack & unpack again.

[shrifk]

We had this problem one time.  Busses were available to take us up river before we could board again.  There was no interruption of the cruise or tours.

[Peregrina651]

It has been a hard summer and fall on the rivers of Europe and you will find much more information about it in the River Cruising forum. In fact, it has been the most talked about subject of the season.

 

If you know that you will have to repack in advance, then you can plan your packing such that you only have to unpack one suitcase on the first ship.

[notamermaid]

To the OP,

 

your thread/question has kindly been moved to the river cruising board and in the thread about the Rhine you will find what you need to know. As Peregrina651 has said, it is the topic at the moment. If you have any more questions ask away, it is best to state which company you will be sailing with and the dates if you wish to do so.

 

notamermaid

 

Edited November 15, 2018 by notamermaid
Clarification

[CILCIANRQTS]

Viking swap was very smooth.

We were bussed to Heidelberg, they bought us lunch, then 2 hour bus ride North to meet ship.

other than perhaps a bit longer day ( and re-packing, of course), it was very painless. No hotel stays or long bus trips.

[Jake40]

We did the Rhine Getaway BAS to AMS the first week of November and received the same email you received.  We had a few days of rain during our pre cruise stay in Lucerne but it wasn't enough to help the Middle Rhine.  As mentioned by CILCIANRQTS we did the ship swap during the Heidelberg excursion.  Viking handled it well - the major hassle was having to unpack and repack and it made for a long day for some.  Viking monitors the water level day by day but we were told it would take about 2 months of steady rain to get the river back to normal.  I'm sure you'll have a good time - our boat was packed - it didn't look like anyone cancelled due to the river issue.

 

[pully8]

Glad your cruise was enjoyable albeit with one ship swap.

Regarding the cancelling issue, many are probably in the same position as us, we cannot buy cancel for any reason in Australia.

 

We have comprehensive travel insurance but it does not cover this scenario. 

If we cancel we lose a large amount of money paid to the provider, APT, as well as business class airfares. We do not want to write off the price of a new small car, so we will have to live with whatever is provided.

 

We are locked in to whatever the cruise operator decides, not what we paid for.

They cannot/will not tell us what we will get for the money paid to them in advance.  

To change flights, extend and salvage something of our holiday,  would be $700 plus each, one way, before we book anything else.

Not an attractive option. Meanwhile we wait and wait like everyone else trapped in this situation.