water levels on the Danube

[steamboats]

Hi all,

 

Water levels are still low although there was some rain over the last two weeks. Our Elbe River cruise had been shortened and we missed the part upriver of Dresden (Bad Schandau and Decin, the ship stayed at Dresden for 3 1/2 days). The MS Dresden is the largest river cruise ship on the Elbe River and there wasn´t enough water for us to turn around or land upriver of Dresden. The sister ships (MS Katharina von Bora and MS Frederick Chopin) did get stuck at Lobosice on the Elbe River and didn´t make it to Prague. The Czechs did open a dam so the two ships were able to float downriver on that wave. We also missed one stop downriver (Bleckede) because we weren´t able to reach the dock.

 

The Danube River should still be fine.

 

steamboats

[Billybob62]

Steamboats: We are considering the Vantage Vienna to the Black Sea trip in May-June 2008. Are these months to be concerned about regarding high or low water levels on the Danube or is this a "safe" time? What are the "safe" months for Danube travel? Thanks!:) :)

[steamboats]

Billybob62,

 

Actually there is no "safe" time. Usually you should be fine in May and June but this year we had a warm winter with very less snow and even more less rain during the last 8 months. So river levels are still quite low. During the past 5 years we had two major floodings in August which used to be one of the dryest months with low waters. As long as we aren´t able to make a longterm weather forecast (longterm meaning one year in your case) noone can tell you what the river levels will be by next May or June. River levels can change very quickly and it´s usually a last minute decision by the captain if the ship can go on or not. They get updated weather forecasts and the river levels frequently throughout the day and decide on them. Like on our recent Elbe river cruise we weren´t able to proceed upriver of Dresden. On our first day we were on a shore tour to Prague and were told the captain will decide during the morning whether the ship is able to proceed to Bad Schandau (upriver) to pick us up again. So we left on the bus for Prague and during the bus ride to Prague our shore excursion manager received a call on her cell phone from the ship telling her that the ship will stay in Dresden.

 

steamboats

[macca]

Steamboats & Co

 

What are the procedures when water levels stop the boats? Do the companies move you and luggage on buses or do you just stay fixed on the boat or do you move on and make travel insurance claims?

 

We are due to leave Budapest for Amsterdam in four weeks from today on the "MS Sound Of Music" and this is our first ever cruise or organised travel of any kind.

 

Mike

Tasmania.

[steamboats]

Hi Mike,

 

It mainly depends on the company what they are doing. Read the small print of your cruise company. Weather conditions affecting the river levels are usually not in the reponsibility of the cruise company. So there´s no room for any travel insurance claims. Usually the cruise company should get you to the final destination of the cruise by bus. There are some companies which have two ships going the opposite direction. So in case there´s a part of the river they can´t go on (on the Danube river mainly the Straubing area) they bus the people from one ship to the other and you´re changing ships continuing your trip on another ship (and usually the ships are identical twins).

 

Last year we got stuck in Vienna after 23 hours of cruising due to high water. Deilmann opted to stay in Vienna as there are much more things to do and see there. We were bussed to Bratislava (day trip), Budapest (one hotel night) or Melk (day trip) and back to Passau (was a Passau roundtrip) on the expense of Deilmann.

 

This year we missed one port on the Elbe river and 2 days cruising at the beginning of our cruise. All shore tours were made out of Dresden by bus (we didn´t miss much of the river but a very beautiful part).

 

High or low water are a regular thing on the rivers and the companies are used to cope with that. Be sure that you won´t be stuck somewhere in the middle of nowwhere. And I´m sure every cruise company is doing its best to please its passengers as they all want you to come back on their ships. Don´t worry too much about the river levels. You can´t change them anyway. The worst thing which could happen is that you have a bus trip instead of a cruise. Sure that´s not what you wanted to do. But anyway it´s not the fault of the cruise company. They are just trying to do the best out of it.

 

steamboats

[Billybob62]

Thanks Steamboats, as usual your observations are perceptve and very helpful. Thank you for being so sharing and responsive.:) :) :)

[DrFUN]

Dear Steamboats:

 

I echo the thanks of Billybob62! You are a treasure!!

 

Gratefully,

Mary-Lou

"Dr. FUN "

 

:)

[macca]

Steamboats

 

Thanks for the info on details of cruise company approaches in the event of low water levels and despite your assurances it is a real concern to us.

 

We are not bus travellers at all, I suffer badly with travel sickness on a bus. If we had been aware that there was even a possibility we wouldn't have booked the river cruise. We don't mind hiring a car and driving through Europe and chose the cruise option solely to avoid luggage handling hassles.

 

Because our company APT have chartered the Sound Of Music I doubt they will have an alternative boat available.

 

So fingers crossed firmly for the next month we will be praying for rain although not so much the river levels are too high!

 

My wife is a 5 star traveller, (we are staying at the Sofitel in Budapest and the Grand Elysee in Hamburg), so the thought of ending up in a 3 star hotel with no luggage porters after I've embarrassed her on a bus all day is not very pleasant.

 

I keep telling her to pretend she doesn't know me.

 

Cheers

 

Mike.

[steamboats]

Well, we had some thunderstorms and rain yesterday and there´s more in the today´s forecast. So there is some water coming down the Isar river to the Danube river. I doubt it will help much but at least a bit. Keep on thinking positive!

 

steamboats