water levels on the rhine

[Dr. Lab]

Steamboats

 

We are boarding the Viking Sun on May 7. Should we be concerned about the water levels on the Rhine?

 

btw We are very excited as this is our first river cruise.

 

Thanks for the info

[steamboats]

Dr. Lab,

 

The Rhine river has dried out quite a bit too but navigation is going on as usual. I saw some shots in the TV news tonight of Cologne showing sandy beaches there. Currently the river level is 210cm. The record low was 80cm at Cologne. But you have to know that even at river level 0cm there´s still 100cm water until you reach the river bottom. The record low was in 2003. Some stops couldn´t be reached anymore (because the landings more or less dried out and the ships couldn´t get close enough). The ships did have problems meaning mainly that they couldn´t go as fast as usual. But navigation has never seized on the Rhine river. It´s been different on the Elbe river where the river had been closed because of the extreme low water.

 

So, don´t worry about the Rhine river. And the good news are: There´s some rain in the forecast for next week (besides a couple of thunderstorms caused by the heat).

 

steamboats

[Dr. Lab]

Steamboats:

 

Thanks for your comforting reply. After reading about the levels on the Danube I was concerned.