River cruise companies are cancelling or modifying trips because water levels on major European rivers have fallen sharply. Routes to Germany are the most affected, with several operators unable to sail key stretches of the Rhine and Danube.
Idle ships
SijFa Cruises says three of its four ships are currently idle. Two were scheduled for Danube itineraries, while another normally sails the Rhine. Two additional SijFa vessels are docked in Nijmegen to house Ukrainian refugees; due to the drought, these ships are resting on the riverbed but remain safe.
Destin Travel is still operating most trips, but some ports are unreachable. Passengers are being transported by bus when ships cannot continue. In some cases, two ships are used for a single itinerary when part of the route cannot be sailed.
Feenstra Riviercruises has stopped sailing to Germany entirely because of the low water.
Record-Low Water Levels
The Rhine reached its lowest level ever recorded at Lobith last week, caused by prolonged drought and heat. Although levels in Germany rose slightly on Monday, forecasts show further decline. Cruises within the Netherlands and Belgium face fewer disruptions.
Cargo shipping is also affected, but freight vessels can continue with reduced loads. River cruise ships, however, cannot adjust passenger numbers enough to compensate.
@anp | NEWSBRAINPORT
