by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 1:15 PM ET, Mon September 21, 2026
Update: September 21, 2026, at 1:10 p.m. ET
River cruise operators navigating Europe’s Rhine and Danube rivers are facing a mixed water-level picture, with conditions on the Rhine worsening considerably while some parts of the Danube show modest improvement, according to the latest update from Cleveland Research Company.
The Rhine is now the bigger concern. Water levels at Maxau, Kaub and Cologne have all fallen since September 8, with Kaub seeing the most significant deterioration. The gauge is now around 17 centimeters, well below its 77-centimeter navigation reference and even below the previous low-water mark of 25 centimeters recorded in 2018. Forecasts call for Kaub to drop even further over the coming days, potentially reaching single digits later this week. That could increase the chances of ship swaps, shortened sailing segments and bus transportation for some itineraries, depending on individual ships and how cruise lines are managing their fleets.
The Danube is a bit more complicated. Water levels at Pfelling have continued to drop and are now just a few centimeters above the previous low-water record, with forecasts suggesting they could fall below that mark in the coming days. But farther downstream, Kienstock and Wildungsmauer have both improved from the extremely low levels recorded earlier this month, although they remain well below their navigation references. Budapest has also rebounded from the near-zero levels seen in early September, while flows on the Lower Danube have edged higher. That improvement may be short-lived, however, with Budapest's water level expected to fall again this week. Lower Danube flows also remain just 40% to 45% of the September average.
Overall, the latest data paints a tougher picture for the Rhine and a mixed one for the Danube. While some Danube gauges have recovered from their early-September lows, several key sections remain below navigation references. Cruise lines therefore continue to face the possibility of ship swaps, bus transportation, shortened sailing segments and other itinerary adjustments, particularly along the Rhine around Kaub and on sections of the Danube near Pfelling and in Austria.
Update: September 8, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. ET
Water levels on both the Rhine and Danube have deteriorated significantly since September 1, bringing several key sections close to or below historical low-water levels and increasing the risk of cruise disruptions, according to the latest data from Cleveland Research Company.
On the Rhine, conditions have worsened along all three major monitoring points. At Maxau on the Upper Rhine, water levels have fallen to about 305 centimeters, roughly 42 centimeters below where they stood September 1 and now slightly below the recent historical low of 311 centimeters.
At Kaub on the Middle Rhine, levels have dropped about 39 centimeters to roughly 29 centimeters—just 4 centimeters above the historical low of 25 centimeters. Kaub remains the most significant concern for Rhine cruises, although forecasts suggest levels could stabilize and rise modestly toward the end of the week.
Farther downstream, Cologne is at about 75 centimeters, down roughly 45 centimeters from September 1 and only modestly above its previous historical low of 69 centimeters. It could dip to around that level Wednesday before beginning a modest recovery.
The Danube is facing similar challenges, particularly along its German and Austrian stretches. At Pfelling, water levels have fallen about 32 centimeters since September 1 to roughly 223 centimeters, just 2 centimeters above the historical low of 221 centimeters. Levels briefly dipped to about 212 centimeters earlier today before rebounding. Conditions remain low enough that ship swaps or bus transfers between Regensburg and Passau could become necessary.
Austria has also seen substantial declines, with Kienstock down about 45 centimeters since September 1 and Wildungsmauer down about 34 centimeters. Forecasts suggest some improvement in Austria over the next several days, but navigable depths remain limited, particularly in the Wachau and east of Vienna.
Budapest has also fallen into extremely low territory, reaching about 7 centimeters—26 centimeters lower than September 1 and far below the Danube Commission's 93-centimeter low-water reference. The forecast calls for levels to begin rising later this week, potentially reaching about 46 centimeters by Saturday. Farther downstream, the Lower Danube is also under significant strain, with flows into Romania at about 1,400 cubic meters per second, or just 37 percent of the normal September level. Those flows are expected to decline further in the coming days.
Original Text
Low water levels in the Rhine and the Danube continue to impact river cruising—along with major shipping—across Europe.
As we enter September, here’s what we know about the river water levels and what’s happening with river cruises.
Rhine Water Levels
According to Reuters, water levels in the Rhine in Germany have risen due to recent rainfall. Germany's inland navigation agency WSV reported an increase in water depth at Kaub, a critical point in the river for measuring water levels, up from 60 centimeters to 72 cm on Monday, August 31.
The Rhine was previously below 10 cm in mid-August, breaking its previous low record of 25 cm, which occurred in 2018.
The New York Times is reporting that major river cruise companies have been using two ships to navigate a single itinerary, bussing passengers from northern stretches of the Rhine to southern stretches of the Rhine, thus bypassing parts of the river that are no longer navigable.
“This allows guests and their luggage to transfer to their exact same stateroom on an identical sister ship on the other side of the affected section of river,” Viking explained in a statement.
Danube Water Levels
The Danube is faring worse as we enter a new month.
NYT reports that Romania and Serbia water levels have dropped to their lowest in 30 years, hurting critical shipping infrastructure. Several cruise ships have run aground this summer along the Danube, including the Viking Ullur, due to low water levels.
Cleveland Research Company’s latest data shows the river level in Budapest remains very low, at around 33 cm versus 93 cm, with lower Danube flows at just 42% of normal for September.
How Are Low Water Levels Impacting River Cruises in Europe?
Between July and August, 10% of European river cruises booked with Viking were canceled because of low water levels, with over half affected in some way.
AmaWaterways has promised that itineraries will remain running, but with some changes, including itinerary changes, ship swaps, and, if necessary, time spent bussing between ports.
"For guests whose cruises are confirmed as impacted, the options available depend on the individual sailing and circumstances," an AmaWaterways spokesperson explained. "These may include continuing with the cruise and receiving a proportionate Future Cruise Credit as a thank you for their flexibility, rebooking on another European cruise at the same cruise fare and stateroom category, or, in some cases, choosing not to travel and receiving a 100% Future Cruise Credit toward a future booking.
"We aim to give guests as much notice as possible. Typically, when we know an itinerary adjustment will be needed, our teams reach out around two weeks before departure. Because river conditions can change quickly, there are occasions when a determination needs to be made closer to departure, but we work to provide at least a week’s notice whenever possible. Guests are then contacted directly by our Reservations team and their travel advisors to discuss the options available and determine the best path forward based on their individual circumstances."
Viking has also taken to ship swapping and bussing to circumvent the low water levels.
One river cruise line, however, has stopped selling river cruises departing through mid-September.
According to our sister publication, Travel Weekly, Riviera Travel has suspended new bookings through September 13, explaining that the measure was to ensure its “five-point promise” to guests: "What we will not do is replace significant sections of your planned river journey with repeated, long-distance coach journeys simply to keep an itinerary running. If river conditions mean we cannot deliver a genuine river cruise experience, we will take a different course of action and give you clear options."
Still, travelers are worried and must understand that while water levels can change practically overnight after significant rainfall, their chosen itinerary may also change.
River Cruise Pricing Into 2027
Cleveland Research Company’s latest data on river cruising also analyzed 2027 pricing. Overall, while summer bookings are flat in 2027, with July down 5% likely due to perceptions of low water levels this summer, pricing is up 5% year over year.
May prices are up 7% year-over-year, while September through November see the largest increases: 6% for September, 11% for October, and 18% for November river cruises. Cleveland calls it a “strong shoulder season,” perhaps buoyed by the promise of milder weather, more rain, and—hopefully—fewer itinerary changes due to low river water levels in Europe.
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