US travelers warned about river cruises in Europe as cancellations continue to rise

An extreme heat wave has led to the cancellation of several European river cruises. Segments of both the Rhine and the Danube rivers are now characterized by water levels deemed too low for ships to navigate safely. U.S. travelers should be prepared for itinerary changes and ship swaps.

Extreme Heat In Europe Leads To River Cruise Cancellations

In the second half of June, several European countries have been hit by a historic heat wave that has resulted in the death of thousands of people. The extreme temperatures have also affected the flow of waterways across the continent, with major rivers now experiencing low water levels, making it impossible for ships to pass.

Avalon Waterways, a company offering sailings on several European rivers, recently told Travel Market Report that lower-than-average water levels on portions of the Rhine and Danube have affected several of its sailings. While the company stated that "the vast majority of Avalon cruises continue to operate as planned," its Impression ship is currently unable to sail beyond the Koblenz area, a region in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

"With forecasts showing no sign of improvement, we have made the difficult decision to cancel a small number of upcoming departures," Avalon Waterways told Travel Market Report.

Similarly, Viking Cruises sent a letter to some travel advisors, including Joann Follmann, stating that some of its itineraries may have to be modified. "Currently, sections of the Danube and Rhine Rivers are experiencing unusually low water levels [...] As a result, select Viking river itineraries may be modified. Viking's nautical and operational teams are closely monitoring conditions and working to minimize any impact [on] guests' travel experiences. Guests and their travel advisors are being notified directly by Viking Customer Relations if their itinerary may be affected," the letter said.

According to Jennifer Elysia at All In Vacations, people planning to embark on a European river cruise in the next ten days should be prepared for itinerary adjustments and ship swaps.

River Cruise Passengers Should Prepare For Ship Swaps, Coach Transfers, And Itinerary Changes

Riviera Travel River Cruises announced that it will not cancel sailings but will instead modify itineraries. The following cruises have already been affected:

• Riviera Resplendence
• Emily Bronte
• Oscar Wilde
• William Wordsworth on the Rhine
• George Elliot on the Main
• Geoffrey Chaucer on the Danube
• Riviera Radiance on the Danube

Similarly, Avalon's Legendary Danube Cruise changed its embarkation city from Nuremberg to Passau. Guests also had to deal with a few port changes, resulting in unexpected bus trips. For instance, passengers were transferred to a bus for the segment between Vienna and Budapest because the Danube's water levels were too low for ships to pass.

Guests on the AmaMagna vessel were also forced to disembark near Budapest. The company owning the vessel, AmaWaterways, provided all passengers with a hotel stay in the city before transferring them to Vienna by coach. From there, the excursion continued by bus.

In some cases, vacationers have also been required to change ships. For instance, Viking Cruises often has a sister ship positioned on the other side of the affected stretch of a river. This means guests only have to travel by coach for a few miles before boarding another ship and continuing their sailing. Some cruise lines, such as Avalon, are now offering guests the option to request a refund or accept future cruise credits.

This is not the first time extreme temperatures have affected travelers. For instance, only a few weeks ago, Amtrak had to cancel several trains in the U.S. due to high temperatures. However, the extreme weather that recently affected Europe has not only affected travel but also led to the death of thousands of people.

High Temperatures In Europe Have Resulted In Thousands Of Excess Deaths

According to Politico, preliminary official mortality data from six European countries show a concerning figure. At least 14,000 excess deaths have been reported in June 2026. The high temperatures began around June 18 and only ended on July 1.

Excess Deaths Caused By The 2026 Heat Wave

In addition, data from EuroMomo shows that 10,680 excess deaths were reported across all EU countries between June 22 and June 28. Commenting on the findings, Lasse Skafte Vestergaard, chief physician at Denmark's Statens Serum Institut, which hosts EuroMOMO, said, "It's very plausible that these figures are primarily related to heat. [...] There are no other obvious explanations or public health threats currently in Europe that could explain this [...]. And the figures are really quite unusual in terms of the magnitude."

Tips For U.S. Travelers About To Embark On A European River Cruise

U.S. citizens about to travel to Europe are reminded to take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from the high temperatures. People are advised to stay indoors during the warmest hours of the day, for instance, by visiting museums and churches. When this is not possible, tourists are urged to head to parks and other shaded sites or to cool off in public swimming areas.

Hydration is also a must. Luckily, several European cities are home to public fountains where locals and tourists alike can fill up their water bottles. Lastly, visitors are urged to ensure their hotel or rental apartment is equipped with an air conditioner.

At present, it remains unclear when water levels across European rivers will rise again. All U.S. citizens planning to take a river cruise in Europe in the coming days are urged to contact the company to confirm the sailing is still operating as originally planned.