Riviera Travel has temporarily suspended sales of Rhine and Danube cruises scheduled through mid-September because of operational disruptions caused by low water levels.
The company plans to resume sales across all markets on September 13th, while the affected voyages remain scheduled rather than being canceled. Riviera said the decision was intended to ensure that it could maintain its 5-point service commitment, which includes preserving the river cruise experience rather than replacing substantial portions of the itinerary with coach transportation.
Riviera Travel said that if river conditions prevent it from delivering a genuine cruise experience, it would instead assess alternative arrangements and provide passengers with clear options. The company ruled out replacing extended sections of the itineraries with repeated long-distance bus journeys simply to operate the cruises as originally planned.
Extreme heat and prolonged drought have created challenging operating conditions for river cruise companies on both the Rhine and Danube this summer. Industry executives have described the current season as the most difficult for river cruising since 2018, with low water levels affecting navigation and itinerary planning.