Important Travel Alerts

Important Update:

Low Water Levels on the Danube, Rhine & Main Rivers

Europe continues to experience an extended period of dry weather, with above-average temperatures and limited rainfall across many regions. As a result, water levels on parts of the Danube, Rhine and Main Rivers remain significantly lower than usual and continue to affect river navigation.

Upper Danube sailings

Water levels across several sections of the Danube remain critically low and have not recovered sufficiently to restore normal navigation.

Navigation remains closed between Regensburg and Passau near Pfelling, and between Bratislava / Vienna and Budapest. Conditions between Bratislava and Vienna remain changeable, with some sections recovering and reopening intermittently.

Our nautical and operations teams continue to closely monitor water levels and navigation conditions. Based on current conditions and the limited rainfall forecast over the next two weeks, we do not anticipate a significant improvement in the immediate term.

Conditions later in October remain dependent on rainfall and will continue to be assessed as they evolve.

Lower Danube sailings

In addition to the current low water conditions on the Lower Danube, Hungarian authorities have announced a complete shipping closure at Paks, located between Budapest and Mohacs. The closure is required to support water management works associated with the operational safety of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.

We are closely monitoring the situation and prioritising updates to guests due to depart in October on affected Lower Danube sailings.

Rhine sailings

Low water conditions continue to affect sections of the Main and Rhine Rivers, including between Cologne and Koblenz, Rüdesheim and Mainz, and near Mannheim.

Water levels in some areas remain well below those required for normal river operations, with current rainfall insufficient to deliver a meaningful recovery. While conditions can change quickly following rainfall, based on the current forecast we do not anticipate a significant improvement across these areas over the next two weeks.

Some stretches currently remain unsuitable for navigation, and our teams are implementing alternative arrangements where required to maintain the best possible experience for our guests.

What Guests Can Expect

Guests due to join potentially impacted cruises departing up until 20 October 2026 should have received an initial notification.

Approximately five to seven days prior to departure, guests will receive a further update confirming their proposed itinerary and any relevant operational adjustments, if required.

Guests travelling after this period will be contacted as conditions evolve and more information becomes available. While current conditions indicate that some restrictions may continue into later October, river levels remain weather dependent and we will continue to assess each sailing individually.

Where itinerary adjustments are required, Scenic Group, which includes Scenic and Emerald Cruises, is committed to supporting our guests throughout their journey. Depending on the nature and extent of any operational changes, this may include alternative ships, alternative sailing itinerary, hotel accommodation, additional coach transfers, revised touring arrangements, or other measures designed to maintain the quality and value of the experience.

Where a sailing experiences significant disruption, we will review each situation individually and communicate any applicable goodwill gestures or compensation directly to affected guests.

Our priority remains supporting guests and their travel advisors with their upcoming travel plans while navigating these challenging river conditions. We continue to work closely with local authorities, port officials and our nautical teams to provide a safe and enjoyable European experience for our guests.