River Cruise Update Center

This page brings together the latest information for guests and anyone looking for a more detailed update on current river conditions across Europe.

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Here you can ask our team questions, keep up to date with the latest information and see questions others have asked. 

Latest river conditions across Europe

River conditions across parts of the Rhine and Danube remain exceptionally low and continue to vary significantly from one section to another.

We have guests travelling with us now and further departures approaching, so every cruise continues to be assessed individually. Where the original itinerary is no longer possible, we are using the alternative itineraries already operating across the Netherlands and Belgium, the Moselle, the Main and the western Danube to protect as much of the river cruise experience as possible.

The recent rainfall across southern Germany and the Alpine fringe is welcome. Importantly, however, water falling across these catchments does not immediately translate into navigable river levels. Our focus over the next few days will therefore be on how that water progresses through the system and how the individual gauges respond. 

Different routes, more reliable waters

Cologne, Amsterdam, Kinderdijk & Medieval Flanders

On the Rhine, our alternative takes guests north towards the Netherlands and Belgium and into a part of our river cruise programme we already know extremely well.

Think Amsterdam’s canals, the windmills of Kinderdijk, Antwerp’s magnificent architecture and the medieval beauty of Ghent and Bruges. Add relaxed sailing through the Dutch waterways, fascinating guided visits and evenings back on board, and it becomes a very different river journey, but still a wonderful holiday in its own right. 

Vienna & the Danube's Wachau Valley River Cruise, plus Budapest

On the Danube, our new itinerary concentrates on the beautiful western section of the river, combining Budapest with a comfortable rail journey to Vienna through the Hungarian countryside past Győr and onwards into Austria, rather than a lengthy coach transfer.

From Vienna, guests can enjoy the vineyard clad scenery of the Wachau Valley, magnificent Melk Abbey and picturesque Dürnstein, with the opportunity to explore Salzburg or Linz. It keeps some of the most beautiful scenic sailing on the Danube at the heart of the holiday, alongside the dining, entertainment and life on board guests booked.

These destinations are not new to Riviera. They already feature across our wider river cruise programme, and we have also been operating and refining amended itineraries throughout the current period.

The Moselle Valley, Koblenz & Luxembourg River Cruise  

This is a wonderfully scenic itinerary through one of Europe’s most beautiful river landscapes, where steep vineyard-covered hillsides, medieval villages and hilltop castles line the river almost continuously.

Highlights include exploring historic Koblenz where the Rhine and Moselle meet, visiting picture-perfect Cochem and its dramatic Reichsburg Castle, discovering the cobbled streets and wine heritage of Bernkastel-Kues, and experiencing Germany’s oldest city, Trier. Guests can also enjoy a full-day visit to Luxembourg, with its striking old town, fortifications and dramatic setting above deep river gorges.

There is plenty of choice built in too, from a walk up to Landshut Castle and a Moselle wine tasting to a visit to spectacular Burg Eltz or a guided walk through Treis-Karden. Most importantly, scenic sailing remains right at the heart of the holiday, with vineyards, castles and riverside villages unfolding around almost every bend. 

If your itinerary changes

We recognise that an amended itinerary is different from the holiday originally booked.

Where a significant change is required, we will clearly explain the revised holiday and the compensation being offered in recognition of that change. Guests who choose to travel can enjoy the amended itinerary, while those who decide it is not right for them will have the option of cancelling and receiving a full refund.

If conditions change once a cruise is underway, our operational teams will work with the Captain to put the best revised itinerary in place. Your Cruise Director and Cruise Host will keep you informed, and changes could include alternative docking locations, changing the order of visits, moving between ships or using rail connections where appropriate to avoid lengthy coach journeys.

Our priority is not simply to keep a ship moving. It is to create the best holiday possible around the conditions available to us.

Where changes have a more significant impact on the holiday, we will also consider an appropriate gesture of goodwill. 

Our river outlook – next 72 hours

Across both rivers, the key point is that rainfall does not translate immediately into navigable conditions. Water can take several days to move through mountain catchments, tributaries and into the main river, so our focus is on how each section responds rather than simply whether rain has fallen. That is also why we continue to review every sailing individually rather than treating either river as one single set of conditions. 

How we make our decisions

Across both rivers, conditions can change quickly and one gauge does not represent the river as a whole.

We make every decision with the best intentions, using the most reliable river and weather forecasts available to us at the time. However, conditions can sometimes develop differently, or change more quickly and significantly than forecast, particularly when looking seven to ten days ahead.

Our dedicated team therefore reviews every sailing right up to departure and throughout the cruise, combining information from 52 official river gauges, detailed weather modelling and first hand reports from our captains and operational partners.

Where an amended itinerary can still deliver a holiday we are proud of, we will offer it with appropriate compensation and the option of a full refund should a guest prefer not to travel.

Where we do not believe even an amended itinerary can deliver the Riviera experience our guests should expect, in line with our Five Point Promise we may instead take the difficult decision not to operate that particular departure. 

Keeping you updated every step of the way

If you’re travelling on the Rhine, Moselle, Danube or Main, we’ll stay in touch in the lead-up to your vacation and share the latest updates as soon as they’re available.

Travelling after the 30th September 

We understand many guests are looking for updates on upcoming cruise departures, whether travelling soon or later in the year. We are currently reviewing all itineraries scheduled up to and including 30 September 2026 and will contact guests directly, in line with our structured communication plan, with updates relating to their individual cruise.

For departures after 30 September 2026, it is currently too early to say with certainty whether a sailing will be affected. We have a dedicated team monitoring individual river water level gauges, river conditions and local weather forecasts on a daily basis, and we will continue to provide updates as each departure moves closer.

We understand guests may wish to call us for an update on the conditions but we’d be very grateful if, where possible, you could wait for us to reach out to you via our structured communication plan. We will endeavour to update this section of the website on a daily basis with all the latest information we have.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support as we work closely with all of our guests on an individual basis.

Latest departure status

1. Operating as normal on the Rhine and Danube

We're pleased to confirm that these sailings are currently operating as planned. River conditions can change quickly and remain weather dependent, so we'll continue to closely monitor the situation and update you should anything change.

2. Departures operating with revised itineraries

The following itineraries are currently operating with revised itineraries. We have contacted impacted guests and continue to monitor river conditions closely should any further changes be required along the way.

3. Canceled cruises

On the cruises below, we have made the difficult decision not to operate the planned departure. This is not based on river levels alone, but on the overall arrangements for each sailing, including guest numbers, excursions, transport and ship positioning.

In line with our Five Point Promise, we will only operate when we are confident we can deliver the Riviera experience, even on an amended itinerary. All affected guests have been contacted directly to discuss their options, including a full refund. 

What are my options?

4. Departures under review

The following sailings are currently under review. If your vacation is affected, we'll keep you informed every step of the way, with email updates at 14 and 7 days before departure. As water levels continue to change, we aim to make a final assessment as close to departure as possible and will contact you personally by telephone no later than 72 hours before departure. Please be assured that we'll be in touch as soon as we have an update to share.

Please note that, due to changes to some itineraries, there may be a slight delay in sending your travel documents. These will be emailed to you as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours before departure.