Originally Posted by wrp96

Currently enjoying a river cruise on the Danube to visit the Christmas Markets. Due to flooding on the Danube (the heavy snows that paralyzed MUC two weeks ago are melting and there’s been additional rain), we’ve had major changes on our itinerary. We set sail from Nuremberg, made our first port of Regensburg, which we left late, and then stopped unexpectedly in Straubing before we could get to our next planned stop in Passau. We spent two days stuck in Straubing before our cruise line bussed us 4.5 hours to Vienna to board a different ship so we could continue. We were still being wined, dined, and entertained, plus enjoying tours they added for the area where we were stuck. It’s not been the itinerary we planned but still great. Similiar decisions are having to be made all along the Rhine and the Danube by all the river cruise companies. Some companies are engaging in ship swaps like we did, others are doing hotels and bussing, while we have heard of one cancelling mid cruise. All that being said many people were not aware this was a possibility.

So here’s some heads up if you are considering a river cruise:

1. River cruising, even more so than ocean cruising, is affected by the weather. Too much water (like this week) and the ships can’t get under bridges. Too little and the river is not deep enough to sail. Sailings may be altered or cancelled. You might end up switching ships, or staying in a hotel and bussing instead.
2. Just like with ocean cruising, if you absolutely must see something and your vacation will be ruined if you don’t see it, then consider a land vacation instead.
3. Flexibility is key. Many of us onboard looked at the changes as an opportunity to see something different. A few left the cruise in Straubing and made other plans, and were looking forward to the changes. Either way both groups are left enjoying themselves rather than upset because we didn’t get to see our original itinerary.