Danube water levels 2018 and similar topics - plus tips and info

[BequiaPT]

Thank you to everyone who is

posting from the river, that is

most helpful and encouraging

for those of us sailing in 2 wks.

:)

[Itravl56]

Many thanks for all the current posts as we begin our Danube cruise in three weeks. Super helpful accurate information!

Looking forward to an awesome trip and beautiful cities and people!

[bushvet]

Itravel56

Are you on Viking Tor? We leave September 21st from Nuremburg?

Donna

[G.M.T.]

Just a short note, today is a sad day.

 

 

It's still raining (y), all levels are rising the two hot spots between Passau and Regensburg are look good for go , but NO beer festival today.:mad::mad:

[ankie]

Leaving for Budapest to Amsterdam cruise in three weeks on Gate1 Baroness been checking CC this past week and was wondering if we should cancel since we have cancel for any reason insurance but have decided to take it all as it comes preparing for the worst but hoping for the best. Just feeling lucky to be able to go

[jpalbny]

Just a short note, today is a sad day.

 

 

It's still raining (y), all levels are rising the two hot spots between Passau and Regensburg are look good for go , but NO beer festival today.:mad::mad:

 

Good for the water levels, but so sad to hear about the festival! Hope that it can be rescheduled for another time.

[Aztennisdude]

Hi all, I want to thank you for all the updates you have been posting here. We leave next weekend to board the Gate 1 Monarch Baroness in Budapest to Vilshofen. It looks like it is raining in every city we are stopping in on and off all week before we get there. We are hoping to get lucky and enjoy the entire cruise along the river. Anyone seen the Baroness the last week out there?

[SammyMon]

Hi all, I want to thank you for all the updates you have been posting here. We leave next weekend to board the Gate 1 Monarch Baroness in Budapest to Vilshofen. It looks like it is raining in every city we are stopping in on and off all week before we get there. We are hoping to get lucky and enjoy the entire cruise along the river. Anyone seen the Baroness the last week out there?

 

I've been tracking Monarch Baroness recently since we are traveling on it in mid Oct, in the same direction as you are. It was in Bratislava for a few days and then was tracking to the West. Last report had it going from Linz to Passau. For some reason it has not updated since 8/31. I was tracking it via this site: www.marinetraffic.com

[D&K travel]

We arrived in Budapest yesterday with 2 days of thunder, lightening and rain. The rain held off so that we had an incredible nighttime cruise viewing the lights of Budapest. Scenic docks directly across from the parliament buildings and that's a fantastic view to have with our meals.

Needing to take 3 ships from Amsterdam wasn't great and tour guides were commenting on how that had never happened before. BUT we made it and overall it was a great cruise. The river levels are looking promising for the cruises coming up soon.

[Marjan1]

We boarded the Travelmarvel Jewel in Budapest today. Counted about 6-8 river cruise boats as we drove by. We are heading to Amsterdam, not sure how the river levels are beyond a Passau, I guess we will find out.

[jeb_bud]

We were watching CBS This Morning today and one of the scenic views they show as they return from commercial was of Budapest. I was surprised to see how full the Danube looked, almost full. It looks like clear sailing at last.

 

I also noticed that Scenic Jasper made it to Regensburg over the weekend. Hopefully that means clear sailing all the way to Amsterdam.

 

 

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[Alesund09]

On uniworld Maria Thersia in Linz right now. Everything going great rivers seem fine,having a wonderful time. Good luck to all!

[Sjgrod]

We boarded the Travelmarvel Jewel in Budapest today. Counted about 6-8 river cruise boats as we drove by. We are heading to Amsterdam, not sure how the river levels are beyond a Passau, I guess we will find out.

We are on the Travelmarvel Jewel leaving Amsterdam on September 17th.

I have been tracking the Jewel to see if she manages to get through with the low water levels. I would be really interested in how your trip goes. It seems as if there has been a lot of rain in the region. So fingers crossed.

Hope you have a fabulous trip and please keep us posted.

[steamboats]

It´s raining here in the South of Bavaria since Friday (on and off) so there´s a lot of water flowing down to the Danube river.

 

 

 

The river level at Pfelling (the low area on the Danube river) improved from very low to low and should change to normal pretty soon.

 

 

steamboats

[Morgans]

We have just returned yesterday from a Travelmarvel Budapest to Amsterdam cruise - started the 20th August and finished 3rd September. We flew to Budapest to join the ship (Travelmarvel Diamond) but instead we all were put up the first night at the Ritz Carlton as the Diamond couldn't make it to the city and were bussed the next day to Vienna to join instead the Travelmarvel Jewel where she was waiting. As a result we missed a couple of days sailing. Approx six days later we swapped onto the Travelmarvel Diamond and continued onto Amsterdam. So all in all, it wasn't perfect but certainly could have been a lot worse judging from other peoples cancellations etc. The holiday was great fun and the ships were identical. Food was very good and so was the company and excursions. Would certainly sail with them again. Good luck to all who are travelling with Travelmarvel - they will look after you very well indeed.

[tazlover]

Hi, we are on AMA from Prague to Budapest in October. We were worried about the river levels, and hope all is well. Looks like it’s been raining, from what I am reading

[ukgolfer]

We are supposed to be on Emerald Destiny starting in Amsterdam on September 18th for Budapest. We see that she is not due in Budapest until 7th, so not making it back to Amsterdam for the 18th. So we are expecting to be on another ship out of Amsterdam and changing boats somewhere as seems to be the case.

 

These river updates are very useful - we hope the Danube keeps rising but sorry that those cruising now are getting rain. Exactly where is the normal bussing point or does it vary depending on where ships are located?

[G.M.T.]

Exactly where is the normal bussing point or does it vary depending on where ships are located?

 

Over the last month or so, the main busing points are Regensburg - Passau (2.5 hour drive), Vienna - Budapest (3.5 hour drive) and upstream from Budapest - Budapest (about 1 hour drive), also vice-a-versa for all options.

[llund]

Glad to hear that they are getting some rain. It isn't fun to have rain when you are traveling but it is good for the river conditions. We are on the Danube in October so it looks promising.

[Marjan1]

The remaining sticky point on the Danube is between Passau and Regensburg. At the moment it is trafficable. We have been told that we will find out in 3 days if our ship will make it through. Of course, the sister ship travelling in the opposite direction also has to be able to get through. Can’t risk having both ships stuck in the same section of the river, they ensure one is on the Rhine and one on the Danube, both cruising between Amsterdam and Budapest.

 

The Danube between Budapest and Bratislava is still low with lots of sandbanks and gravel exposed.

[tazlover]

 

The Danube between Budapest and Bratislava is still low with lots of sandbanks and gravel exposed.

 

Are the river boats getting through with the sandbanks and gravel? We sail in 5 weeks

 

Thanks

[dominichunter]

September 3Multiple shipsLos Angeles Times reportsthe Danube River has been particularly hard hit by drought in Europe, leaving cargo ships, day cruisers and river boats high and dry. River cruise operators have been forced to find alternative transportation, which usually means passengers will be traveling by coach and perhaps staying in hotels instead of ship cabins. The Upper Danube, which is the most popular river boat destination in Europe, has been especially plagued by low water issues, particularly the area between Passau and Regensburg in Germany. Budapest, Hungary, another popular Danube destination, has been closed to cruise traffic for more than a week. River boats aren't the only vessels in trouble; many cargo ships also are stranded, according to media reports. iking Cruises, the largest river boat carrier in Europe, announced on its website that: "Unseasonably hot and dry weather in Europe has resulted in low water levels on several of the European rivers ... To varying degrees, these low water levels will affect select itineraries. While ideally your ship would carry you along the full length of the river, due to water levels on sections where sailing becomes restricted, we may need to make adjustments." Those adjustments may mean travelers will be touring on a bus instead of a ship.

[G.M.T.]

September 3Multiple shipsLos Angeles Times reportsthe Danube River has been particularly hard hit by drought in Europe, leaving cargo ships, day cruisers and river boats high and dry. River cruise operators have been forced to find alternative transportation, which usually means passengers will be traveling by coach and perhaps staying in hotels instead of ship cabins. The Upper Danube, which is the most popular river boat destination in Europe, has been especially plagued by low water issues, particularly the area between Passau and Regensburg in Germany. Budapest, Hungary, another popular Danube destination, has been closed to cruise traffic for more than a week. River boats aren't the only vessels in trouble; many cargo ships also are stranded, according to media reports. iking Cruises, the largest river boat carrier in Europe, announced on its website that: "Unseasonably hot and dry weather in Europe has resulted in low water levels on several of the European rivers ... To varying degrees, these low water levels will affect select itineraries. While ideally your ship would carry you along the full length of the river, due to water levels on sections where sailing becomes restricted, we may need to make adjustments." Those adjustments may mean travelers will be touring on a bus instead of a ship.

 

I would never have known that such things happen.

 

The problem is probably is that LA is seveal time zones behind us and are just catching up with us.

[pinotlover]

Arrived in Budapest yesterday in a fairly hard rain that did clear up in the afternoon. They had gotten three straight days of rain. Nothing but blue skies today.The S.S. Beatrice is leaving tomorrow headed for Regensburg on schedule. Captain believes there is enough water in the river now to go without worry.

[Marjan1]

Are the river boats getting through with the sandbanks and gravel? We sail in 5 weeks

 

Thanks

 

We got through yesterday. At the moment it is ok, ships just have to reduce speed a bit.