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Cruises thrown into chaos as drought strands ships, leaves passengers scrambling
Fox News • • world
Key Points:
- Record-low water levels on Europe's Danube and Rhine rivers, caused by prolonged heatwaves and drought, have disrupted cruise vacations, stranding vessels and forcing itinerary changes.
- The European Drought Observatory reports severe drought conditions across Central and Western Europe, notably affecting France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and the Balkans.
- Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant recorded a historic low water level on the Danube, while the Rhine has exposed sandbars and dried riverbanks, complicating navigation for cruise ships.
- Cruise operators Avalon Waterways and AmaWaterways have warned travelers of possible itinerary alterations, with some passengers experiencing lengthy bus transfers and missed excursions due to low water levels.
- Affected tourists expressed disappointment on social media, emphasizing the impact on sightseeing opportunities, particularly the inability to view castles along the rivers as planned.
