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River cruise lines tackle low-water disruption as 21 new ships set to launch in 2027
River cruise operators have pledged to absorb the costs of low-water disruption, as some redraw their Danube deployments for 2027.
Speaking at a CLIA river cruise media event in London yesterday (13 October), operators said they were reviewing itineraries earlier, planning ship swaps and improving communication with agents and guests as they prepare for the possibility of further disruption.
AmaWaterways Managing Director Jamie Loizou said: “We, as an industry, would absolutely not be passing any cost onto the clients. That's for us to manage, that's for us to change.”
He said costs associated with offering alternative ports of call, providing hotels, adjusting shore excursions and using coaches to move passengers around affected stretches would always be absorbed by the operator.
The event, which was attended by executives from Amadeus, Uniworld, CroisiEurope, AmaWaterways, VIVA, Riviera, APT Travel and Celebrity Cruises, discussed mitigating future disruption.
CroisiEurope has reduced its Danube deployment from the four ships which sailed the river this year to just one in 2027, with the decision already taken as the operator plans for the risk of further low-water disruption.
UK Sales Director John Fair said: “We're just about to put 2028 on sale, and we'll mirror 2027's new programme (with reduced Danube capacity). And obviously, if the low water turns out to not be a problem, then we can always tweak 2028.”
He added that the industry could not afford to repeat the same approach year after year, while Celebrity Cruises Head of Sales UK & Ireland Charlotte Hallam stressed the importance of acting early to avoid cancellations and operational problems caused by last-minute decisions.
Jamie echoed: “These events are really unusual. This is unprecedented, but these unusual times are happening more and more frequently. So we're going from more of a reactive approach to becoming more proactive.”
He said operators were planning ship deployments two or three years before departures, with sister ships positioned at either end of routes to allow passengers to transfer if a stretch of river became difficult to navigate.
APT Travel Group Managing Director Paul Melinis added that ship swaps work 'seamlessly' when the vessels were alike, allowing passengers to retain the same cabin arrangements and continue with their excursions.
He said: "If the ship is exactly the same, you're gonna get exactly the same cabin, you're gonna go on your excursion, you're gonna come back, you're gonna go into another ship, and guess what?
It's gonna feel exactly the same."
Low water is an established challenge for river cruise operators, he said, and operators know which stretches were most likely to be affected, with the last comparable low-water event at this level in 2003, and the last significant low-water episode in 2018.
“Low water is just a fact of operating on the natural rivers but it isn't an excuse for a poor customer experience,” he said.
He stressed that clear communication before departure was crucial, with customers told what disruption might mean for their holiday and given the information needed to decide whether to travel.
“We're up front, and we're telling guests before you travel, this is gonna be your worst case scenario, this is what it's gonna look like.
“You've got a choice. You can either travel, or you don't, and if you don't, you know you've got your full refund back,” he added.
Speaking at the ABTA Convention in Madeira, TUI River Cruises Head of Katy Berzins said newer ships would feature the line’s 'lowest draught' and incorporate modern technology to help navigate river conditions.
She described river cruising as a 'changeable environment', with itineraries 'subject to disruption' when water levels are low.
Affected itineraries are assessed on a 'case by case basis', she said, with TUI seeking to offer a 'different itinerary where possible'. Cancellations would happen only in 'rare cases'.
The operators pointed to alternative rivers which are selling well, while the Rhine and the Danube have experienced problems this year.
Jamie said: “We’ve got a couple of pinch points on two rivers, yes, they are European rivers, but there's all these different rivers operating all over the world”
In 2027, 21 new ships are due to enter service across the world's rivers, across destinations including the Rhine, Danube, Douro, Seine, Mekong, Amazon and North America.
CLIA UK and Ireland Managing Director Andy Harmer said: “River cruise continues to offer an enormous amount of choice, and the investment we're seeing for 2027 demonstrates the incredible breadth of the sector.
“New ships are being introduced across traditional European rivers, as well as eye-catching, long-haul destinations including Asia, South America and North America.
“For agents, that means even more opportunities to match customers with the river cruise that's right for them.”
Paul highlighted the Douro in Portugal as a success story, saying it had sold out this year, while the Nile was becoming increasingly popular and attracting new ships. He added that the Mekong had operated throughout the season.
Jamie said the French rivers and waterways in the Netherlands and Belgium had also performed well, alongside destinations including Colombia and the Chobe in Africa.
AmaWaterways had previously turned disruption into a new product after low water in 2018 forced some ships to divert to waterways in the Netherlands and Belgium. Jamie said the response from customers was so positive that the company launched its ‘Best of Holland and Belgium’ itinerary two years later, which ‘was phenomenally well received, and we are still operating now,’ he said.
CLIA also identified a growing interest in long-haul destinations such as in Asia and South America, where travellers are seeking immersive cultural experiences with the reassurance of an established operator.
Andy pointed to four other river cruise trends, including shorter three-to-five-night sailings are providing an alternative to traditional city breaks, allowing travellers to visit multiple destinations without committing to a week away.
Demand for more immersive experiences is also growing, with guests looking beyond traditional sightseeing to explore local culture, cuisine, traditions and communities.
He also flagged demand for shoulder-season and winter departures, attracting travellers seeking quieter destinations, fewer crowds and the chance to experience Europe's waterways outside the peak summer months.
Solo river cruising is also on the rise, he reported, with demand supported by the sociable nature of smaller ships, included excursions and a wider choice of dedicated solo departures and accommodation.
For 2027, AmaWaterways will introduce AmaRudi, AmaFiora and AmaMaya, while Celebrity Cruises will launch Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker as it enters the river cruise market.
Emerald Cruises will add Emerald Lumi on the Seine and Emerald Nova on the Douro, while Uniworld will introduce S.S. Audrey, S.S. Marlene and S.S. São Rafael.
Other additions include AMADEUS Mira from Amadeus River Cruises; RV Brasilian Dream from CroisiEurope; Century Diamond from Century Cruises; Riviera Reflection and Riviera Alba from Riviera Travel; Spirit of the Lorelei from Saga; Scenic Aria from Scenic; TUI Luzia from TUI River Cruises; and VIVA UNIQUE from VIVA Cruises, alongside new vessels from American Cruise Line.
CLIA is also running its ‘A Week on the Rivers’ webinar series this week, with 40-minute sessions starting at 9.30am each day for member agents.The programme covers Christmas Markets on October 15, and the Rhine and Danube on October 16.
The discussion follows Riviera Travel’s latest Agent Committee Meeting in London on 1 October, where 17 representatives from 14 travel agencies discussed the operator’s response to low-water conditions, alongside 2028 product launches.
Margaret McCorriston, a Hays Travel agent who took part, said: “The Riviera Agent Committee is a really valuable forum because it genuinely feels like our feedback is being heard and, importantly, acted upon.
“At a time when the river cruise industry continues to navigate the challenges of low water, having CEO Matt Luscombe there in person sends a very strong message about Riviera’s commitment to its trade partners.
“It’s clear that they want to understand the issues we’re facing on the front line, listen to what our agents are telling us, and work collaboratively on solutions. That level of engagement is hugely appreciated and is exactly what you want from a supplier partner.”
