Extreme heat across Europe during summer 2026 caused unusually low water levels on the Danube River, preventing navigation on sections of Tui River Cruises’ routes between Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava. This forced the company to amend itineraries for September departures, substituting much of the planned river cruising with multiple hours of coach transfers.
Disruptions on Richard Pearson’s 21 September Cruise
Passenger Richard Pearson’s Tui Isla cruise, beginning 21 September 2026, was disrupted from the outset when the vessel was docked in Vienna, making it inaccessible in Budapest. Passengers stayed overnight in a hotel in Budapest before a four-hour coach transfer to the ship. The itinerary was revised
to include overnight sailing and several days docked in Krems, Austria, with day trips instead undertaken by coach. Pearson reported spending 14 to 15 hours on coach transfers during the holiday, saying, “we spent 14 to 15 hours of that holiday on a coach trip, plus time wasted waiting for coaches.” He added, “[But] the main thing for us was it wasn’t relaxing. It wasn’t a river cruise, it was a little bit of sailing, a floating hotel with coach transfers.”
Sue Crosby’s Altered 14 September Itinerary
Sue Crosby’s cruise, which started on 14 September 2026 on the Tui Isla, had its itinerary revised several days
before departure due to the low water levels on the Danube. The changes introduced multiple coach trips, leaving passengers with only two half days of actual sailing. Crosby paid £3,700 for the trip but did not receive a refund after Tui denied compensation for the altered itinerary. She stated, “We feel as though we’ve been had.”
Group Refusal and Alternative Plans by David Mallon
David Mallon and five others scheduled to cruise on 21 September declined the revised itinerary due to the high number of coach trips and health concerns related to long periods seated. Instead, they planned an alternative holiday to Kos and sought refunds for their
Tui cruise. Mallon acknowledged the severe river conditions but criticized Tui’s management of the itinerary changes.
Tui’s Explanation and Passenger Reactions
A Tui spokesperson explained that extreme heat across Europe in summer 2026 caused low water levels on the Danube, limiting navigation. The company sent revised itineraries in advance, arranging coach transfers and hotel stays to ensure visits to key destinations like Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava while minimizing transfer times. Tui stated that customers continued their holidays under standard booking conditions, with no refunds offered. The spokesperson apologized for some passengers not experiencing the expected river cruise.
Passengers expressed dissatisfaction with the increase in coach
travel replacing cruising and the lack of refund options despite significant itinerary alterations.
