Cruises

The Danube river hit a record low of 10 centimeters at Budapest on August 3, 2026, amid a historic drought. This led to major cruise cancellations, ship groundings including Viking Ullur near Vidin, and widespread itinerary disruptions on Europe's key river cruise routes.

Viking has opened bookings for its largest-ever 2028-2029 ocean deployment, featuring over 700 departure dates on 80 voyages. The deployment introduces two new ships and itineraries spanning 301 ports in 84 countries across six continents.

Princess Cruises has increased deposits and enforced a 120-day final payment deadline for sailings departing in 2027 and beyond. The new rules, effective September 2, 2026, have sparked mixed reactions from passengers on social media.

Severe drought in Europe during summer 2026 lowered Danube and Rhine river levels to historic lows near Budapest and Frankfurt. River cruise operators including Uniworld and Viking adjusted itineraries, canceled sailings, and implemented ship swaps to manage disruptions.

Princess Cruises updated booking policies on August 5, 2026, requiring higher deposits and altered payment terms. Passengers have criticized the changes as a quick revenue grab.

Carnival Cruise Line has canceled nine cruises on the Carnival Jubilee from Galveston for the 2027 season. The affected sailings primarily serve the Caribbean and Bahamas regions.

Record low water levels on the Danube and Rhine rivers in 2026 have forced multiple European river cruise lines to alter itineraries and swap ships. Passengers have faced missed stops, bus transfers, and alternative embarkation points amid ongoing drought and heatwave conditions.

Historic drought in 2026 led to near-record low water levels on the Danube and Rhine rivers, forcing European river cruise lines to adjust itineraries. Cruise companies like Uniworld, Viking, and Riviera Travel have canceled stops, swapped ships, and added bus transfers to maintain operations.

Norwegian Cruise Line has cancelled the September 9, 2026, Norwegian Sky farewell cruise from Piraeus to Muscat over Middle East security concerns. Passengers will receive full refunds and future cruise credits.

Viking has opened bookings for its largest ocean cruise deployment in 2028-2029 featuring over 700 departures and two new ships. The schedule covers 80 voyages visiting 301 ports across 84 countries and six continents.