Elbe River current water levels ?

I know I had seen some recent very unhappy Viking Elbe cruisers... Can anyone report if things have gotten better??

Anyone :(

I read a posting on TA that the water levels were too low again this year.

It´s still extremely low. Currently at Dresden it´s 70 cm. The Dresden steamers have announced a reduced schedule for today.

steamboats

Thank you steamboats!!!

Are the river cruise boats running or are they doing bus tours?

Thanks Steamboats . . . here's hoping for adequate rain in the near future and for the next several months.

JVilleGal,

I doubt that any of the river cruise ships is running as they do draw more than 70 cm of water.

steamboats

Dresden was sort of "celebrating" a new record: On Thursday the river gauge at Dresden showed a record low of 58 cm - the lowest for 51 years.

It´s a little more up again but we´re talking about 70ies now.

steamboats

Yes, unfortunately, it does not look good on the Elbe (and Oder, the river further East, for that matter). National television news reported yesterday that American tourists are bussed to their next destination. They showed a river dock with a coach waiting. Later a local tour operator of sorts was interviewed about the alternative plans for the group he was leading.

steamboats, it is the video on Tagesschau.de called "Niedrigwasser: Schiffsverkehr auf der Elbe teilweise eingestellt".

In effect it means that at the moment (meaning around 5pm Saturday evening in Germany) all barges and river cruise ships have stopped in certain sections of the river. Dresden and Torgau were mentioned. Small ships for daytrips can still sail.

Situation can change within hours but for the Elbe I am not hopeful at moment.

notamermaid

Found it, thanks! I saw a news clip on RTL about the low water situation on the Elbe river last night.

steamboats

Viking has announced on its website that both the cruises starting on 24th July on the Elbe (in opposite directions, one going North one going South) on the older ships have been cancelled. I wonder how the other companies are faring? As I said, from the report last night on television it does not look good. Lots of rock and sand, but not much water in Dresden.

notamermaid

There has been an absolute downpour this morning in the Rhine valley. Skies are clearing up now returning to a pleasant blue, it has cooled down nicely.

With the current river level none of the river cruise ship can travel on the Elbe river. All of them are drawing much more water than the Dresden steamers which have to quit service at 70 cm (Dresden river gauge).

No rain here in the South. We expect some rain during the night. But even a thunderstorm with heavy rain won´t fill up the rivers. It has to rain for a couple of days.

steamboats

Here's a report on a Viking cruise last week on the Elbe, by Chris Owen. http://www.chriscruises.com/2015/07/the-viking-advantage-the-nature-of-travel-applied/

Carolyn

Carolyn Spencer Brown

Editor in Chief

Cruise Critic

Viking has cancelled the July 29 week cruises on the Elbe as well.

While I was speaking to GCT today on another issue, they asked if I had any questions about my Nov. Elbe cruise. Bad move :rolleyes:.

They are using the ship "as much as possible," then bus transfers to get all the stops and tours in. According to the rep, the bus rides are all about an hour or less. All are urged to do their targeted rain dances.

Wow I feel so lucky. I was on the Viking Elegant Elbe cruise one month ago and everything went without a glitch, other than boarding in Decin instead of Melnik (Czech Republic) because of the low water level. There was some rain before and during the first few days of our cruise, which put a slight damper on our shore excursions but must have definitely helped to raise the water level. Good luck to near future Elbe cruisers.

The Elbe river is still low. The Dresden steamboats are running on a limited schedule for days now.

steamboats

Traditionally, how are river heights in Oct. and Nov.? Would booking a Danube or Elbe cruise during those months be a safe bet?

We have arrived in Prague for our Elbe River cruise and we know this isn't going to go as planned. This will be very interesting to see how GCT handles this current low water level situation. We meet the group tomorrow.

This should be our sixth river cruise, having cruised with Avalon, Uniworld, and AMA previously, but this will be a good test for GCT.

I understand no one can sail the Elbe right now..... Hoping the rain gods go nuts during the next 24 hrs!

Rain gods not acknowledging our requests. At first glance GCT has a decent itinerary in place but obviously no sailing on the Elbe will be taking place. After leaving Prague we will be staying at the Westin in Dresden four nights. We consider this a positive since we've been to many German cities but not Dresden. Could work out nicely.

Rain gods not acknowledging our requests. At first glance GCT has a decent itinerary in place but obviously no sailing on the Elbe will be taking place. After leaving Prague we will be staying at the Westin in Dresden four nights. We consider this a positive since we've been to many German cities but not Dresden. Could work out nicely.

Also with GCT. We still have a few months to go.

Please update us on how the itinerary works out when you return home.

Stay in Dresden was comfortable, interesting, and hot. Our tour guide, Miro, is one of the best ever--and that includes ALL previous tours. GCT has certainly treated us well.

Spent three days on the Allegro pretending we were cruising while visiting local sites by bus, usually no more than 1.5 hours each way. Actually we were grateful for only three days on the boat since the cabins are quite small and the beds even smaller. But the food--outstanding! We are not foodies but we have not had better food on a riverboat.

Arrived in Berlin yesterday and the heat wave may be over or not--could reach high 90's again tomorrow. Today was a pleasant mid 80's. Berlin is one fantastic city but overrun by tourists at this time of the year.

Stay in Dresden was comfortable, interesting, and hot. Our tour guide, Miro, is one of the best ever--and that includes ALL previous tours. GCT has certainly treated us well.

 

Spent three days on the Allegro pretending we were cruising while visiting local sites by bus, usually no more than 1.5 hours each way. Actually we were grateful for only three days on the boat since the cabins are quite small and the beds even smaller. But the food--outstanding! We are not foodies but we have not had better food on a riverboat.

 

Arrived in Berlin yesterday and the heat wave may be over or not--could reach high 90's again tomorrow. Today was a pleasant mid 80's. Berlin is one fantastic city but overrun by tourists at this time of the year.

Interested in your Dresden stay, how did GCT handle the meals there? Which of the cities/sights on the itinerary did you visit from Dresden and which did you visit from the ship? Any cruising at all? Where was the ship docked?