Best summer month for river cruise?

[rjscott]

Planning for 2014, Budapest to Bucharest or reverse on Viking. The couple we will be traveling with are limited to the summer months due to her employment at a pre-school so June would be the earliest we could travel. Which month would be the optimal month for us to plan to cruise to avoid the issues I've read about with low water levels, high heat, and high tourist influx?
Any advice appreciated, as this is only my 2nd trip to Europe. Thank you!

[ingo_e]

Usually a typical cruise season looks like this:

March: Ships are back on the rivers. But it is still rainy.
April: Every bathtub goes to the Netherlands for the tulip cruises. The Rhine Main Danube Canal is closed as well.
May - September: Main season.
September - early October: Kind of a shoulder season.
November: Everyone brings their ships into pole position for the
December: Christmas cruises

As Summer vaccations are spread over the summer (not just country to country, but e.g. in Germany state by state) there is no chance to avoid main season from June on (your earliest date).

Waterlevels & weather issues are priced in

[tassietravellers]

We sailed from Budapest to Amsterdam on the 15th aug 2012, we had problems with low water levels and had to be bussed to some towns, for the tours etc as per the itinerary, cant complain because its just nature....its different every year. Loved our first river cruise.
Despite the water levels we had magic weather :-)

[Paulinda]

Originally Posted by ingo_e

Usually a typical cruise season looks like this:

March: Ships are back on the rivers. But it is still rainy.
April: Every bathtub goes to the Netherlands for the tulip cruises. The Rhine Main Danube Canal is closed as well.
May - September: Main season.
September - early October: Kind of a shoulder season.
November: Everyone brings their ships into pole position for the
December: Christmas cruises

As Summer vaccations are spread over the summer (not just country to country, but e.g. in Germany state by state) there is no chance to avoid main season from June on (your earliest date).

Waterlevels & weather issues are priced in

1st time I've ever heard cruise ships called 'bathtubs'. Interesting!

To the OP - We've been to Europe a number of times and have always been there in late May to/thru June. I don't recall anything but nice weather at that time although we may have been just be lucky. We're going again this June so hopefully our luck will continue.

[rogerdawhip]

My favorite month for a river cruise is June. The days are longer and it is nice to have some daylight to walk around a village after dinner so simply sit on the sun deck.

[caviargal]

If I had to go in summer, I would only choose June. And I would go as early as possible in the month.

[rjscott]

Thanks to all of you for your input! We are booked on the Viking Rinda (an upcoming new longship) for June 12, '14. Now trying to decide on precruise stay.

[tassietravellers]

Originally Posted by rjscott

Thanks to all of you for your input! We are booked on the Viking Rinda (an upcoming new longship) for June 12, '14. Now trying to decide on precruise stay.

Stay in Budapest, loved it, spent 3 days pre cruise in august at the Intercontinental, fantastic position on the Danube looking straight across the river to the Royal Palace..will definitely visit Budapest again, beautiful city and so much to see.

[Ausjackaroo]

Hello, DH and I are looking at booking a cruise Budapest/Amsterdam in June 2014 and are interested to hear of cabin positions regarding the summer sun. Would a northern facing cabin be hot during the day?

[nana541]

Depends on which direction you are sailing in!

[Paulinda]

ausjack - the weather is not notoriously hot during June in Germany or Austria. (of course you may luck out and hit some 80 F temps). I don't think you need to worry about which sides of the ship are hotter. You will no doubt spend little time in your cabins.