River Cruise Passengers Furloughed as Low Water Levels Force Coach Tours

Passengers booked on Tui river cruises have voiced frustration after significant itinerary changes, including extensive coach journeys, due to low water levels on European rivers. One group of six travelers, scheduled to depart on September 21, opted out of their trip after receiving a revised itinerary days before departure, which they felt was fundamentally different from their original booking.

"What they were planning to give us was not a cruise but a glorified coach trip," said David Mallon, a member of the group. He noted that one individual in their party had health reasons to avoid prolonged sitting, such as long coach journeys. Without an immediate refund offer, the group booked a last-minute holiday elsewhere and pursued compensation upon their return.

Mallon stated, "We don't blame Tui for the water levels, but it's the way they've handled the consequences of that." He has filed a complaint with Tui and indicated he would consider small claims court if necessary to obtain a refund.

Tui River Cruises acknowledged that extreme heat across Europe this summer led to low water levels on the Danube, affecting multiple river cruise operators. A spokesperson explained that the company reviews each sailing individually with nautical partners. For Tui Isla departures on September 14 and 21, revised itineraries were sent to customers before travel. Where sections of the river were unnavigable, coach transfers and hotel stays were arranged to minimize travel time, allowing passengers to still visit destinations like Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava.

"We reviewed the revised arrangements carefully and customers continued their holiday on the amended itinerary under our standard booking conditions," the Tui spokesperson said. "While customers were still able to visit the key destinations on their itinerary, we're sorry some did not get the river cruise experience they had anticipated."

Passengers have described their anger after their itineraries changed to involve hours spent on coach trips instead. The situation highlights the challenges faced by the tourism industry due to climate-related events impacting travel. Historically, low water levels on rivers like the Danube have forced cruise lines to make significant adjustments to their voyages, sometimes leading to increased reliance on road transport to reach advertised destinations.