River Cruise Lines Are Adding 21 Ships to Rivers That Keep Running Dry

River cruising keeps growing even as the rivers it depends on struggle. CLIA announced on October 13 that river cruise lines plan to add 21 new ships for 2027. AmaWaterways is adding three, Uniworld four, Emerald two (Emerald Lumi on the Seine and Emerald Nova on the Douro), and Celebrity River Cruises will make its river debut with two ships.

The water tells a different story. On October 15, the Rhine at Kaub read 12 centimeters, against a mean annual low of 65 centimeters. The Danube at Pfelling stood at 243 centimeters, compared with a mean annual low of 266. Those readings help explain why Riviera canceled two Blue Danube departures this month.

Earlier in the year, a Uniworld ship could not pass Vilshofen in July, so passengers continued by bus, and AmaWaterways described operational adjustments on select sailings. When it altered itineraries, AmaWaterways offered affected guests a 40 percent future credit, a move to a late-2026 sailing, or a full credit, though policies vary by line.

For travelers, the lesson is to read the fine print before booking a low-water-prone stretch in late summer or autumn. Cancel-for-any-reason insurance generally has to be bought at the time of booking, and asking a line how it handles bus transfers and ship swaps can reveal more about a cruise than the brochure does.

Sources: Cruise Critic