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Budapest to Prague September 8 departure. Who else is doing this one?
Any word on the status yet? As of today we are about 3 1/2 weeks out and the forecast is not promising for significant rain. Hopefully we’ll get some good advance notice on any changes.
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I spoke with a Tauck representative and he said that it is too early to determine if they would cancel the cruise or not. He said they are praying for rain! Come up with any ideas for a Plan B?
I am booked for the 9/15 sailing, and have made arrangements before and after. If Tauck cancels I might travel on my own, by train rather than bus, and staying in less expensive hotels.
We're on the 9/8 sailing and of course have heard nothing. My travel agent spoke with Tauck and they indicated to him that we should know something this coming week, Aug 17-21. I spoke to a Tauck rep they said we'd know something by 8/28
I think Tauck has to wait for Scylla . Their hands are tied.
That's a good observation. I expect the contract between Tauck and Scylla says that if Tauck cancels they still have to pay Scylla, but if Scylla cancels, they don’t. So Tauck has to wait until Scylla says that they can’t provide a boat. And Scylla isn’t going to do that until they're absolutely sure they can’t run the cruise.
FWIW a tracking app shows MS Savor tied up at Bratislava and MS Joy tied up near Krems. Neither has moved lately.
tcrosse, do you have a link or info on the app please? TYIA.
https://www.cruisemapper.com
Western and Central Europe is forecast to receive between 5 and 10 cm of rain this week. With the sun backed soil the river levels may rise faster than expected. Hopefully this makes river cruising better in the coming weeks
Yesterday the MS Joy was in Vilshofen. Today the tracking app shows it on its way down river.
The tracking app shows the MS Joy today at Linz, while the MS Savor is still tied up at Bratislave.
Our cruise leaves 9/1 from Munich to Budapest and we have not receivedd any updates. We are scheduled to leave this Friday 8/28 for Europe with no news or ability speak to anyone at Tauck.
DawnH - I think they are supposed to be back up and running today from noon to 6:00 pm - 8/24. Hopefully you can get in touch today.
Yes that’s right but I bet you might be in line for a while with a lot of anxious customers trying to get a hold of them
I’m copying what I found from AI just now (on 8/24/26) asking about the river between Budapest and Prague:
Severe drought conditions are causing critical disruptions to river cruises between Budapest and Prague over the next 2 to 3 weeks. Because Prague is located on the Vltava River rather than the Danube, standard itineraries traditionally include a land transfer (such as a motorcoach) between Prague and a Danube port like Nuremberg, Regensburg, or Passau. However, record-low water levels on multiple stretches of the Danube mean your actual cruise experience will likely face heavy modifications.Current River Conditions & ChokepointsBudapest to Bratislava / Vienna: As of late August 2026, the Danube is officially too shallow to sail at its Budapest checkpoint. The gauge in Budapest hit a near-record low of 14–19 cm earlier this month. Despite minor, temporary relief from localized mountain showers, cruise lines report that navigation remains strictly closed or highly uncertain between Budapest and Bratislava.The Upper Danube (Passau to Regensburg): Another major chokepoint is active at the Pfelling gauge. Water levels there are well below the regulated low-water reference, halting normal ship traffic between Regensburg and Passau.How Cruises are Affected (Next 2–3 Weeks)Major lines—including Viking River Cruises, Emerald Cruises, and Scenic Cruises—are actively deploying contingency plans rather than outright canceling trips. Over the next 21 days, you should anticipate the following operational adjustments:Ship Swaps: To preserve your itinerary, cruise lines will frequently dock two identical sister ships on opposite sides of an unnavigable chokepoint. You will be bussed around the shallow stretch to board the secondary ship, which features the exact same cabin number and layout.Bus Substitutions ("Motorcoach Cruises"): For the highly impacted Budapest-to-Vienna stretch, ships are currently unable to dock in Budapest proper. Many lines are docking farther upstream (such as in Komárno) and transferring guests to Budapest via a 1.5-to-2-hour bus ride for daytime sightseeing.Daytime Schedule Changes: Because ships cannot travel at full speed or with full cargo weight when water is low, itineraries are experiencing unexpected delays. Excursion times may be shortened to accommodate longer transit windows.Proactive Next StepsIf you are scheduled to travel before mid-September, do not wait for embarkation day to check status updates.Monitor Live Gauges: You can keep an eye on operational river statuses via curated tools like the Amsterdam Experiences Danube Live Tracking Page, which translates technical gauge numbers into plain sailing conditions.Review the Cruise Line's Portal: Check the "Travel Advisory" or "Travel Alerts" page of your specific carrier daily. Most lines are finalizing itinerary decisions roughly 3 to 7 days before departure.Pack for Flexibility: Ensure you have comfortable walking shoes and a versatile daypack, as you will likely spend more consecutive hours on a motorcoach or exploring land-based alternatives than originally expected.Are you already booked on a specific cruise line, or are you trying to decide whether to book or buy travel insurance for an upcoming trip?