What They Don’t Tell You About River Cruising

Whether or not your cruise becomes landlocked depends on Mother Nature. River cruise ships can only sail if the water levels allow. If the water level is too low, it becomes impossible for the ships to pass. If they are too high, ships may not be able to pass through river locks or travel under low clearance bridges.

It's difficult to predict precisely when, how, or if unexpected bus tours will suddenly disrupt your itinerary, but keeping an eye on regional weather patterns—particularly during the rainy seasons or periods of drought—and booking accordingly can increase your odds of an uninterrupted cruise.

Leaving the ship does not always mean you'll be stuck on a bus for the remainder of your journey. If you are asked to disembark, a bus will ferry you to the next destination on your itinerary, where the crew will reassess the water level and decide whether the passengers can continue on the water. More often than not, you’ll be able to board a new ship further down the river and continue cruising.

While traveling on land, you'll still hit all the spots on your itinerary. Instead of returning to a cabin on the ship, you'll be hosted in a comparable hotel. Unfortunately, you’ll lose the convenience of a stateroom that travels with you—for the duration of your bus tour, you'll have to transport your luggage in and out of whatever hotel you're at for the night.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of a refund is slim. Much like a force majeure clause in travel insurance, river water levels are outside a cruise line's control. The possibility of rerouting via bus is usually covered in the fine print of the cruise line’s terms and conditions, so read carefully before booking.

There have been anecdotal instances of cruise lines offering vouchers or credit toward a future cruise for lengthy bus detours. Your odds of receiving compensation increase if the switch causes the cruise line to skip itinerary destinations, cancel included excursions, or if the water levels prevent passengers from sailing entirely. Speak to your cruise director or the cruise line’s customer service to understand your options.

Since these bus swaps happen while the itinerary is already underway, most insurance policies won't cover losses for passengers who want to cut the trip short. Your best bet for an altered cruise itinerary is trip interruption insurance, which can refund you unused portions of your trip and cover alternate transportation. Look for a policy that covers unexpected weather and environmental factors.

River cruises that turn into bus tours aren't always a vacation disaster. In fact, some travelers book them on purpose. Itinerary extensions are optional add-ons at the beginning or end of a cruise that let you explore additional destinations on land. In the right circumstances, a combination of bus tour and river cruise can maximize your sightseeing potential. For example, the Prague bus tour extension on Uniworld’s Delightful Danube tour allows travelers to transfer from cruise ship to high-end motorcoach to take a deeper look at the city.