The Avalon Expression passes Maus Castle on the Rhine.
Contemplating a leisurely river cruise in Europe? You'll be in good company – last year nearly 70,000 Australians took one. However, if you've never been on a river cruise before, it's worth knowing how fluctuating water levels can affect your holiday.
This summer, for instance, dry weather in Europe has meant water levels in the Danube, Rhine, Elbe and other rivers have been exceptionally low at times, causing several cruises to be cancelled or itineraries changed. I've just cruised in France's Bordeaux region aboard Scenic Diamond, and our planned stop at Cadillac on the Gironde was impossible – the combination of the ship's 170-centimetre draught , timing of the tides and falling water levels meant we would have been stuck on the mud had we moored there. We still visited the beautiful old walled town, but travelled there by bus from Bordeaux rather than by ship.
Despite all the technology, nobody can accurately predict the water levels as they can alter within hours. Low water levels are caused by prolonged dry periods and even though river ships have shallow draughts and can sail with as little as 20 centimetres of water beneath the keel, there are occasions where it's simply impossible to go there.
P&O Cruises Pacific Jewel.
Where there is a shallow stretch of water followed by navigable stretches, the ship's ballast tanks can be emptied and passengers disembark to lighten the load so the ship sits higher on the water – then passengers re-board and the ship carries on.
High water levels, caused by heavy rainfall and flooding, can mean ships are unable to pass under low bridges or that it's unsafe to moor at certain ports. What happens then?
Cruise lines with several ships in the area can do "swaps", meeting either side of an unpassable area so passengers get off one ship and get on to another similar one. Alternatively, the ship moors in one place and passengers are taken by bus to destinations on the itinerary, and/or stay overnight in hotels. However, a bus trip is not what passengers have signed up for and is invariably unpopular so some lines prefer to cancel the cruise.
MS Spitsbergen.
The lesson in all this? When you're planning a river cruise, ask the cruise line about its contingency plans if the river becomes unnavigable, and ask yourself whether you're prepared to accept them. Otherwise, relax and go with the flow.
Meet the crew
NAME Kevin Boag, from England
Kevin Boag.
POSITION Administration & Revenue Director, P&O Cruises Pacific Jewel
MY JOB I work with the various revenue departments and concessions such as the spa, photo and retail operations.
A TYPICAL DAY My morning always starts with a great coffee from Charlie's Bar. Once the java kicks in I catch up with the overnight emails and admin before walking around the ship checking my areas of responsibility; it's also an opportunity to chat with guests. The day often consists of meetings with various department heads and in the evening I enjoy going to the marquee to watch one of the shows.
Shwedagon Pagoda.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT In 1998 while working on board QE2 I had the great pleasure of meeting Nelson Mandela. He even signed a photo of us together, which now hangs proudly in my mum's home.
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORT Sydney – it's such a spectacular harbour to sail into.
INSIDER TIP Remember to keep your Pacific Daily (daily program) with you so you can plan your day. With so much going on it's easy to miss something.
Tip
Remember to take your belongings out of your cabin safe before you disembark the ship – set a reminder on your smartphone or stick a reminder on the mirror.
News
MS Spitsbergen
Norwegian adventure cruise line Hurtigruten, established in 1893, is naming its newest ship MS Spitsbergen after the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago. The 320-passenger vessel joins Hurtigruten's fleet of 13 – the line operates two ships around the poles and 11 along the Norwegian coast. In the high north, Hurtigruten offers voyages around Greenland and Iceland as well as around Spitsbergen. In the extreme south, Hurtigruten sails from South America to Antarctica. MS Spitsbergen will initially replace MS Midnatsol on Hurtigruten's traditional coastal route when it sails to Antarctica in autumn 2016; then it will alternate between the coastal route and polar expeditions. See discovertravelshop.com.au .
Pandaw new programs
River expedition cruise line Pandaw is launching two new programs exploring Myanmar's Salween River and the Irrawaddy Delta, operating weekly from October 2016 to March 2017. The Salween is the longest river in Burma at 2815 kilometres from its source in Tibet and only navigable for larger vessels for about 160 kilometres between its mouth at Martaban and the Karen capital of Hpa-an. There will be a choice of two short itineraries from Rangoon to Bassein, which will take in Moulmein, the first British capital of Burma, Mount Zwekabin and Pegu, which is home to Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the tallest in Myanmar. See pandaw.com .
Appy days
Relief is in sight for seasickness sufferers – researchers at Imperial College London are developing an app to combat the dreaded mal de mer. The app will deliver a small electric current to your scalp through a headset that is integrated with a mobile phone. "We are confident that within five to 10 years people will be able to walk into the chemist and buy an anti-sickness device," lead researcher Qadeer Arshad said. "It may be something like a 'tens' machine that is used for back pain." There is already an app called Nevasic on the market, which apparently works by transmitting sounds through headphones.
Deal of the week
Enjoy a free upgrade from an inside to oceanview cabin with ecruising.travel's 2016 Rocky Mountaineer and Holland America Line Alaskan cruise and Canadian rail package program when you book by December 1. The 15-night fly/rail/land/cruise package departs regularly from April to October. From $8499; phone 1300 369 848, see ecruising.travel .
More deals
CRUISES.COM.AU Cruise the Pacific islands on Carnival Spirit for $88 a day – the 10-night trip departs Sydney November 17 and visits Noumea, Mare, Mystery Island and Port Vila. From $882; phone 1300 661 699, see cruises.com.au.
CREATIVE CRUISING's 11-night Unforgettable Hawaiian Escape fly/cruise/stay package departing March 30, 2016 includes a seven-night round-trip cruise from Honolulu on NCL's Pride of America and four nights in Waikiki. From $4299; phone 1300 362 599, see creativecruising.com.au.
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