john chapman schrieb:

In mid October (2 weeks from now) I am supposed to take a Rhine River
cruise from the Netherlands to Switzerland. I am getting many stories
about low river (lowest in over 100 years), and even cruise boats not
being able to go from the southern Rhine to north of Mainz. Can
anyone give me the actual situation re river cruise boats along the
Rhine. For example, are parts of the river actually closed to river
cruise ships, and if so which parts? Part of the trip was also to be
a short excursion down the Mosel as well. I am thinking of cancelling
this trip. Thanks in advance for any up-to-date information.

The record has been broken repeatedly this summer, the level is
currently somewhere around 40 centimeters, however this does not mean
you can wade across it.
In the first place, the zero reference point is purely arbitrary. We
could even get negative readings if it sinks any further.
Secondly, there is a dredged navigable channel which is about 5' deeper
and up to 150 yards wide. All commercial traffic sticks to regardless
of the water level. There is certainly a problem for the big commercial
craft, because they can only transport a fraction of their normal load.
I don't know if the smaller cruise boats have so much of a problem.

Notwithstanding, there was an accident just the other week with a cruise
boat running aground near St Goar, several passengers were injured.
Whether the accident was the result of the low water is still unclear.

You can be optimistic and view the low water as an opportunity to see
the rocks on the bottom of the Rhine for the first time in history.
Also, the beaches in some parts are fantastic, although it's too cold to
do much sunbathing.

Tom