After an extremely challenging summer for river cruise lines facing record low water levels in Europe, there’s now some pushback over future cruise credits vs. refunds for altered itineraries.

Through much of the summer, river cruise operators have been doing their best to navigate low water levels on sections of Europe’s top waterways including parts of the Danube, the Rhine and the Main. Cancellations are always the last resort, and as in past years operators have mostly made do with ship-swaps, altered sailing routes and motorcoach segments.

According to CTV News, an Ontario couple reached out to the station’s Consumer Alert feature after they received a heads-up from AmaWaterways that their European river cruise itinerary from Amsterdam to Switzerland couldn’t operate in its entirety. The couple was offered an alternate route, still through the Netherlands but now with Belgium. 

The couple had long ago purchased excursions and a rail pass based on their original itinerary, and say they got the news from AmaWaterways about the alternate itinerary with 24 hours' notice before their flight. They were offered future cruise credit. 

As the frustrated consumer told CTV: “When an entire itinerary is cancelled, an option should be given for a refund. I should be entitled to a refund.” 

The vacation was valued at $22,000. The couple received the $22,000 travel credit, but say prices have increased for next year’s sailing: “I’d have to pay even more to do next year, what I couldn’t do this year.”

Travelweek has reached out to AmaWaterways and will follow up with any feedback.