Update 11/10: Viking has listed the new November and December Christmas market sailings on its website, identifying the ships and replacement itineraries.
The listings include “Holland & Belgium at Christmas” voyages between Amsterdam and Brussels and “Christmas in Germany” sailings between Frankfurt and Nuremberg, replacing some previously scheduled Rhine and Danube cruises.
Candid Cruise & Travel has updated the tables below with the ship names, departure dates and revised routes shown on Viking’s website, alongside previously shared passenger reports. The following Viking river ships have itinerary changes listed on the cruise line’s website:
- Baldur
- Bragi
- Egdir
- Eldir
- Gefjon
- Mimir
- Tir
- Vidar
Original article:
Some Viking passengers booked on Rhine Christmas market cruises are reporting major itinerary changes for December departures. They say some sailings between Amsterdam and Basel have been rerouted to operate between Amsterdam and Brussels as low water levels continue to disrupt river travel in Europe.
The revised route replaces planned stops in France and Switzerland with destinations in Belgium and the Netherlands, leaving affected travelers to reassess flights, cruise extensions and holiday plans just weeks before departure.
In comments shared in the Viking Christmas Market Cruises Facebook group, travelers say they’re receiving notices that some sailings between Amsterdam and Basel will now be sailing between Brussels and Amsterdam.
However, it seems that not all itineraries are adjusted at this time. Others with booked Rhine river cruises say Viking has told them their original itinerary remains scheduled, while several are still waiting for answers.
The reports come as low water continues to challenge navigation on Europe’s rivers. For passengers approaching departure, the uncertainty is adding to frustration. Some are also trying to rearrange flights and understand what happens to extensions booked before or after their cruise.
Viking said in an email to impacted passengers:
“As you may already know, historically low water levels continue to restrict sailing along both the Rhine and Danube Rivers. These conditions will prevent a limited number of ships from traveling from their current location to operate their itineraries. Your scheduled departure is affected by these circumstances. We know how much you have been looking forward to this voyage, and we have worked to preserve your travel dates while providing a meaningful alternative that allows you to enjoy the magic, traditions and festive atmosphere of the season.”
Some Rhine itineraries will now sail between Amsterdam and Brussels
Viking’s new “Holland & Belgium at Christmas” itinerary is an eight-day journey between Amsterdam and Brussels through the Netherlands and Belgium, with bus excursions to Germany from Venlo. The Amsterdam-to-Brussels route includes the following stops:
| Day | Destination |
|---|---|
| 1 | Amsterdam, the Netherlands — embarkation |
| 2 | Dordrecht, the Netherlands |
| 3 | Venlo, the Netherlands — for Düsseldorf or Cologne, Germany |
| 4 | Maastricht, the Netherlands |
| 5 | Liège, Belgium |
| 6 | Antwerp, Belgium |
| 7 | Brussels, Belgium |
| 8 | Brussels, Belgium — disembarkation |
Visits to German Christmas markets will be offered by bus from Venlo, with excursions to Düsseldorf or Cologne. The itinerary also operates in reverse, sailing from Brussels to Amsterdam.
Along the revised route, passengers can explore Christmas markets in the Netherlands and Belgium, including Magical Maastricht Vrijthof, Liège’s Village de Noël, Antwerp’s Christmas Market and Brussels’ Winter Wonders.
Below is a list of impacted sailings from Viking’s website. Candid Cruise & Travel has compiled all of the ships, sail dates, and itinerary changes based on the listed itineraries.
| Ship | Departure | Original route | Revised route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bragi | Nov. 21 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Eldir | Nov. 25 | Basel → Amsterdam | Brussels → Amsterdam |
| Bragi | Nov. 28 | Basel → Amsterdam | Brussels → Amsterdam |
| Baldur | Nov. 30 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Gefjon | Dec. 1 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Eldir | Dec. 2 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Egdir | Dec. 2 | Basel → Amsterdam | Brussels → Amsterdam |
| Tir | Dec. 3 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Bragi | Dec. 5 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Baldur | Dec. 7 | Basel → Amsterdam | Brussels → Amsterdam |
| Gefjon | Dec. 8 | Basel → Amsterdam | Brussels → Amsterdam |
| Egdir | Dec. 9 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Eldir | Dec. 9 | Basel → Amsterdam | Brussels → Amsterdam |
| Tir | Dec. 10 | Basel → Amsterdam | Brussels → Amsterdam |
| Bragi | Dec. 12 | Basel → Amsterdam | Brussels → Amsterdam |
| Baldur | Dec. 14 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Gefjon | Dec. 15 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Eldir | Dec. 16 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
| Egdir | Dec. 16 | Basel → Amsterdam | Brussels → Amsterdam |
| Tir | Dec. 17 | Amsterdam → Basel | Amsterdam → Brussels |
Some Rhine and Danube cruises are moving to Germany’s Main River
Some Viking Rhine and Danube cruises have been replaced with sailings on Germany’s Main River. The new “Christmas in Germany” itinerary travels between Frankfurt and Nuremberg, with all ports of call in Germany. The Frankfurt-to-Nuremberg route includes the following stops:
| Day | Destination |
|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfurt, Germany — embarkation |
| 2 | Frankfurt, Germany |
| 3 | Aschaffenburg, Germany |
| 4 | Miltenberg, Germany |
| 5 | Würzburg, Germany |
| 6 | Bamberg, Germany |
| 7 | Nuremberg, Germany |
| 8 | Nuremberg, Germany — disembarkation |
Passengers originally booked to sail between Amsterdam and Basel, or Budapest and Regensburg, describe receiving replacement itineraries between Frankfurt and Nuremberg.
These changes replace planned visits to several countries with German destinations. For affected Danube passengers, that means missing Budapest and the Austrian ports on their original itinerary. Rhine passengers face losing stops in the Netherlands, France and Switzerland.
The table below summarizes the reported changes. These are individual passenger reports, and travelers should confirm their sailing details and transportation arrangements directly with Viking.
| Ship | Departure | Original route | Revised route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vidar | Nov. 23 | Budapest → Regensburg | Frankfurt → Nuremberg |
| Vidar | Nov. 30 | Regensburg → Budapest | Nuremberg → Frankfurt |
| Mimir | Dec. 4 | Amsterdam → Basel | Frankfurt → Nuremberg |
| Vidar | Dec. 7 | Budapest → Regensburg | Frankfurt → Nuremberg |
| Mimir | Dec. 11 | Basel → Amsterdam | Nuremberg → Frankfurt |
| Vidar | Dec. 14 | Regensburg → Budapest | Nuremberg → Frankfurt |
| Mimir | Dec. 18 | Amsterdam → Basel | Frankfurt → Nuremberg |
What Viking is offering affected passengers
In notices shared by affected passengers, Viking is offering guests who accept the replacement itinerary a future cruise voucher worth 25% of their paid cruise fare, excluding land packages and extension hotels, plus $125 in shipboard credit per person. The voucher can be used toward a future river, ocean, or expedition voyage and is expected to arrive within two weeks after passengers return home.
Previously purchased optional shore excursions will be refunded to the original payment method within 14 business days. Viking says replacement excursion programming is being developed, with an included excursion reserved for guests in each port.
Existing Viking pre- and post-cruise extensions will be maintained, with transportation arranged between extension hotels and the ship. Viking Air bookings will be adjusted as needed.
Guests who booked flights independently are advised to contact their airline about changes or seek assistance from Viking’s air team; the notices do not promise reimbursement for independently booked airfare changes.
Passengers accepting the revised arrangements do not need to take action. Those wishing to discuss alternatives should contact Viking or their travel advisor. The notices reviewed do not explicitly offer cash refunds or a cancellation credit, although some passengers separately report obtaining a 100% future cruise credit after contacting the company.
Low water concerns continue ahead of Christmas market season
A brief improvement in river conditions in late October has not brought lasting relief, according to a November 3 report in TravelPulse, citing Cleveland Research Company.
The report put the Rhine gauge at Kaub at approximately 20 centimeters, down from the upper 50-centimeter range in late October and below a cited navigation reference of 77 centimeters. Cologne’s gauge was approximately 75 centimeters, compared with a reference of 139 centimeters.
The forecast offered limited immediate relief. According to the assessment, meaningful recovery could require roughly 70 to 80 millimeters of widespread rain over seven to 10 days. Forecasts suggest wetter weather could arrive November 9–12, but lasting improvement in river levels may not come until mid-November and would depend on sufficient rainfall.
Those concerns follow months of disruption. In an October 28 Travel Weekly report by Brinley Hineman, travel advisors described watching conditions closely as the holiday season approached.
“The issue isn’t whether we’ll get rain,” travel advisor Lisa Fitzgerald told Travel Weekly. “It’s whether we’ll get enough sustained rainfall across the river systems to make a meaningful difference.”
Amadeus River Cruise and Avalon Waterways told the publication it was too early to predict December conditions. Viking River Cruises declined to comment for that report.
Viking passengers report itinerary changes while others await updates
Some passengers say they have received emails replacing their Amsterdam-to-Basel cruises with sailings between Amsterdam and Brussels, operating in either direction. Others report being told their original itinerary remains scheduled, while several are still waiting for information.
“I got the changed itinerary email yesterday too,” one passenger wrote. Another reported receiving an email outlining an “itinerary Brussels to Amsterdam.”
One commenter suggested Viking was dividing ships between the replacement route and the original Rhine itinerary. That passenger said their own sailing remained unchanged and that Viking had advised it could “conduct a ship swap at the time of sailing rather than change the itinerary.” The reports do not establish how many ships are assigned to each route.
More recent passenger reports describe additional changes, with some Rhine and Danube sailings moving to Germany’s Main River. Travelers report replacement itineraries between Frankfurt and Nuremberg, as well as one round-trip Frankfurt sailing. These updates suggest the alternatives vary by ship and departure date rather than following a single replacement itinerary.
Other travelers described getting fewer answers. “Just called and they gave me nothing but wait for email,” one wrote.
Flight changes are a major source of frustration
For some passengers, the biggest challenge is adjusting travel arrangements around a new embarkation or disembarkation city.
“Biggest challenge will be changing our flights from Zurich to Brussels,” one traveler wrote.
The same passenger said their email offered a future travel credit equal to 25% of the trip cost and $125 in onboard credit. The reports do not establish whether those terms apply to other affected bookings.
Another traveler described difficulties rearranging flights and resolving a previously booked Brussels extension after learning the cruise would now start there.
Others reported different arrangements. One passenger said their notice included transportation from Brussels to a booked Lucerne extension. Having booked through Viking Air, they understood no flight changes were needed if they accepted the revised itinerary, but they were still deciding whether to proceed.
Another said their party had chosen to fly from Brussels to Zurich because changing their existing airfare would be too expensive.
Disappointment, uncertainty and some holiday optimism
River cruises are often planned years in advance, with cruisers looking to visit specific destinations. For those who chose this itinerary for the Christmas markets in France or a visit to Switzerland, the reroute represents a significant departure from the trip they booked.
“People like us picked this trip specifically because it includes Switzerland,” one commenter wrote. Another echoed that disappointment: “I specifically wanted Strasbourg, Colmar and Basel along with the small German markets. I’m totally bummed.”
For some, the frustration extends to the options available after receiving notice. One passenger said, “Mine was slated for the change and when I asked for a change in ship/itinerary I was told everything’s full.”
Others are trying to make the most of the revised plans, even when that means arranging additional travel.
“Same for us and we decided to fly from Brussels to Zurich because changing our airfare was going to be too expensive !” one traveler wrote. “I’m bummed to miss Strasbourg and Colmar but I’m excited to see Europe at Christmas !”
Some passengers expressed more flexibility, particularly those who had booked flights through Viking.
“Our itinerary was changed also. For us it’s not a problem,” another commented. “We booked flights through Viking. They have to sort it out. We are looking forward to all the new experiences.”
Others are looking to fellow travelers for reassurance about the replacement destinations. One passenger asked, “With the new itinerary a lot of us have received ending in Belgium can anybody share some positive feedback regarding any of these ports?”
Note: Candid Cruise & Travel will continue updating this article as more information becomes available.
