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Flooding and lobsters and cruises, oh my
It’s usually the airlines that have to cancel due to weather. But this year, crazy flooding in Europe is affecting the river cruises that have become so popular.
Viking Cruises, the largest of the lines, has spent the past few days scrambling to shuffle itineraries and move ships around so passengers don’t have to cancel their vacation plans. But much remains in flux.
Viking has canceled three June 9 sailings: the Romantic Danube (Budapest to Nuremburg) aboard Viking Prestige; the Danube Waltz (Passau to Budapest) aboard Viking Legend; and the Romantic Danube (Budapest to Nuremburg) aboard MS Vienna.
It also has moved many departures to new locations, picking up travelers at the airport and transporting them to new piers.
The June 8 Romantic Danube (Budapest to Nuremberg) aboard Viking Idun, for example, will now take place on sister ship Viking Njord, and will depart from Bratislava rather than Budapest. Viking will pay for one hotel night in Budapest on June 8 and then take guests by motorcoach to meet the ship in Bratislava.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, meanwhile, has canceled the June 16 European Jewels cruise on the River Empress because the ship is currently in Budapest and cannot get to Amsterdam, as well as the June 7 departures of the Grand Danube & Prague and Danube Discovery & Prague trips, and the June 9 Enchanting Danube cruise on the River Beatrice.
Uniworld said it expects the cruises scheduled to depart June 10-16 to proceed as planned.
Many other ships and itineraries have been affected by the deepest flooding Europe has seen in years. Travel agents and passengers are advised to watch the websites for updates.
Celebrity Cruises, meanwhile, has canceled the June 9 departure of the Celebrity Xpedition in the Galapagos Islands due to a different kind of seasonal issue.
Its permit to sail in Galapagos National Park was suspended when inspectors found 12 kilograms of frozen lobster tails aboard after lobster season had passed.
Celebrity has explained that while the lobster was purchased in season, a new ruling by the park mandates that all lobsters must be consumed within five days of the end of the season. The violation was for having the lobster on board longer than that.
Celebrity is appealing the suspension, and has not yet canceled any other cruises.
By Cheryl Rosen
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