An Ontario man says he was left outraged after a luxury European river cruise costing $22,000 CAD—about $15,400 USD—was completely overhauled less than a day before his departure.
Brian Lobaskie and his partner had spent more than a year arranging an 11-day AmaWaterways journey. Their original plan was to sail from Amsterdam through Europe and finish in Switzerland.
But roughly 24 hours before the couple’s flight, Lobaskie learned that the cruise line could no longer operate the planned route in full.
AmaWaterways instead proposed a replacement itinerary through the Netherlands and Belgium.
The alternate voyage did not match the couple’s travel plans—or the experience they believed they had purchased. With their bags already packed, they decided not to make the trip.
“Unfortunately, I got a 24-hour notice before I was scheduled to fly that the cruise company could not operate the river cruise in its entirety,” Lobaskie told CTV News.
Lobaskie said the company also encouraged him to buy additional excursions and a rail pass as part of the revised travel arrangements.
AmaWaterways told CTV News that severe weather and changing water levels can force cruise operators to make last-minute changes to their routes.
Ontario resident Brian Lobaskie and his partner spent more than a year planning an 11-day AmaWaterways cruise from Amsterdam to Switzerland.
The Canadian couple paid $22,000 CAD—approximately $15,400 USD—for the luxury European river cruise before learning their itinerary would change less than 24 hours before departure.
AmaWaterways offered a replacement route through the Netherlands and Belgium instead of the planned journey to Switzerland.
Rather than canceling the sailing, AmaWaterways chose to reroute the vessel, saying the decision was made to protect passengers and maintain safer operating conditions.
Because the ship continued to operate, the company said its policy did not allow for cash refunds.
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Passengers affected by the revised itinerary were offered two alternatives by AmaWaterways.
“Guests who chose to go on the changed itinerary, they were offered a credit on future trips equal to 50 per cent of their cruise fare,” an AmaWaterways spokesperson told CTV News.
“Those who opted out of the revised itinerary, the company offered an option to postpone the trip and would receive a credit ‘equal to 100 per cent of their cruise fare.’”
Travel expert Loren Christie said Europe’s heatwaves and drought conditions have made river-cruise disruptions more frequent as water levels fall.
Lobaskie maintains that passengers should receive a full cash refund when an entire cruise itinerary is replaced, rather than being limited to future travel credits.
Although he was issued a $22,000 credit, Lobaskie said rising cruise prices could force him to pay more if he tries to book the same journey next year.
He also questioned whether unpredictable river conditions would allow AmaWaterways to operate the original route in the future.
‘I’d have to pay even more to do next year, what I couldn’t do this year,’ he said.
Travel expert Loren Christie, said the heatwaves and droughts in Europe have made river cruise alterations increasingly common due to low water levels.
‘This is not an usual situation because of the heat in Europe. A lot of the river levels are low, and that is causing changes to people’s itineraries,’ she said.
Christie added that cruise contracts typically contain standard waiver clauses allowing operators to modify routes without issuing cash refunds during weather-related disruptions
Our News Outlet has reached out to AmaWaterways for further comment.
