Basel in the crossfire: River cruise ships avoid the harbor!

Basel in the crossfire: River cruise ships avoid the harbor!

Weil am Rhein, Deutschland - The river cruise industry in Basel faces a serious challenge. Due to difficulties in procuring working visa for the crew members, more and more ships cancel their berths in the popular Rheinstadt. Over 200 cruise ships have already decided instead of docking in Basel in the surrounding German cities in Weil am Rhein and Breisach or in the French Huningue and Strasbourg. As a result, almost a quarter of the river cruises in Basel will fail this season. The Basel port director Florian Röthlingshöfer is concerned about the negative effects on tourism, which attracts up to 300,000 passengers every year. SRF reported that a time increase in cancellations has been recorded since April, which has already been taken with the port and local companies faced with almost half a million francs.

The problem with the visas is not just a little thing. In the industry, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 crew members from third countries are deployed, the work permits of which the Swiss authorities no longer accept in the usual way. So far, the shipping companies had only applied for visas for Germany from the authorities, but this no longer meets the new requirements. An incident in spring 2025, in which a ship with a crew of 90 percent third countries was checked, clearly showed that there are serious problems without the corresponding Swiss visas. blog Kreuzfahrt in this context emphasizes the frustration of the industry association "IG River Cruise", which sharply criticized the new practice of the authorities.

effects on the shipping companies and travelers

The problems related to the visa procurement cause not only the shipping companies fall by the wayside. The travelers are also affected: If you want to check in Basel, you often have to take the detour via Germany or France to get to the cruise ship. This means additional logistical challenges and additional costs for passengers. The blog states that there is a need to rethink the legal framework in order to obtain Basel as an attractive contact point for river crossings.

The different legal regulations for shipping and aviation contribute to the confusion. In contrast to airlines that do not require any special work permits for your staff, shipping companies have to follow strict regulations. "Practice has not intensified," explains the business and employment office (AWA), which is not experienced by the shipping companies. Together with the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), it is discussed how the legal framework can be adapted. In addition, an adaptation is sought which could increase the attractiveness of the Basler Rheinhafen.

legal situation and claims for travel defects

With all these cancellations, travel defects are inevitable. Cruises are legally considered to be package tours and the passengers, according to the German travel contract law, claims for remedy, reduction of the travel price and potentially compensation for problems occurring. This includes route changes, failures of land groups and delays. Travel defects must be displayed and documented immediately on board; Otherwise, claims can be lost. A look at the details shows that it is important for travelers to show themselves capable, to demand their rights and prepare for possible defects so as not to get into difficulties. Attorney Kotz points out that the passengers even have the right to cancel the travel contract.

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OrtWeil am Rhein, Deutschland
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