// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
We spent thousands on a Tui river cruise but ended up on coach trips
Richard Pearson says he barely got to experience any river cruising on his holiday, but spent hours on coaches
Passengers who paid thousands of pounds for European river cruises with Tui have described their anger after their itineraries changed to involve hours spent on coach trips instead.
Several have told the BBC they believe they should get some money back, but have been offered no refund.
Tui apologised and blamed low water levels on the Danube, adding that customers continued their holidays on amended itineraries under its standard booking conditions.
It follows previous complaints about conditions on board two of Tui's river vessels.
Richard Pearson took this photo of one of the coach journeys he had not expected as part of his river cruise
Those who contacted the BBC include Richard Pearson from Lincolnshire, whose week-long holiday began on 21 September.
Upon arrival in Budapest, he says passengers were told their vessel, Isla, was in Vienna and could not get to them, so they were being put up in a hotel instead, which he describes as "average".
The next day involved a four-hour coach journey to reach the ship.
The vessel then sailed overnight - meaning no chance to take in the scenery - to Krems. It then stayed there for a few days, with passengers bussed on day trips to locations between 45 minutes and two hours away. The return sailing to Vienna was also in the dark.