Low Danube levels disrupt river cruise operations
A Viking ship grounding and itinerary changes highlight the effects of shallow water on summer sailings.
Hungary’s water authority measured the Danube at Budapest at 10 centimeters in late July, below the previously reported record low of 33 centimeters set during the 2018 drought.
During the same period, the Viking-operated Viking Ullur ran aground overnight on a section of the river between Serbia and Romania after drifting beyond the navigable channel. Authorities evacuated 186 passengers and 52 crew members the following morning as the vessel’s drinking water supply ran low.
Passengers were transferred by small boat to another vessel and then taken by bus on a journey of about five hours to Bucharest. No injuries were reported, and officials said the Viking Ullur was never at risk of sinking.
Low-water conditions have also prompted broader itinerary adjustments. Avalon Waterways and Uniworld canceled selected Danube departures during the summer. AmaWaterways, Viking, Scenic and Riviera Travel were reported to be generally maintaining operations through measures such as reducing loads, transferring guests between sister ships and using buses around shallow sections. Travel advisor Emma Guse said some clients who could not embark in Budapest as scheduled instead boarded at a port about 60 miles away and later used bus transportation for city excursions.