Cruise ships stranded and sightseeing trips cancelled as Danube runs perilously low

Cruises on the Danube have been disrupted by perilously low water levels, leaving multiple ships stranded north of Budapest and causing the suspension of sightseeing trips this week. Hungary’s Water Authority reported that in Budapest the river’s level fell on Thursday morning to within eight centimeters of the record low set eight years ago, though officials expect a rise next week. MAHART-PassNave said the decline reflects a broader, long-term trend and warned that water levels are increasingly falling below critical operating limits despite adaptation by companies and ports. The operator said river cruises—carrying about 600,000 passengers annually—are the most economically important segment of Hungary’s shipping industry. Ports such as Gonyu and Komarom handled higher volumes, while ships remained idle in Budapest and Mohács. MAHART-PassNave reported an 18% drop in July bookings, and Avalon Waterways cancelled a small number of upcoming departures, citing low water on both the Danube and Rhine.