Near-record low water levels on the Danube have disrupted river tourism in Hungary, leaving cruise vessels stranded north of Budapest and forcing the suspension of sightseeing trips, Reuters reported on July 16.
Data from Hungary’s Water Authority showed the river’s level in Budapest fell to within eight centimetres of the record low set in 2018, according to Reuters, though officials expected levels to rise in the following week. Hungarian sightseeing operator MAHART-PassNave said the decline formed part of a longer-term trend, adding that river depths were increasingly falling below operational limits despite efforts by shipping companies and ports to adapt.
“River cruise vessels are currently still able to enter Hungary, but several ships are stranded or waiting in ports because of the low water levels,” MAHART-PassNave said, according to Reuters. The company said the disruption had contributed to an 18% drop in bookings for July, largely due to the suspension of sightseeing tours north of Budapest.
River cruise operator Avalon Waterways said it had cancelled a small number of upcoming departures because of low water on both the Danube and the Rhine, Reuters reported. AmaWaterways and Riviera Travel River Cruises have also cancelled departures on the affected rivers, offering passengers alternative itineraries, while Viking Cruises has adjusted its schedules, according to Open Jaw.
The disruption has extended beyond Hungary. In Romania, the Danube fell to its lowest level in nearly 30 years, with exposed sandbanks visible along the river’s border with Bulgaria, PAX reported. Passengers on some sailings have been transferred between vessels by bus around sections of the river where water levels are insufficient for navigation.
The Danube carries around 600,000 cruise passengers a year and links 10 countries between Germany and Romania, making it one of Europe’s most important inland waterways for river tourism.