HR
NL
FR
JA
RO
RU
ES
TR
Danube cruise ship runs aground in Hungary, stranding passengers over New Year
Around 200 river cruise passengers were forced to spend New Year’s Eve stranded on the Danube after their hotel ship ran aground near the Hungarian town of Gönyű, derailing a festive journey from Germany to Slovakia.
The 135-metre-long MS nickoVISION, operated by nicko cruises, became stuck in shallow waters during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday as it was travelling from Budapest towards Bratislava, iho.hu reported. Despite repeated rescue attempts, the vessel remained immobile for more than 24 hours.
Low water levels disrupt Danube cruise
The cruise had departed from Passau on 26 December, offering passengers a holiday itinerary that included Melk, Vienna and Budapest, with a starting price of around EUR 1,276 per person. However, low water levels on the Danube had already caused problems earlier in the journey.
Instead of sailing into Budapest, passengers were transported to the Hungarian capital by coach for sightseeing, before returning to the ship to continue the cruise. The next scheduled stop was Bratislava on New Year’s Eve: a destination the ship ultimately never reached under its own power.
Rescue attempts fail
At around midnight, the MS nickoVISION ran aground near Gönyű. A tugboat arrived on Wednesday to pull the vessel back into deeper water, but the attempt proved unsuccessful. A second rescue effort on New Year’s Day also failed, leaving the ship stuck in the riverbed.
With no immediate solution available (and with public holiday staffing complicating rescue operations), passengers had little choice but to ring in the New Year on board.
Stranded on the Danube: “Everyone still enjoyed it”
Among the roughly 200 passengers were 46 tourists from Malta, whose situation was reported by the Times of Malta. One passenger described an improvised but upbeat New Year’s Eve, complete with a gala dinner, music and dancing.
“We can’t really do anything about it. But last night was really beautiful. Everyone was happy, and we all still enjoyed it,” the passenger said.
Passengers transferred to another vessel
By New Year’s Day, authorities and organisers decided to abandon further towing attempts. Passengers were instructed to pack their belongings and were transferred by barge to another vessel, which was set to take them on to Bratislava. Plans also included overnight accommodation at a hotel.
As of the latest reports, nicko cruises had not publicly commented on the incident. However, the company’s website notes that river cruises are highly dependent on weather and water conditions, and that low water levels may require itinerary changes.
A growing challenge for river tourism
This unfortunate situation shows the increasing challenges faced by Danube river tourism, where fluctuating water levels (especially during winter) can disrupt even carefully planned itineraries. While no injuries were reported and passengers were kept safe, the episode served as an unusual reminder that nature, not timetables, ultimately sets the rules on Europe’s great rivers.
For the stranded passengers, however, 2025’s New Year’s Eve will likely be remembered less for fireworks over Bratislava and more for an unexpected celebration in the middle of the Danube.