On July 28, 2026, the Viking Ullur, a Viking Cruise Line ship carrying 186 passengers and 52 crew members, ran aground on the Danube River near Vidin, Bulgaria. The grounding was caused by extremely low water levels that forced the vessel to contact a sandbank in the river, resulting in it becoming stuck.
Rescue Operation and Passenger Safety
Bulgaria’s Border Police led the rescue efforts near Vidin, dispatching a second vessel to evacuate all 238 persons onboard, as the first rescue vessel could not approach closely enough. The evacuation was completed without injuries, and Viking Cruise Line affirmed the safety and wellbeing of guests and
crew remained the highest priority throughout the incident.
Passenger Itinerary and Communication
After being brought safely ashore, the passengers continued their scheduled day trip in Bucharest, Romania. Viking Cruise Line stated it would provide further updates directly to affected guests and their Travel Advisors as necessary.
Cause of Grounding and Impact on River Navigation
The grounding occurred amid the Danube River’s water levels falling to their lowest point in three decades by late July 2026. The river’s decline is linked to reduced rainfall, prolonged summers, drought-like conditions, and intense heatwaves impacting Central and Eastern Europe. These extreme hydrological conditions have affected other river cruise operators, including Avalon Waterways, which canceled multiple sailings
on the Danube and Rhine Rivers due to insufficient water depths.
Danube River’s Geographic and Economic Context
The Danube is Europe’s second-longest river, stretching from Germany’s Black Forest through multiple countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, before emptying into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta. The sustained low water levels have posed operational challenges for river cruises and cargo navigation along this crucial waterway.
