Passengers aboard the Nicko Vision river cruise ship welcomed the New Year under unexpected circumstances after the ship became grounded on the Danube River due to exceptionally low water levels.
The 135-meter (443-foot) cruise ship was operating a holiday sailing that began in Passau, Germany, on December 26, 2025, with planned stops in Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. The incident was first reported Maritime Executive.
According to CruiseMapper data, Nicko Vision is currently stranded on the Danube River between Bratislava and Budapest, near the Hungarian city of Győr. Declining river levels have apparently prevented the vessel from continuing its voyage toward Esztergom.
Local authorities confirmed that water levels along this stretch of the Danube dropped roughly nine inches below normal and have continued to decline. This has left the river cruise ship resting on a gravel section of the riverbed. Officials also noted that low water may have shifted navigational markers, further complicating safe passage.
Cruise disruptions escalate as Danube River levels fall
Passenger accounts indicate that low water conditions had already disrupted the itinerary earlier in the sailing. At one point, guests were transported by bus to bypass shallow sections of the river before rejoining the ship and resuming the cruise.
Those challenges intensified overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday when Nicko Vision came to an abrupt stop. A river tug was dispatched Wednesday in an attempt to free the vessel, but insufficient depth prevented successful refloating.
Authorities emphasized that no passengers or crew were injured and that everyone onboard remained safe. With no immediate solution available, guests and crew made the best of the situation, hosting a New Year’s Eve gala while the ship remained stationary on the river.
Nicko Vision passengers evacuated as crew remains onboard
On New Year’s Day, officials determined that evacuating passengers was the safest option.
However, due to the low water levels, another cruise ship could not safely pull alongside. Instead, a barge was positioned to transfer 211 passengers, who were then moved to another river cruise vessel to continue their journey. Approximately 46 crew members remained aboard Nicko Vision.
Authorities acknowledged that the public holiday limited the availability of additional salvage resources and warned that ongoing low water conditions could keep the ship grounded for an extended period.
A growing issue for river cruises
Nicko Vision’s unfortunate incident highlights a broader trend affecting Europe’s river cruise industry. In recent months, multiple sailings across major rivers, including the Danube, have been partially or entirely converted into bus journeys when water levels became too low for safe navigation.
As previously reported by Candid Cruise & Travel, some river cruise passengers have found themselves spending significant portions of their vacations traveling by bus rather than ship. Impacted passengers report adjusted itineraries with short notice due to unpredictable river conditions.
While cruise lines often frame these changes as operational necessities, they continue to raise concerns among travelers expecting a traditional river cruising experience.
Regardless, many established cruise lines, such as Viking River Cruises, have procedures in place to shift passengers to buses and adjust itineraries when low water levels make river travel unsafe.
With winter water levels remaining volatile, river cruise operators may continue to face itinerary disruptions well into the new year.
About Nicko Vision
Nicko Vision is a modern river cruise ship built in 2018 and operated by Nicko Cruises. The vessel measures 135 meters (approximately 443 feet) in length and is designed for navigation on Europe’s major rivers, including the Danube.
Nicko Vision can accommodate around 220 passengers and features multiple passenger decks, panoramic public spaces, onboard dining venues, and accommodations designed specifically for river cruising.
The ship is registered in Switzerland and primarily operates multi-country itineraries through Central and Eastern Europe, visiting popular destinations such as Passau, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Esztergom.
Like many river cruise vessels, Nicko Vision has a shallow draft intended to allow navigation during periods of lower water levels, though extreme conditions can still disrupt operations.
