Budapest illumination cruises a no-go for river cruise lines

Budapest’s popular illumination cruises past Hungary’s
brightly lit Parliament building may be a thing of the past for river cruise
lines.

The evening Danube sailings that had become a staple of
Budapest itineraries were halted voluntarily by the river cruise lines
following the deadly May crash of a Viking river ship and a small tour boat,
said AmaWaterways co-founder and president Rudi Schreiner.

The government has since banned the larger ships from
sailing after 7 p.m. while officials continue to investigate who was at fault
in the accident, he said.

It’s unclear if the restrictions on the larger ships will be
temporary, but some had called for a permanent ban, citing dangers caused by
increasing congestion on the river.

On May 29, the Viking Sigyn hit the Hableany sightseeing
boat during a stormy nighttime cruise along a crowded stretch of the Danube in
Budapest, killing 27 people on the Hableany. The boat carried South Korean tourists. Seven people were rescued and one
tourist remains missing. The Hableany sunk and was raised from the bottom of
the Danube by a floating crane on June 11.

The Viking captain was arrested and later released on bail.