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August 13, 2026

A Viking Ship Grounded on the Danube's Lowest Water in 30 Years

A Viking river cruise ship on a shallow, sandbank-strewn stretch of the Danube

River cruise news

When the Danube Runs Low: River Cruising's Dry Summer

The Viking Ullur ran aground on a Danube sandbank near Vidin, Bulgaria — all 238 aboard were safely evacuated, but the river is now at its lowest in roughly 30 years, and Avalon has already cancelled Danube and Rhine sailings. If you're booked this summer, here's how we'd plan around the low water rather than panic over it.

Read how to plan around it →

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Live map showing a Royal Caribbean ship's position at sea

Ship tracking

Track Any Royal Caribbean Ship Live (Free)

See exactly where Icon of the Seas — or any Royal Caribbean ship — is right now, free and in your browser. No app, no login, no account. Handy whether you're following your own upcoming sailing or just watching the world's biggest cruise ship move.

Track the fleet live →
A plated main-dining-room meal aboard a cruise ship

Onboard dining

Why Is Cruise Food So Bad?

Cruise food's bad rap comes almost entirely from the mass-produced buffet. The main dining room and specialty restaurants are usually a different story — here's where to eat on board so you never touch a soggy buffet tray again.

Where to actually eat →

Also This Week

Royal Caribbean Pulls Labadee From 2027 Sailings — Royal extended its Labadee, Haiti suspension through June 2027, scrapping 62 scheduled calls — here's where those ships go instead.

Why Charleston Is Moving Its Cruise Ships Off Its Historic Waterfront — Union Pier just hosted its final cruise ship as Charleston shifts operations to the Columbus Street Terminal — what it means if you're sailing from there.

How to Track Cruise Ships in Google Earth (Step-by-Step) — Google Earth has no live cruise layer — here's the real KML/AIS network-link workflow, plus a faster path to live tracking.

Cruise Muster Drill: What to Expect on Embarkation Day — The mandatory pre-sailing safety briefing, demystified: how the eMuster works and how to knock it out fast on embarkation day.

The Best US Cruise Departure Ports, Ranked — Miami, Galveston, Port Canaveral, New York, Tampa, and Seattle ranked by itineraries, airport access, and value.

Evergreen Guides

Best cruise lines, compared

How much does a cruise cost?

Printable cruise packing list

When drink packages are cheapest

Where cruise gratuities actually go

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