[Worldtrippers home] [2025 Crystal-Viking]
Today’s port was Rovinj, Croatia. (The “J” is pronounced like a “Y,” so it is “roh-VEEN-yuh.”) This is a new port for us. In fact, as far as we know, this is the first time a Viking ship has ever visited Rovinj.
This is an absolutely gorgeous little town. It rises out of the sea like a magical city on a hill. (Anyone who has been to Mont St. Michel in France will see a similarity.) Older than the Roman Empire, Rovinj used to be an island until the channel was filled in in 1763. It is now a peninsula.
Rovinj has been Venetian, Roman, Byzantine, Frankish, Austrian, Italian and Croatian. Today, the city is bilingual Italian and Croatian.
The Viking Vesta anchored offshore and we tendered in. We spent some time walking around, and Gail was able to do some clothes shopping.
Back aboard ship, this is the final evening of the shakedown cruise. Viking is like a huge family, but we are always stunned by the number of people who know who we are, though we have never formally met them. We had dinner with the head of Blackburn International (the company that sources all of Viking’s entertainers), and we had a wonderful conversation.
Tomorrow is embarkation day in Fusina/Venice. We will welcome Viking Vesta’s first “official” guests.
