Luxurious cruise ship Viking Star starts cruising season in Šibenik
This morning, the luxurious cruiser Viking Star, owned by the Norwegian company Viking, docked in Šibenik, marking the start of an exciting tourist season for the city. The 228-meter-long ship, with a capacity of 930 passengers, arrived in the port of Šibenik in the early hours, carrying guests eager to explore this small Mediterranean gem.
The ship is on a two-week journey from Barcelona to Venice, and its itinerary, which includes seven Italian and three French ports, includes only one Croatian city—Šibenik. The city’s history, cultural heritage, and natural beauty make it an ideal destination for cruiser tourists, and this year, Viking Star will visit Šibenik three times.
International guests disembarking from the cruiser typically spend most of their time in the old town center, with a must-see visit to the UNESCO-protected St. James’ Cathedral, while also exploring other Šibenik landmarks. All of this is done under the guidance of the most important ambassadors of Croatian tourism—the tour guides—who contribute to the guests’ satisfaction and hospitality through their efforts, engagement, and smiles.
Welcoming cruiser guests at the port is a logistically demanding process, with many guests being transported by bus to various excursions around Šibenik, enjoying the natural beauty of Krka National Park, or experiencing authentic gastronomic delights at family-run farms in the hinterlands of Primošten and Skradin.
Each cruiser arrival is an opportunity to promote Šibenik as an attractive destination, bringing concrete economic benefits. A number of other luxury ships are expected to visit throughout the year, meaning Šibenik will remain in the spotlight for global travelers, offering them an unforgettable experience on the Croatian coast.
According to the announcements from the Šibenik Port Authority, 91 arrivals are planned for this year, slightly more than the previous year. Viking is the company with the most arrivals—21, with eight different ships: Viking Star, Viking Saturn, Viking Mars, Viking Sea, Viking Vesta, Viking Jupiter, Viking Sky, and Viking Vela. Vesta and Vela will each have five arrivals, while the other ships will generally have two to three arrivals. Other notable vessels arriving in the 2025 cruising season include the mega-yacht Evrima from Ritz-Carlton and the Sea Cloud Spirit, from the well-known German sailing ship family Sea Cloud.
The increase in cruiser arrivals and the growing number of visitors mean higher income for tourism and hospitality workers, which is a significant signal for the Šibenik tourism sector and the regional economy. However, this should also serve as a motivation for further investments in infrastructure to raise service standards and quality, as well as to educate and inform all stakeholders in the tourism sector. The option of “cruise tourism happening on its own” will not last long, especially given the fierce competition and how everyone is fighting for their share of the cruising tourism market.
