Thread: From the Observation Lounge – where is Danish Girl, (Birgitte), today?

Inside the walls and the port. Ships visiting whilst we were there were Aurora and a Louis Cruise ship Princess Marissa which in 2008 visited Alang in India and under the name of “Prince” was scrapped.

A sea day for Birgitte, with calm seas and the weather looks nice. Tomorrow Cost Fascinosa is at Dubrovnik.

Norman, I head that there was some trouble in Venice with protestors and some ships, including the Fascinosa, had their departures delayed due to the protestors.

Are they protesting about cruise ships ?

Costa Fascinosa looks as she is tendering as she is positioned near the Old Town of Dubrovnik.

Hoping Birgitte enjoys a place everyone raves about.

Dubrovnik is a city on the Adriatic Sea coast of Croatia, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641 (census 2011). In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The prosperity of the city of Dubrovnik has always been based on maritime trade. In the Middle Ages, as the Republic of Ragusa, also known as a Maritime Republic (together with Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa, Venice and other Italian cities), it became the only eastern Adriatic city-state to rival Venice. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries.

The beginning of tourism in Dubrovnik is often associated with the construction of the late 19th-century luxury hotels in Croatia, such as Grand Hotel (1890) in Opatija and the Hotel Imperial (1897) in Dubrovnik.^] According to CNNGo, Dubrovnik is among the 10 best medieval walled cities in the world and among the 10 best places in the world for a fairy-tale proposal of the Valentine's Day.
Although Dubrovnik was demilitarised in the 1970s to protect it from war, in 1991, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was besieged by Serb-Montenegrin forces for seven months and received significant shelling damage.

We were in Yugoslavia in 1991 and due to visit Dubrovnik, We knew nothing about what was about to happen, our trip to Dubrovnik was cancelled and we were told by a very tearful young lady who was our courier that there was trouble. The hiring of cars was banned as some were being shot at near to Split. The day after we arrived home we learnt that tourist was being warned not to travel to Yugoslavia and the war escalated. We have always said we will return, but we have not so far.

Neal I grabbed a shot of Costa Fascinosa leaving Venice and I don’t believe the ship was delayed too much. If they were protesters I know nothing about it, perhaps Birgitte will tell us on her return. When we left Venice we were a hour late, as the Captain told us the pilot comes aboard and the order of ship leaving is up to the Harbour Master.

I have answered your earlier questions the best I can earlier in this Observation.. Italy, the same as Spain, Portugal and bankrupt Greece are all suffering financial problems. Massive problems concerning the Euro and I would believe the last thing Italy wants is cruise ships not visiting Venice.

I agree that tourism is the lifeblood of Greece and Italy right now and the last they they need is for tourist to stop going there. It is an interesting problem with some groups protesting while the majority are in favor of things continuing the way they are.

We read about the troubles in the former Yugoslavia but were so far removed from the problems over there. It is interesting finding someone who was directly impacted by it. From the way things degenerated, I am glad you did not make it in.

Last evening for Birgitte as Costa Fascinosa cruises towards Venice. She will arrive at 09:00 local time in the morning.

Costa Fascinosa has arrived in a rainy Venice ending Birgitte cruise. We hope she can take many happy memories of the cruise back home to Denmark with her.

Wishing Birgitte a safe journey home.



Modification of above picture.

Apologies for twice getting it wrong.

Norman, I did not notice until you pointed it out.The bow is pointed in to the port, right?