Mediterranean Iconic Shores Ocean Cruise
Day 21: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - Šibenik, Croatia
The day's statistics:
- Weather: upper 50s
- Steps: Linda: 11,726; Steve: 13,403
After a couple days of an altered schedule, we're getting back to normal.
While Linda was showering, I headed to the veranda to look out.
Awake, shower, prep, breakfast (we sat near Alaina [from FL] and Adrianna [from CO] a mother-daughter pair traveling
together), brush, get ready to go on our excursion.
Today's excursion was "Šibenik Promenade".
Today was a first for us: we didn't disembark onto a pier or dock. No, today the ship was anchored. So all those departing
gathered - in intervals so as to not over-crowd the space - in the Star Theater. Groups were then called to head to and
disembarked directly onto a tender - one of those orange boats that shuttle passengers from ship to shore. Each holds about
100 passengers - they aren't designed for comfort, but for passenger movement, so 100 passengers would be tight - and in an
emergency situation it wouldn't matter.
The group boarded a couple different buses - ours with our guide Antonia, and we headed toward the old town.
The bus dropped us off as close to Old City as it was permitted. This will also be the pick-up spot.
The lot was adjacent to the water, and we walked along the water to a concrete pier at the end.
The route took us to the right of the church, and through a park.
The path through the park ended at a plaza that had a fountain, and a seating area for hanging out - but it was being
decorated for the holidays and not readily visible.
This library was being constructed to incorporate an old ruins wall - the first time any such project was being attempted.
Near the library was this theater house. It is unique because while most theaters are government funded, this one was
funded by 100% consumer donations.
We continued through the city with some fairly narrow streets, cute stores, and interesting architecture.
A replica of first electric light.
Translated: "Love Of Dogs".
Further on.
This statue "A Boy With An Umbrella" is from the 60th Annual International Children's Festival.
Near the statue was a church with an unusual clock on the wall.
While the 12 - XII - is at the top, there aren't too many clocks that show all 24 hours of the day in one sweep.
A little further down the slope, we finally reached Saint James' Square.
There were some shops, restaurants, and residences surrounding it.
Taking up the entire 4th side is Saint James' Cathedral. The Cathedral has 71 faces around it, and supposedly
represent ordinary citizens from the 15th century, and dozens more statues of various sizes.
After the plaza, we headed around to the front of the Cathedral, where there was another plaza-like area that included
a Statue of Juraj Dalmatinac, though this plaza was much smaller than on the side of the Cathedral.
We finally made our way inside.
Some stained glass (there really wasn't that much in the cathedral) - but the third is the most striking image as not only
are the rays coming through the windows visible (the lower more than the upper), but the light shines on the wall left.
And more of the cathedral.
On the lower level, in the corner, was a room with a baptismal font.
Parishoners are not supposed to enter the church until they are baptised. So the baptismal room is "not in the
church". Also, on the ceiling of the baptismal room is an image of God and the Holy Spirit - the baby being baptised
completes the trinity.
After leaving the cathedral, Antonia discussed with the group about the afternoon.
Those that wanted to stay were given some ideas for lunch, and others told about the departure routine as
the group - at least those that wanted to leave - still had to walk all the way back to the parking lot.
While we weren't planning to stay in town, Linda did want to pick up a pair of the little ball earrings that
are famous in Šibenik. While Antonia and the group were walking to the water and along the waterfront.
We were heading back up the hill slope to visit a shop that we previously passed.
We passed this what-looked-like-to-us marker, Antonia wasn't really sure what it was.
Frankly, I think it is a chruch marker, either as a directional thing, or perhaps even as a pilgramage.
As we made our way to the store, one lone vehicle in town passed us. But it was a sanitation vehicle. And it
was really small. Especially for a sanitation truck. At least based on US standards...
We found a pair of earrings, and headed toward the waterfront, taking a random alley along the way.
We were somehow able to catch up to the group as they were just outside the parking lot where the bus was.
When we finally boarded, I saw how parking spaces are better reserved (in this lot, at least) - though I can
imagine how inconvenient it would be when it snows. IF it even snows, that is...
We started the relatively short trip back to the dock.
The bus dropped us off, and we had a short walk to the dock where the tender picked us up and took us to the
anchored ship.
After embarking, we headed to the cabin to drop our excursion items before we headed to the World Café
for a light buffet lunch (I bet those two words don't appear often in a sentence: 'light' and 'buffet').
We found the cocoa!
As we were leaving the World Café, we passed by the pool bar. I happened to notice a jar at the end of the
bar by the doors that had... marshmallows. Why marsh-COCOA! Sure enough, there were also two pump dispensers at the
end of the bar next to the marshmallows. One dispenser had chicken broth. But the other had cocoa. We wanted to grab
a couple cups, but the dispenser was nearly empty. So the bartender told us more would be ready in a couple minutes
and he set up another full dispenser for us. We grabbed two cups and sat down at one of the tables near the pool and
enjoyed the drinks.
We returned to the cabin, grabbed our cards, and headed to the lounge for an afternoon of games.
After a couple hands, we took a break and went for a walk taking a couple laps.
We paused for a monent for a selfie (the phone doesn't do too good with a dark[er], close object and a bright background).
As part of our wandering around the ship, we passed by the Pool Grill - on the opposite side of the ship from the Pool
Bar - and I grabbed a picture of the menu.
Tonight's dinner was NOT the usual. We once again had a reservation at Manfredi's Italian Restaurant.
This was our third visit - in as many weeks (almost) - and we sort of knew the menu and what we wanted.
Linda had Parmigiana di Melanzane di Manfredi (eggplant), Lasagna, and Mango Gelatto.
I had Fritto Misto Amalfitano, Minestrone alla Genovese, and Tiramisu.
Tonight was music trivia night. At 8:00.
We bode our time until then and then gathered a team. Our team was Pauline and Colin from the UK, and Joyce and
John from Florida. While we scored a healthy 27 of 30, we actually did NOT win. 😢
Normally we would have hung out and chatted with our teammates for a bit. But not tonight!
Time to head all the way down to the second deck and to the Star Theater - again - for the "Stage Door"
show. It was a collection of Broadway songs that the resident musicians put on. It was pretty good.
The names of the shows were projected on the backwall, but it really isn't visible in the second shot.
As with other nights, the show was forty-five minutes. I only recorded a couple songs from the Les Miserables portion
of the show.
Before heading to the cabin, we stopped by Guest Services.
We knew what tomorrow's schedule was going to be like, so we asked about a lunch to go. We were told that one just
needs to be ordered one (or two), and pick a delivery time, and it would be delivered to our cabin.
Neat. We ordered two sandwiches, a piece of fruit, cookies, and NO water (we carry our own, and bottles are
available on the way out for each excursion).
We requested delivery at 11:30.
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