The Port of Tarragona was the setting, this Monday and Tuesday, August 3 and 4, for the inaugural call in the Mediterranean of the cruise ship Viking Yi Dun, belonging to the company Viking Ocean Cruises. This vessel marks a precedent as the first that the shipping line is dedicating to itineraries exclusively designed for the Chinese market.
The arrival of the Viking Yi Dun coincided with an institutional event attended by the president of the Port of Tarragona, Santiago J. Castellà; the mayor of Tarragona, Rubén Viñuales; the Consul General of China in Barcelona, Meng Yuhong, and representatives of the shipping company.
As part of the welcome to passengers and to introduce them to Catalan culture, a human tower (casteller) exhibition by the Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls was organized.
Viking Ocean Cruises has significantly increased its presence in Tarragona this year, with seventeen scheduled calls expected to attract approximately 34,800 passengers, far exceeding last year's figures (three calls and around 5,000 cruise passengers). The company will operate with eight different ships at the Tarragona port during 2026.
Port forecasts indicate 81 cruise calls this season, of which 45 will be high-end vessels, representing a 40.6% increase compared to the previous year. Six of these Viking calls will include an overnight stay in port, and four more will stay for two nights, offering passengers the opportunity to extend their stay in the region.
The Viking Yi Dun, incorporated in 2021 into a joint venture between Viking and China Merchants to boost the Chinese cruise market, has launched a new program of Mediterranean itineraries this year featuring services, gastronomy, and cultural content tailored to Chinese travelers.
