Rose / Roso (Tivat Bay) Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Roso, Rose Bay, Uvala Rose (Tivat), Rose village Tivat
Rose (shown as Roso on some charts) is a small Venetian-era village perched on a low promontory on the NE shore of Tivat Bay, just SE of the Verige Strait entrance. The village is car-free and accessible only by water, which has preserved an extraordinary atmosphere that has barely changed in centuries. Stone houses with arcaded ground floors, a small church, fish restaurants on the waterfront, and the view across Tivat Bay to the mountain walls beyond. The anchorage in the cove S of the village promontory is well-sheltered from Bora by the hills above, and the bay head in 2–3m provides completely flat water even in moderate Bora. The Lepetane–Kamenari car ferry crosses Tivat Bay from a pier close to Rose — fast-moving, with limited manoeuvring room; stay 200m clear of the ferry track. The Verige Strait itself (cruise ship transit channel) is 1nm W. Rose is one of those anchorages where the experience is dominated not by the sailing context but by the place itself — dinner at one of the fish restaurants while anchored 50m from the kitchen door is a memory that lasts.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
42°27.7'N 18°38.7'E
Depth
4–8m
Bottom
mud, sand
Holding
Good holdingProtected From
N, NE, E, SE, S, W
Exposed To
NW
Best Months
May, June, July, August, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free to anchor.
Vignette Required
Yes — purchase at port of entry
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m appropriate for the main cove anchorage in 4–7m. The bay head (2–3m, all-round shelter) warrants only 40m. The NW exposure toward the Verige Strait is the main limitation — in strong NW conditions the strait funnels wind toward Rose; this is rare in summer but can occur in late season Bora episodes when the wind wraps around the bay entrance. The car-free village generates essentially no boat traffic, making this one of the quieter alarm environments in the Tivat area.
Cove S of village — main anchorage: 70m recommended — The anchorage in the cove S of the Rose village promontory in 4–7m on mud and sand.
Bay head — shallowest and calmest: 40m recommended — The bay head in 2–3m on mud — completely flat water even in Bora conditions.
Outer bay — space for larger vessels: 90m recommended — The outer bay beyond the village cove in 6–10m.
Anchoring Zones
Rose / Roso (Tivat Bay) has 3 distinct anchoring zones, each with different depth, holding, and exposure characteristics.
Zone 1: Cove S of village — main anchorage
- Depth: 4–8m
- Bottom: mud, sand
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, W
- Exposed to: NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 70m
The anchorage in the cove S of the Rose village promontory in 4–7m on mud and sand. Good holding. The surrounding hills provide excellent shelter from Bora — the NE direction is blocked by the hills above the village, making this one of the more Bora-sheltered anchorages on the NE Tivat Bay shore. Some NW exposure toward the Verige Strait, but this is typically benign. The village is car-free — only accessible by water — which keeps the atmosphere completely peaceful. Local fish restaurants operate seasonally from the waterfront.
Zone 2: Bay head — shallowest and calmest
- Depth: 2–4m
- Bottom: mud
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, W, NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 40m
The bay head in 2–3m on mud — completely flat water even in Bora conditions. All-round shelter from the high ground on all sides. Suitable for shoal-draft vessels only. Mud holding is excellent. The village waterfront is directly accessible from here — dinghy or swim to the stone steps of the fish restaurant. A summer favourite for boats wanting total calm.
Zone 3: Outer bay — space for larger vessels
- Depth: 6–12m
- Bottom: mud, sand
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S
- Exposed to: W, NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 90m
The outer bay beyond the village cove in 6–10m. More open to W and NW. Mud and sand, good holding. Adequate for overnight in settled conditions but less sheltered than the main cove. Used when the inner cove is full or for vessels requiring more than 4m depth throughout their swinging circle. Note: the Verige Strait is 1nm W — keep well clear of the transit channel.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Rose / Roso (Tivat Bay) is primarily mud and sand with reliable holding when properly set.
- Check for shellfish farm buoys before approaching. Orange buoys mark the farm perimeter — stay well clear and anchor only in the SE section of the bay.
- Approach slowly and check your depth sounder. At 4–8m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (56m chain at 8m depth).
- Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. Mud and sand bottom sets well on the first attempt.
- Note ferry and superyacht wash. The Lepetane ferry and Porto Montenegro traffic create periodic wash — ensure you have adequate scope and use the scope calculator to confirm chain length.
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade, Delta.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Rose / Roso (Tivat Bay) are feasible but require monitoring — the anchorage is exposed to NW winds.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 70m radius before going below. 70m appropriate for the main cove anchorage in 4–7m. The bay head (2–3m, all-round shelter) warrants only 40m. The NW exposure toward the Verige Strait is the main limitation — in strong NW conditions the strait funnels wind toward Rose; this is rare in summer but can occur in late season Bora episodes when the wind wraps around the bay entrance. The car-free village generates essentially no boat traffic, making this one of the quieter alarm environments in the Tivat area.
Excellent May–October. Very quiet in May–June and late September–October when the restaurants may not yet be open but the anchorage is at its most peaceful. July–August is the social high point — boat visitors, restaurant atmosphere, and the car-free village in full summer mode. Not recommended for winter given the NW exposure and Verige ferry activity.
Navigation Hazards
- LEPETANE FERRY (CRITICAL): fast-moving car ferry crosses Tivat Bay from near Rose — keep 200m clear of the ferry track; it has limited stopping distance and runs continuously throughout the day.
- VERIGE STRAIT (1nm W): cruise ships up to 360m transit — do not anchor in or near the transit channel.
- NW exposure toward Verige Strait: in strong NW conditions (rare in summer but possible in late season), the strait funnels wind toward Rose; monitor if NW conditions develop.
- Village approach requires care in the inner cove — the bay head shoals rapidly within 30m of the waterfront; use echosounder and approach slowly.
- Unlit cove — approach in daylight only.
Rules & Regulations
- Montenegro cruising permit (vignette): Mandatory for all foreign yachts. Porto Montenegro is a valid port of entry. From ~€89/month.
- Anchoring fee: Free to anchor.
- Maximum stay: 5 days
- Restrictions: LEPETANE FERRY (CRITICAL): The Lepetane–Kamenari car ferry crosses Tivat Bay from a pier close to Rose — fast-moving with limited stopping ability. Keep 200m clear of the ferry track at all times. Do not anchor in the ferry approach lane. VERIGE STRAIT: Do not anchor within 500m of the Verige Strait transit channel (cruise ships up to 360m use this channel regularly).
- Shellfish farms: Do not anchor in W or NW Tivat Bay — active mussel/oyster farms with submerged lines.
For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available on site
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Tivat town (2.5nm by sea) (2.5nm)
- Restaurant: Seasonal fish restaurants in Rose village operate July–August. Fresh fish and shellfish from local boats. Car-free village — a genuinely local experience. No other provisions. Tivat town (2.5nm by sea) for full provisioning.
- Provisions: None on site — Tivat town (2.5nm by sea) (2.5nm)
Skipper's Tips
- Rose is best reached by sailing around the outside of Tivat Bay rather than through the Verige Strait — the strait is narrow and requires active monitoring for cruise ship traffic; circumnavigation adds 2nm but is stress-free.
- The fish restaurants in Rose are among the most authentic in the Tivat Bay area — car-free access means the clientele is almost entirely local or arriving by boat; no tourist menus.
- Arrive before midday to secure the main cove position — in peak season a handful of boats discover this anchorage and the compact cove fills by afternoon.
- The bay head position (2–3m, all-round shelter) is one of the genuinely flat overnight spots in Tivat Bay — if your draft allows, this is the place to aim for.
- The ferry pier for Lepetane is visible to the NE of the anchorage — keep track of it and maintain your 200m clearance; the ferry moves faster than expected.
A note on this guide: Data has been researched from multiple sailing sources and is provided in good faith. Conditions — depth, holding, regulations — can change. Always check forecasts and current official charts before visiting. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Rose / Roso (Tivat Bay)
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