Barcelona Takes Bold Step: Expelling Cruise Ships from Iconic City Center

Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter, to stay updated on the latest aviation news, dining experiences, accommodation recommendations, and other travel developments. In response to the ongoing issue of overtourism plaguing European cities, a particular destination has implemented measures to limit cruise ship access to its port.

Barcelona has recently decided to close its northern port terminal for cruise traffic as part of an agreement with local authorities. This move has resulted in cruise ships now being required to dock at the Moll d'Adossat pier, which is located furthest away from the city center. Previously, ships were able to dock at the World Trade Center pier, conveniently situated in the heart of the city, just a block away from the renowned La Rambla promenade.

Passengers will now have to trek for at least 30 minutes, rather than simply disembarking and strolling up La Rambla within minutes. This change will impact approximately 340 scheduled cruise dockings per year, as stated by port authorities.

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A new public space

The city will reclaim the area, covering approximately 150,000 square feet, which includes over 2,000 feet of quay area. This space will be transformed into "new public spaces." The rejuvenation of the wharf will commence in the upcoming autumn and will be accessible to all, as stated by Lluís Salvadó, the president of the Port of Barcelona.

This decision is a result of a 2018 agreement between the port authorities and the Barcelona city council. The aim of the agreement is to relocate cruise activity from urban areas in order to enhance their sustainability, according to a statement by the port authorities.

The rule will formally come into effect on October 22nd, however, the most recent ship to dock there has already departed. Mystic Cruises World Navigator visited on October 2nd. As the ship bid farewell to the pier, Salvadó noted that the 2018 agreement aimed to "reduce the harmful effects that cruises can have on the local residents."

The port closed the Maremagnum, a cruise terminal, in agreement with the council. The pier, directly connected to Ciutat Vella, Barcelona's Old Town, now offers various amenities such as restaurants, bars, a sailing club and marina, Barcelona Aquarium, and the Maremagnum mall.

Additionally, the port reduced the number of operational terminals from eight to seven, prohibited cruise lines from using other terminals, and implemented a rule allowing only one ship per terminal. This new regulation limits the number of ships docked in the city at any given time to seven.

By 2026, the Adossat wharf will exclusively handle all cruise operations, requiring the closure of the Barcelona South terminal located on the World Trade Center pier. Furthermore, the port intends to electrify the Adossat wharf to enable ships to be powered directly from the pier, eliminating the release of harmful emissions. Now, let's delve into how to meticulously plan an ideal journey to Spain.

Ever-growing numbers

Those docking at the old wharf could be walking up La Rambla in a matter of minutes.

Manfred Gottschalk/The Image Bank Unreleased/Getty Images

Barcelona is the largest cruise port in Europe, with a staggering 2.3 million passengers passing through in 2022. This marks an impressive increase of almost 350% compared to the figures from 2021, as reported by the port data. When taking into account ferry passengers as well, the total number surges to nearly four million. It is worth noting that the city's population, according to the 2023 data provided by local authorities, stands at just over 1.6 million.

However, Barcelona is currently grappling with the challenges posed by overtourism. The council reports that in 2022 alone, the city hosted over nine million overnight visitors.

"This is an unstoppable phenomenon, however, Barcelona is actively seeking a shift towards a tourism model that prioritizes quality while ensuring sustainability," stated Albert Dalmau Miranda, the former manager for the economy, resources, and economic promotion at Barcelona Council, in an interview with CNN in January 2020.

The newly appointed mayor, Jaume Collboni, continues to exert pressure on the tourism sector, particularly targeting cruises, through the introduction of higher taxes as outlined in his initial budget proposal.

Cruise companies will be required to pay a tax of 6.25 euros ($6.60) per passenger for stays under 12 hours, according to an announcement made on October 10. The aim of this tax is to ensure that cruise companies contribute to public service funding, while acknowledging the economic and social value of tourism.

Collboni also plans to up the tourist tax for those staying in Airbnbs and apartments to seven euros ($7.40)per person per night.

His proposed budget is due to be voted on next week.