Barcelona, Spain, which was recognized as the most polluted port in Europe last year, banned cruise ships from entering the city’s central port.
According to the Daily Mail, the decision will take effect on October 22, 2023. From now on, all cruise ships will be forced to dock in the southern port of the city along the Mall Adossat pier.
Thus, tourists will no longer be able to disembark from cruise ships directly into the historic center of Barcelona – to get to the city center, they will have to board a shuttle bus near the pier. Such a trip by bus will take about half an hour.
In comparison, from the central port, you could reach the famous La Rambla in the heart of Barcelona in just ten minutes on foot.
The city authorities have also introduced a new limit on the number of cruise liners that can enter the ports of Barcelona: from October 22, the number of available parking spaces for cruise liners will be reduced from ten to seven.
The new restrictions have been in the works since 2018 when Barcelona’s municipal government and port authority agreed to regulate cruise ship operations due to excessive tourism and the city’s environmental situation.