Barcelona to drastically reduce cruise activities

Cruise tourism, an element of Barcelona over-tourism woes

“This is the first time in history that limits are being placed on the growth of cruise ships in the city,” said Mayor Jaume Collboni during the announcement. The mayor, who has been vocal about addressing overtourism, previously told Reuters he aimed to reduce the number of one-day cruise visits, which often lead to overcrowding at popular sites such as the Sagrada Familia.

The decision comes amid a surge in cruise activity. Between January and May 2025, cruise ship calls to Barcelona increased by 21%, while passenger arrivals rose by 20% to 1.2 million, compared to the same period in 2024. These figures mark an acceleration from the 20% overall growth in cruise passengers recorded between 2018 and 2024.

Barcelona has faced increasing push-back from residents over the impacts of mass tourism, including housing pressure, environmental degradation, and congestion at cultural landmarks. Protests have become more frequent in recent years, highlighting growing frustration with the volume of short-term visitors.

Barcelona began pushing cruise operations away from the city center in 2018, culminating in the closure of the North Terminal at the base of Las Ramblas by 2023.

The port redevelopment plan—already underway—includes the demolition of older terminals and the construction of a new, sustainable Terminal C, with shore power and expanded capacity for 7,000 passengers. The number of cruise terminals will consequently be reduced from seven to five.

The overhaul also includes improved shuttle transport, digital crowd-monitoring systems, and a €90 million expansion of the Porta d’Europa bridge to better connect the port to the city. Completion is due in 2027.

Once complete, four of the five terminals will be privately operated by major cruise lines : Terminals D and E by Carnival Corp., Terminal H by MSC Cruises, and the under-construction Terminal G by Royal Caribbean Group. Terminal C will remain publicly owned.

Demolition of the current Terminal C is expected by the end of 2026, with the new terminal slated to open in 2028 and reach full operational capacity by 2030.

The redevelopment also includes a €50 million investment to upgrade the quay where Terminals A and B currently stand. This area will be repurposed for cruise services and improved guest amenities, including links to onshore power.

To improve passenger flow and reduce congestion in the city, scheduled shuttle buses will link the port to major transportation hubs. Digital displays offering real-time updates on crowd levels at major tourist sites will also be installed to better distribute visitors across the city.

(Source: Reuters)