It seems like there are very few destinations in the world where people can travel without worrying.
Political unrest, for example, has made traveling to destinations including Haiti, Venezuela, Ukraine, and many other places ill-advised. Those destinations are under “Level 4: Do No Travel” advisories from the US State Department.
Related: Royal Caribbean stops sailings to 2 popular Caribbean ports
In most cases, any place with a Level 4 travel advisory should be avoided, and they’re certainly not good choices for people going on a cruise. There are exceptions — Royal Caribbean’s Labadee private destination is technically Haiti, but it’s a remote and protected location — but, for the most part, these are destinations to avoid.
When it comes to “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” advisories, there’s a bit more gray area. Honduras and parts of Mexico, for example, are under Level 3 advisories, but the port areas are noted as exceptions in the State Department warnings.
Those areas where it’s generally considered safe to visit the port (which in Roatan, Honduras, is an enclosed area) are stops where you should stick to cruise line excursions.
Once you get to a Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution” advisory, things become murky. In many ways, these are more pointed warnings that aren’t telling you not to visit a certain port but giving you safety tips and places to avoid when you get there.
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Multiple cruise lines call on a variety of ports in Spain.
Image source: Pixabay
Spain is a very popular cruising destination
Pretty much all of the major cruise lines seasonally use Barcelona as a homeport. Royal Caribbean has ships from its namesake brand, and its Celebrity Cruises line that sail from the Spanish city.
“A cruise from Barcelona is one of the best ways to experience all the brightest jewels of the Mediterranean — but it’s also a great opportunity to spend some time discovering one of the coolest cultural hubs in western Europe. This lively seaside city checks all the boxes — history, culture, amazing food, a thriving art scene and so much more,” Royal Caribbean shared on its website.
Barcelona is not the only cruise port in Spain. Ships, in fact, call on over 20 destinations in the country (although some ports have limits on the size of ships they can accommodate).
Spain is a popular destination and launching point for cruises that explore the Mediterranean.
Celebrity Cruises offers itineraries that focus on visiting different ports in Spain.
“On a Spain cruise, you’ll discover a charismatic, captivating country that has it all, from mountains scattered with whitewashed villages to dynamic cities like Barcelona, and Málaga. Spain’s 3,000 miles of coastline include jewel-like coves and expansive stretches of golden beaches,” the cruise line shared.
Passengers visiting Spain, however, should be careful as the State Dept. reissued a warning for the country on Dec. 23.
US State Dept. shares warning for Spain
The US State Dept. updated and reissued its warning for Spain on Dec. 23, making changes based on the current situation in the country. It’s a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution warning.
That’s not the US government telling you to stay away, it’s a warning to be careful and specific instructions designed to keep you safe when visiting Spain.
“Exercise increased caution in Spain due to terrorism and civil unrest. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Spain. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas,” according to the travel advisory.
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The State Dept. shared that travelers should take specific care on holidays and during other special events. It also shared some specific advice for Americans visiting Spain:
Avoid demonstrations and crowds.Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.Follow the instructions of local authorities.Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
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