Over 15,000 cruise ship passengers are expected to set foot in Majorca this weekend. Four cruise ships are set to arrive on the island, with the combined number of guests exceeding the maximum passenger capacity of 8,000. The daily limit was set in 2022 by the Balearic Government and the Cruise Line Internation Association (CILA) in a bid to protect the environment and tackle overtourism.
According to the agreement, three ships a day are permitted, with only one of those being a mega-cruise ship with a capacity for over 5,000 passengers. However, not only do the four ships scheduled for Saturday exceed the maximum number of ships allowed, but two of the four are within the ‘mega’ category.
Cruise ships AIDAcosma and MSC Virtuoisa all have absolute maximum capacities of over 6,000. The Marseille Voyager has a capacity of 1,900, and Seabourn Ovation, the smallest, can carry 600 passengers. The exact combined number of visitors that will be on the four ships is said to be 15,504.
The Balearic tourism ministry has pointed out that the agreement has no legal obligation but was rather “a memorandum of good practices” and a sign of commitment to tourism containment policies in Majorca.
The Balearic Government was unable to establish a legal obligation as it does not have the rights to do so, that is down to the Spanish Government via the transport ministry and the State Ports, reports Majorca Daily Bulletin.
The goverment has noted the lack of obligation to explain the ships on Saturday. However, the CILA has not provided an explanation.
According to overtourism campaigners, similar situations have occurred before.
Jaume Garau of the Palma XXI pressure group said: “This is not the first time they have overstepped the limit; they have done it before.”
While Margalida Ramis of the environmentalists GOB questioned the practicality of “an agreement that lacks any solidity.” She added that “an agreement that goes beyond good intentions” is necessary.
The agreement is due to expire at the end of 2026. However, the government is waiting on the findings of a study into the impact of cruise ship restrictions to make a final decision on whether it should be renewed.
The Platform against Mega Cruise Ships, a cruise ship restrictions advocate group, is campaigning for a maximum of one ship per day with no more than 4,000 passengers and demanding that civilians be involved in the decision.