In 2019, there were 592 ships. The demands for a reduction grew louder. Limits on the number of 'mega' cruise ships with 5,000 or more passengers headed the list of these demands. The pandemic intervened, and in 2021 there were only 167 stopovers. The Balearic Government had nevertheless pushed ahead in securing an agreement with cruise operators. In December of that year it was agreed that there would be no more than one mega ship and two smaller ships at any one time. A weekly limit was established. This worked out at an average of 2,500 passengers per day.
There were exceptions. More than three ships were permitted on certain days. Much though the government spoke about an "effective reduction", the reality was somewhat different. In 2023, this was all of 3.4% compared with 2022. We now come to 2025. The pre-pandemic record will not be matched, but the upward trend is undeniable.
In January and February there are year-on-year reductions - one stopover for both months, fourteen and ten respectively. From March this changes; there will be 21 stopovers, three more. The peak will be October, 82 stopovers, an increase of 20 and with over 270,000 passengers. A daily average of 2,500 will be exceeded by more than three times. If Balearic Ports Authority forecasts are met, this average will be exceeded every month from March to November.
The 2021 agreement was valid for five years. As it will soon expire, the parliamentary commission for tourism has urged the government to resume negotiations for a renewal of the agreement. But as is evident, the agreement hasn't proved to be as effective as had been hoped.
On behalf of the government, the tourism minister, Jaume Bauzá, has said very little about cruise ships other than to refer to the existing agreement. However, Palma's mayor, Jaime Martínez, who is from the same party as Bauzá (the Partido Popular), caused something of a stir in May last year when he announced a series of proposals that the town hall would be sending for consideration by the government's sustainability pact working parties. One of these proposals was "to regulate, limit or prohibit the arrival of certain cruise ships so that they are only small and medium-sized ones".
As with other measures said to be for addressing overtourism, any new initiative regarding cruise ships may well depend on the deliberations of the working parties. Their reports are due at the end of February.
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End of November visit to Palma presented 5 cruise ships in port. It was horrible. Packed. Sunday morning, all gone. Lovely. I don’t know what the f*ck this or any other govt here is doing but they are useless at any control.
So what are the two faced demonstrators doing about it ?
Suck it up Palma. Suck it up. Plenty more where they came from.
Well here we have another situation which is controlled by the PSOE in Madrid , personelly I agree that they produce more harm than good in almost every sense the dock fee´s also go straight to Pedro Sanchez´s coffers in Madrid this unfortunately is not going to change Mallorca is a Golden Goose to the cruise ship company´s and there has been considerable investment over the last 10 year´s also the New CLUB DE MAR Project is just nearing completion .
The number of vessels in Palma is a serious environmental problem . Just look towards the harbour from the hill of Na Burguesa or El Molinar. In this context, it is funny to introduce environmental zones for cars because tourist ships are the main source of air pollution. The soot particles emitted from the funnels of these ships are also a problem. These are carcinogenic substances. This is why I avoid the harbour area during the high season. Financial considerations must not overshadow environmental and health concerns.
Drivers of certain vehicles are now prohibited from entering parts of Palma and yet cruise ships which cause a great deal more harm to the environment are allowed to increase. Hypocrisy on a massive scale.