WARNING - POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS AND MARCHES IN BARCELONA THIS WEEK!

[marazul]

ANYONE TRAVELING TO BARCELONA THIS WEEK SHOULD CHECK THEIR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS.  THE SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS RIGHT NOW.

 

HUGE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE PLANNED FOR FRIDAY.  THERE WILL BE FIVE DIFFERENT MARCHES STARTING FROM DIFFERENT CITIES IN CATALUNYA AND CONVERGING IN BARCELONA FRIDAY. THE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE BECOMING VIOLENT AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED.  YESTERDAY THE AIRPORT WAS SHUT DOWN BY A MOB AND MANY PASSENGERS WERE TRAPPED THERE FOR HOURS. THE AIRPORT HAS REOPENED TODAY, BUT MANY ROADS AROUND IT ARE CLOSED. 

 

Look at some photos here:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-50047019/catalan-protesters-clash-with-police-at-barcelona-airport

https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20191015/471007164069/marchas-libertad-nueva-fase-protesta-sentencia-proces.html

 

FOR A RECAP OF THE SITUATION USE A TRANSLATION PROGRAM ON THIS PAGE:

https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2019/10/15/5da55711fdddffde938b45b1.html

[marazul]

The violence increases.

BBC News: Catalan protests: 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50064106

[marazul]

Images from today's demonstrations in Barcelona.

https://www.elmundo.es/album/cataluna/2019/10/16/5da750f821efa0df218b469a_1.html

https://stories.lavanguardia.com/story/stamp/14786

Edited October 16, 2019 by marazul

[MorgansRun]

Has celebrity ever rerouted a cruise because of political discord before? It would be nice to know NOW before our cruise on Oct. 30th. 

[soloadventurer]

Rioting in Barcelona tonight again along with at least 2 other cities. Trouble in Madrid although minor.m

[marazul]

It is getting worse tonight.

At least 100 injured, more cars set on fire, barricades in the street and some demonstrators have thrown acid at the police!

https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20191017/471031917557/disturbios-cataluna-barcelona-protestas-mossos-manifestantes.html

The local government has finally condemned the actions of the rioters after pressure from the national government. Doubtful that this will have any effect. 

 

There are riots also in Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. 

Edited October 17, 2019 by marazul

[1ballerina]

18 hours ago, MorgansRun said:

Has celebrity ever rerouted a cruise because of political discord before? It would be nice to know NOW before our cruise on Oct. 30th. 

We are cruising from Venice to Barcelona on Royal. We leave Venice on Sat Oct 19th 2019. 
We received notice last night that we will still disembark in Barcelona however at a different pier. 

[marazul]

More of the same tonight.  A lot of barricade fires in the Eixample district, just 2-3 blocks form Casa Batllo. Many counter-demonstrations are starting with the expected violent consequences.

Tomorrow will be the worst day.   The intention of the organizers is to paralyze the entire city tomorrow.  No need for strikes.  No one will be able to get to work...

Hopefully, this will die down in a few days.  I will post updates.

Scroll down for the pictures:

https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20191017/471039196649/manifestacion-jardinets-de-gracia-convocatoria-cdr.html

[UKPete71]

On 10/16/2019 at 8:29 PM, MorgansRun said:

Has celebrity ever rerouted a cruise because of political discord before? It would be nice to know NOW before our cruise on Oct. 30th. 

Let's hope not. I don't know if it will continue until then. We board Constellation on Sunday and are due to get off in Barcelona on 30th. 

[soloadventurer]

Serious disordered tonight again in Barcelona and other cities. 

[soloadventurer]

Unbelievable scenes in Barcelona 

[marazul]

Video of some of the violence in today's demonstrations

https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20191018/471049775793/barcelona-catalunya-huelga-general-altercados-en-directo-video-seo-lv.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50098268

Supposedly, over 500,000 people took part in the demonstrations.

The general strike was 80% successful, but it is estimated that ony 1% of the hospitality business took part in the strike.

Edited October 18, 2019 by marazul

[dogs4fun]

Saw coverage on CNN today - hope this situation is soon resolved. Barcelona is such a beautiful city - it makes me sad to see such violence.

[Cienfuegos]

The NY Times reported earlier today that only 57 flights were affected at Barcelona airport.  Many fewer than Thursday. However, many streets in downtown and to the airport were closed by huge gatherings of protesters. Access to bus and metro rail services was limited, as well.

 

When we were in Barcelona two weeks ago, Catalan flags and "independence flags" of blue added to the Catalan flag were everywhere. On balconies, vehicles, mopeds, etc

 

Viking Ocean stopped at the "close in" cruise pier on our visit.  That's the World Trade Center pier, adjacent to the Maritime Hotel, and relatively accessible for foot traffic into the city.  The cruise terminals A, B, C, etc are in a more secure area a few blocks away.  Nobody has reported any violence against tourists or foreign interests that I've heard.

[CILCIANRQTS]

Does anyone know which two cruise lines diverted from Barcelona today??

[Cienfuegos]

This report says the Marella Discovery and a TUI Mein Schiff vessel diverted from Madrid. 

 

If the dock workers or  harbor pilots choose to participate in a general strike, that would significantly impact the cruise business.  I doubt that Spanish ports outside Catalonia (Malaga, Cartagena, etc) could handle several huge cruise ships and their massive flows of passengers.  Much less a turn around, reprovisioning, etc

 

https://www.thelocal.es/20191018/barcelona-protests-general-strike-shuts-down-catalonia

 

Cruise Mapper has seven ships scheduled to call / turn in Barcelona on Saturday, and a similar number on Sunday

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/barcelona-port-82

[campolady]

4 hours ago, Cienfuegos said:

I doubt that Spanish ports outside Catalonia (Malaga, Cartagena, etc) could handle several huge cruise ships and their massive flows of passengers.  Much less a turn around, reprovisioning, etc

 

Although it is a rare event, and we all go down to see it when it happens, Malaga has had up to 7 cruise ships - including some of the largest - in on one day and is a regular reprovisioning port so could take some of the diverted ships if necessary.

 

Marella Discovery 2 (owned by TUI the same company as own Mein Schiff)  was diverted yesterday from Tarragona to Ibiza but as yet their Catalan ports for next week are as scheduled.

Edited October 19, 2019 by campolady

[jsjs]

I expect the cruise lines are watching this situation carefully.  Some cruises could decide to replace Barcelona with a different Spanish or French port of call.  The much more difficult situation is that Barcelona is a major embarkation/disembarkation port and rescheduling the flights of potentially tens of thousands passengers would be huge.  I am already in Europe and planning to arrive in Barcelona by train the day before my cruise embarks on November 6th.

[Cienfuegos]

Thanks for the additional information.

 

I suspect several large ships dumping thousands of passengers into Malaga, while receiving thousands of incoming passengers might be a tad crowded.  One  or two ships? Not a n insurmountable problem.

[midwestchick]

Does anyone know when they are holding the elections?  

[marazul]

14 minutes ago, midwestchick said:

Does anyone know when they are holding the elections?  

The next general elections will be on November 10.

 

The demonstrations continue tonight in Barcelona and there have been some incidents in Madrid.

https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20191019/471070629599/barcelona-protestas-manifestaciones-catalunya-sentencia-proces-streaming-en-directo-video-seo-lv.html

[midwestchick]

6 hours ago, marazul said:

The next general elections will be on November 10.

 

The demonstrations continue tonight in Barcelona and there have been some incidents in Madrid.

https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20191019/471070629599/barcelona-protestas-manifestaciones-catalunya-sentencia-proces-streaming-en-directo-video-seo-lv.html

I hope this gets straightened out soon.  Protests are one thing but the violence and disruption of people’s lives is not right. It seems like there is more and more unrest all over the world.  Sad!

[kbwang]

We will be sailing with MSC from Barcelona on the october 25. Not sure if there will be any changes.

[fourrowdys]

Marazul, I am hoping you can answer a question.  I will be arriving in Barcelona on the morning of November 1,  All Saints Day.  Can you tell me -- in your opinion - will demonstrations be more likely, or less likely to occur because of the holiday? 

[orimeep]

We'll be arriving on Nov 2 for our departure on the Epic on Nov 3... which then comes back into Barcelona (and we’re supposed to be flying home) on Nov 10 (election day)... How worried should we be?