Barcelona Approves 24 Euro Tax for Cruise Passengers

Posted on 20 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Barcelona Approves 24 Euro Tax for Cruise Passengers

The City of Barcelona will raise its fees for cruise passengers to 24 euros per person in municipal taxes, according to a report by Metropoli Aberta.

The local news source said that the decision was approved by Barcelona’s City Council following a meeting of the Committee on Economy and Finance.

Guests staying in the city for less than 12 hours will be required to pay the increased fee, which was proposed by Mayor Jaume Collboni earlier this year.

The initiative will triple the current tax, an increase that was originally set to be applied gradually through 2029.

While the immediate increase was green lit by local authorities, it is expected to be enacted into law following the upcoming fiscal ordinances meeting, scheduled for the end of the year.

A supporter of the measure was quoted as saying that cruise tourism is currently unsustainable for Barcelona, impacting the day-to-day life of the city’s neighborhoods.

Representing the BComú political party, Marc Serra said that the change serves as a tool to send a message to cruise lines, pushing them to “seek other destinations.”

The increase is also expected to incentivize homeporting operations, reducing the number of port of call guests arriving in the city onboard cruise ships.

In addition to paying the 24- Euro municipal fee, passengers will also pay an additional 6 euros in regional taxes.

Barcelona has also been reportedly discussing limiting the number of cruise guests arriving in the city, considering an annual cap of 3.5 million passengers.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the city approved a plan to reduce the number of cruise terminals in its port.

In an effort that also aims to modernize the city’s infrastructure, three cruise terminals are expected to be demolished to make room for a newer and larger facility.

Glass Dome Installed on Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas

Posted on 15 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Glass Dome Installed on Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas

Meyer Turku recently installed the signature Aquahome on Royal Caribbean’s next Icon-class ship, the Hero of the Seas.

Scheduled for delivery in mid-2027, the 250,800-ton vessel is currently being built at one of the shipyard’s drydocks in Turku, Finland.

According to an update shared by Meyer Turku, the 25-meter-high piece was lifted into place on June 28, 2026.

The shipyard added that the 50-meter-wide dome is the largest single-piece glass and steel structure ever lifted onto a ship.

Part of Hero’s Aquadome complex, the space will house an aquatic theater, as well as a series of restaurants, bars and lounges.

“This was already the fourth Aquadome lift. The entire operation went exceptionally well in terms of both timing and schedule,” said Elvis Kulovac, foreman of Meyer Turku’s factory logistics division.

“The prep work had been carried out carefully, and the conditions were perfect. There was virtually no wind, which is crucial for a lift of this scale. The entire process took about 24 hours, while the actual lift was completed in just a few hours,” he added.

Following the Icon of the Seas, the Star of the Seas and the Legend of the Seas, the Hero of the Seas will debut as the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class.

With its maiden voyage scheduled for August 2027, the 5,610-passenger ship will offer cruises departing from PortMiami.

As part of its maiden season, the vessel will operate a series of seven-night voyages to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

The itineraries include visits to a range of destinations, such as Cozumel in Mexico, Philipsburg in St. Maarten and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

As part of recently announced deals, Meyer Turku will build three additional Icon-class ships for Royal Caribbean through 2030.

The company is also taking delivery of three vessels from Chantiers de l’Atlantique during that timeframe, including an additional Oasis-class ship and two new Discovery-class vessels.

Turkey, Egypt Block LGBTQ Cruise Entry Over ‘Moral Values’

Posted on 15 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Turkey, Egypt Block LGBTQ Cruise Entry Over ‘Moral Values’

Jul 12, 2026 (Bloomberg) –Turkey and Egypt have blocked a cruise ship carrying more than 1,900 LGBTQ tourists from entering their ports, with the former citing a supposed threat to Turkish society.

Egyptian port authorities ordered the Scarlet Lady to turn back as it was approaching the Mediterranean city of Alexandria on Thursday, tour organizer Atlantis Events Inc’s Chief Executive Officer Rich Campbell told Bloomberg by phone.

Atlantis had added Alexandria to its itinerary after Turkey canceled scheduled stops in Istanbul and the Aegean beach town of Kusadasi.

“From a general travel perspective, I find this to be highly disturbing,” said Campbell. “The idea that a country can pick and choose who their travelers are based on any criteria – based on sexual orientation, religious beliefs or color of their skin or anything else.”

Campbell said Atlantis has organized multiple past tours to Turkey and Egypt without issue and had been given clearance to dock in Turkey in advance. Both countries are heavily dependent on tourism revenue.

The provincial government encompassing Kusadasi said in a statement that the visitors would be “at odds with the fabric of our society and moral values” and that the ship’s planned arrival “had caused significant distress.”

Campbell said Egyptian authorities did not offer the ship any reasoning. The Turkish and Egyptian tourism ministries didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Atlantis’s 11-day tour, organized with Virgin Voyages, is marketed to gay men. It touts onboard drag shows and opportunities to visit gay clubs in cities like Istanbul and Athens.

The ship set off from the Greek capital on July 5, and after turning back from Egypt moored on the island of Crete, according to tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. It will add an unplanned stop in Montenegro before returning to the original itinerary in Croatia and Venice, Campbell said.

Turkish officials have put increasing pressure on LGBTQ communities in recent years, banning pride events and shutting down advocacy groups.

In Egypt, authorities “use vague, abusive penal code provisions” to imprison LGBTQ people, Human Rights Watch said in its latest annual report.

Campbell warned that the incident could have repercussions for Turkey’s tourism industry. “Large groups will avoid it — we will avoid it,” he said. “It’s a fantastic destination and it should be friendly to all.”