There seem to be 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 Not Travel advisories from the U.S. State Department.
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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, that's a bit more of a 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 (in Roatan, Honduras, that's 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. These warnings aren't telling you not to visit a certain port but rather are giving you safety tips and places to avoid when you get there.
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Spain is a very popular cruising destination
Pretty much all 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," Royal Caribbean's website says. "This lively seaside city checks all the boxes — history, culture, amazing food, a thriving art scene and so much more."
Barcelona is not the only cruise port in Spain. Ships in fact call on more than 20 destinations in the country, although some ports limit the sizes 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," the cruise line says. "Spain’s 3,000 miles of coastline include jewel-like coves and expansive stretches of golden beaches."
Passengers visiting Spain, however, should be careful as the State Department has reissued a warning for the country.
US State Department issues a travel warning for Spain
On Dec. 23 the agency updated and reissued its warning for Spain, making changes based on the current situation in the country. It's a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution warning.
Again, that's not the U.S. government telling you to stay away. It urges you to be careful and provides specific instructions designed to keep you safe when you are there.
"Exercise increased caution in Spain due to terrorism and civil unrest," the travel advisory says. "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."
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The State Department urges travelers to take specific care on holidays and during other special events. It also provided 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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