Barcelona cruise resumes after solving visa dilemma

Saturday, April 6, 2024

A cruise ship anchored at the port of Barcelona in northeastern Spain is set to continue its journey after resolving an issue involving Bolivian passengers facing visa complications. The resolution came when the Spanish authorities and MSC Cruises reached an agreement to disembark 69 Bolivian passengers, placing them in a transit zone within the port without allowing them entry into Spanish territory.

This situation unfolded after it was discovered that the Bolivian passengers lacked the necessary documentation to enter the Schengen area, a zone that permits travel across 29 European countries without ID checks, of which Spain is a member. While Barcelona was intended as the final stop for these passengers, the ship had plans to proceed to other international destinations.

MSC Cruises committed to arranging alternative transportation for the affected Bolivians from Livorno, Italy, later on Thursday, although details regarding whether this alternative vessel would stay in Barcelona or transport the passengers to another location remained unspecified.

Additionally, the agreement included provisions for MSC Cruises to supply food and healthcare to the Bolivians in distress, with immigration officials set to expedite the resolution of their visa issues.

The MSC Armonia, carrying over 1,000 passengers, was scheduled to set sail towards Italy on Thursday, as per announcements from the cruise company.

Solange Duarte, representing Bolivian interests in Barcelona, disclosed to The Associated Press that some Bolivians were reportedly misled by fraudulent visa schemes, though specific details were lacking. The families involved have yet to provide information on who facilitated these visas.

Spanish national police are investigating the potential of a scam involving counterfeit visas, as suggested by Duarte. MSC Cruises, in a statement, clarified that the Bolivian passengers boarded in Brazil with what seemed to be valid documentation, but Spanish authorities later determined the visas did not meet the requirements for Schengen area entry.

This incident underscores the complexities of international travel and the critical importance of proper documentation, highlighting the challenges faced by the global travel and tourism industry in ensuring smooth and lawful border crossings.

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