Travel In Barcelona Recovers In Wake Of Las Ramblas Attack

As Spain recovers from terrorist attacks in Las Ramblas and Cambrils yesterday that took the lives of 14 people and injured 100, travel around the city is mostly operating on time and on schedule.

A van jumped the sidewalk in the city’s Las Ramblas district around 5:00 p.m. Barcelona time on Thursday, killing 13 people and hospitalizing 100 others.

Reports followed of another victim killed in a second attack at 1:00 a.m. on Friday in Cambrils, a coastal town 60 miles southwest of Barcelona.

President and CEO of the American Society of Travel Agents Zane Kerby said that the organization is “sickened” by yesterday’s attacks.

“Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones in the attacks and the people of Spain as a whole,” he said. “We are reaching out to our 24 member companies in Spain to offer any assistance we can. We hope and pray that the city and country recover quickly from this tragedy,” he said.

Cruise lines stick to schedule
In a statement, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said that no member guest or crewmembers were impacted by the attack.

“CLIA and its Cruise Line Members, Travel Agency and Travel Agent Members and industry partners, extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their loved ones who were affected by the tragic attack in Barcelona,” a spokesperson told TMR.

“We also applaud CLIA Members for their professionalism and dedication in accounting for all their guests and crew and ensuring their well-being.”

Aside from ships that were in the area during the attack on Thursday, most cruise lines are sticking to their scheduled Barcelona calls over the next few days, though some are cancelling shore excursions.

TUI Discovery 2, one of Royal Caribbean International’s Vision Class ships, was docked in Port of Barcelona when the attack took place. According to the line, all passengers and crew are accounted for, though the ship delayed its departure until 10 p.m.

Despite the news, most cruise lines are still going ahead with their Barcelona calls.

TUI Discovery, another Vision Class Ship, will dock in Palamos on Friday. The line has cancelled all scheduled Barcelona, which is an hour-and-a-half drive south, shore excursions.

MSC Cruises’ Meravigilia will call at Barcelona today, though shore excursions are cancelled. Oceania Cruises said it is monitoring the situation but will still go ahead with Sirena’s call on Friday.

Disney Cruise Line will do the same with Magic’s scheduled Barcelona call on Sunday. And Norwegian Cruise Line will also keep Norwegian Epic on schedule with a Barcelona call on Sunday.

Other lines, including Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and Aida Cruises haven’t made any announcements about changes to scheduled Barcelona calls over the next two weeks.

Air travel
In light of Thursday’s news, a strike by Barcelona-El Prat Airport workers was called off on Thursday according to local media. The airport is now operating as normal with some flight delays. Agents and travelers can check flight status on the airport’s website.

Security at the airport has been tightened, with the Spanish government sending in the Civil Guard and Catalan law enforcement Mossos d’Esquadra to patrol the area.

In a statement, Spain’s flag carrier Iberia wrote that “Our most heartfelt solidarity with all those affected and family after the terrible terrorist attack in #Barcelona. We are with you.”

Tours move ahead as planned
Guy Young, chief engagement officer for The Travel Corporation, told TMR all tours are operating without any deviations and all guests are accounted for.

“I would also like to call out and thank those agents who provide us with their clients contact information,” he added. “This is of great assistance as we coordinate the arrival of our guests in a city that is experiencing some disruption and accounting for their well-being while traveling with us.”

With reporting from Jessica Montevago and Richard D’Ambrosio