- A cruise ship stranded in Barcelona has resumed sailing after disembarking a Bolivian passenger with visa issues.
- The Spanish government and MSC Cruises have reached an agreement to disembark 69 Bolivian passengers.
- The Bolivian passengers were taken to a transit zone within the port but were not allowed to enter Spanish territory.
A cruise ship stuck in the port of Barcelona in northeastern Spain can resume sailing after a group of Bolivian passengers with visa issues disembarked on Thursday, authorities said.
The Spanish government said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with MSC Cruises to remove the 69 Bolivian passengers from the boat and take them to a transit zone in the port, but they were not granted permission to enter Spanish territory. .
The ship got stuck in Barcelona this week. The Bolivian passenger was not allowed to disembark because he lacked valid documents to enter Europe’s border-free Schengen Area, a travel zone made up of 29 European countries that includes Spain and does not require ID checks.
Cruise ship reportedly stranded in Spanish port over passenger visa issues
Barcelona was to be the final destination for the Bolivian passengers, but the ship was scheduled to continue on to other countries.
Cruise ship MSC Armony docks in the port of Barcelona, Spain on April 3, 2024. The ship was able to resume her route after a group of Bolivian passengers with visa issues disembarked on Thursday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
The cruise line agreed to offer another ship from Livorno, Italy, for Bolivian passengers later on Thursday, according to a government statement. It is unclear whether the ship will remain in Barcelona until the situation is resolved or whether it will take its Bolivian passengers elsewhere.
Under the agreement, MSC Cruises will also provide food and medical care to affected Bolivians, it said, adding that immigration authorities will work to resolve passengers’ visa issues as soon as possible.
The MSC Armonia reportedly has more than 1,000 passengers on board and is scheduled to set sail for Italy on Thursday, the cruise line announced.
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Solange Duarte, Bolivia’s diplomat in Barcelona, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she had received reports that some stranded Bolivians had been tricked into obtaining fake visas, but that she had no further information. Told.
“We have asked the family to indicate who processed this visa, but have not received an answer,” she said.
Duarte said the Spanish National Police is investigating a possible fake visa scam.
MSC Cruises said in a statement on Wednesday that the Bolivian passenger “appeared to have the appropriate documentation at the time of embarkation in Brazil,” but Spanish authorities later said the visa was not valid for entry into the Schengen area. announced that it was not valid.
