The cruise ship MSC Armonia, with approximately 1,500 passengers on board, is currently detained in the port of Barcelona. The detention is due to 69 Bolivian passengers being unable to disembark because of allegedly carrying invalid visas for entry into the Schengen area. The ship departed on 18 days’ voyage from Santos, Brazil with scheduled stops in several Mediterranean ports. The Spanish National Police are investigating the matter, on whether the cruise ship's operators were aware of the passengers' invalid documents. In response to the situation, diplomatic efforts are underway between Spanish and Bolivian authorities to resolve the issue. The Spanish authorities, suspecting the visas to be false, have initiated an investigation to ascertain the complicity, if any, of the cruise operators in this situation.
The situation has led to significant inconvenience for the passengers, many of whom were looking forward to continuing their journey to various Mediterranean destinations. The delay has sparked widespread discontent among the passengers, witth complaints shared on social media platforms.
The incident has prompted a response from both the Bolivian and Spanish authorities, with efforts focused on expediting the resolution of the passengers' situation. The Bolivian government, through its embassy in Spain and the Consulate General in Barcelona, is coordinating with Spanish authorities and MSC Cruises to address the issue. There is a shared intent among the involved parties to resolve the situation swiftly to allow the detained passengers to continue their journey.
Family members and friends of the detained Bolivian passengers have expressed their distress and are demanding immediate action to facilitate their loved ones' disembarkation. They have called for the involvement of the Bolivian consulate to assist in resolving the visa discrepancies.
MSC Cruises' Stance
MSC Cruises has stated that the documentation provided by the Bolivian passengers at the time of boarding in Brazil appeared to comply with the necessary requirements for travel. The cruise operator was later informed by the authorities that the visas were invalid for entry into the Schengen area, which prevented the passengers from disembarking in Barcelona. The cruise line contends that it was unaware of the visa issues until notified by the Spanish authorities.
