phbr Posted October 21, 2017 #1 Share Posted October 21, 2017 (edited) The Spanish Government today stripped Catelonia of its autonomous powers and is moving to dissolve the local Parliament. They also want to arrest the Catalan President, Carlos Puigedemont. There are now thousands demonstrating in Barcelona and feelings are running very high. We are due there on the Jewel on Oct 29/30. so its looking like RCI have a big deccision to make as things pan out over the next few days. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4737569/450000-protesters-rally-in-barcelona-after-spain-moves-to-impose-direct-rule-over-catalonia-and-arrest-regions-president-as-tensions-threaten-to-boil-over/ Edited October 21, 2017 by phbr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelblu Posted October 21, 2017 #2 Share Posted October 21, 2017 Glad that we got our Medit cruise without any problems in late August. Unfortunately, those old little fiefdoms are rearing their ugly heads in the European Union. I remember reading somewhere that Venice wanted to secede from Italy. Hey, we've got our own problems with California wanting to secede. Maybe Mexico will annex them based on old Spanish deeds. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted October 22, 2017 #3 Share Posted October 22, 2017 Two of my cruise friends are currently in Barcelona and according to their posts on FB they are having a great time! steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned11 Posted October 22, 2017 #4 Share Posted October 22, 2017 I don’t think you need to worry. If you’re going from the airport to the port and back, you won’t be involved. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloadventurer Posted October 22, 2017 #5 Share Posted October 22, 2017 I reported this a few weeks back. It's certainly worth keeping an eye - as for the last comment re airport & port. The dockers are very militant and during the independence vote refused to tie up ( dock ) any of the ships the Spanish Gov had commandeered. It would very easy to blockade the entrance to the docks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ollienbertsmum Posted October 22, 2017 #6 Share Posted October 22, 2017 I will be there next weekend waiting to board my ship. I am really not worrying though. I was watching it on Spanish TV last night. There were huge crowds. We are staying in the Gothic district for the first time and wanted to explore that area, it may be a bit crowded - but I don't have any safety concerns over and above the normal vigilance against pickpocketing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted October 22, 2017 #7 Share Posted October 22, 2017 I do hope things calm down there. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ontario Cruiser Posted October 22, 2017 #8 Share Posted October 22, 2017 We arrived on the 7th for our cruise on the Brillance on the 9th. Hopefully all goes well Ontario Cruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted October 22, 2017 #9 Share Posted October 22, 2017 Ceertainly hope things get better there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloadventurer Posted October 27, 2017 #10 Share Posted October 27, 2017 :o Going to get interesting after today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ontario Cruiser Posted October 27, 2017 #11 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Anyone with updated information please post. We arrived on the 7th. Thanks Ontario Cruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviator1945 Posted October 27, 2017 #12 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Hope our Brilliance OTS TA will sail as planned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ontario Cruiser Posted October 27, 2017 #13 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Me to. It will sail as she has to get to the Caribbean maybe change port of embarkation. We have cruise air so they will have to figure it out. We will be staying for 2 days on Las Ramblas. When I phoned last week they said they would know a week befor sailing which is Thursday. Hopefully we won't have to worry. OntarioCruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviator1945 Posted October 27, 2017 #14 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Email alert from the UK govt: Spain travel advice 27-10-2017 17:22 PM GMT Latest update: Summary - there have been large gatherings of people in Barcelona and other areas of the Catalonia region in relation to the political developments there; further gatherings and demonstrations are very likely to take place in the coming days; they may occur with little or no warning and even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can escalate and turn confrontational; you should exercise caution if you're in the vicinity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquil Waters Posted October 27, 2017 #15 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Glad that we got our Medit cruise without any problems in late August. Unfortunately, those old little fiefdoms are rearing their ugly heads in the European Union. I remember reading somewhere that Venice wanted to secede from Italy. Hey, we've got our own problems with California wanting to secede. Maybe Mexico will annex them based on old Spanish deeds. :D Not much of a correlation. Catalons resent paying an overly large share of national taxes and getting a much smaller return share of national spending. The same cannot be said for California. I realize the situation has escalated now and peaceful demonstrations can go dangerous very quickly, but when we were in Barcelona 3 years ago the Spanish national government was trying to make like the Catalons in Barcelona were causing so much trouble. National police were out in force with weapons in full display. National news was making things seem very dangerous. There was even coverage in US nightly news. Friends texted to make sure we were okay. Our hotel was at the center of the “protest”. So we watched first hand as a small group of people sat around with their families and sang “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore”. We felt seriously threatened. NOT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare little britain Posted October 27, 2017 #16 Share Posted October 27, 2017 (edited) Remember that Catalan separatism has deep roots.... 1930s Spanish Civil war resulted in thousands of deaths. Look up Guernica. If Catalan succeeds than they can impose their own rules.... no USA / unsympathetic ships allowed to sail from the port is an extreme result. However DH wouldn’t let me book my flights to BCN for SY tonight. (Which are in sale with BA) Just in case. I hope he’s being over cautious [emoji47] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited October 27, 2017 by little britain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bondfire13 Posted October 27, 2017 #17 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Going on Transatlantic Brillance of the Seas Nov 9. Can't believe when I called RCCL earlier this week the agent didn't know about any itinerary change for San Juan. Web site now reads St Kitts. Concerned about Barcelona as we are arriving four days early. anyone have suggestions for tours (away from the ship) for Malaga and Cartagena? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memoak Posted October 27, 2017 #18 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Glad that we got our Medit cruise without any problems in late August. Unfortunately, those old little fiefdoms are rearing their ugly heads in the European Union. I remember reading somewhere that Venice wanted to secede from Italy. Hey, we've got our own problems with California wanting to secede. Maybe Mexico will annex them based on old Spanish deeds. :D California has never even had a ballot on secession so that is one falsehood, and yes we do send more to Washington in taxes than we get back Spain had now dissolved the Catalan Parliament, threatened to jail the leaders of the province and take over the regional media and police. I don't think it is going to be too pleasant there for a while. I am scheduled to be there in December and hope things are settle peacefully by then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Pilot Posted October 27, 2017 #19 Share Posted October 27, 2017 The Spanish government just dissolved Catalonia's Parliament. It's going to be interesting for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted October 28, 2017 #20 Share Posted October 28, 2017 Email alert from the UK govt: Spain travel advice 27-10-2017 17:22 PM GMT Latest update: Summary - there have been large gatherings of people in Barcelona and other areas of the Catalonia region in relation to the political developments there; further gatherings and demonstrations are very likely to take place in the coming days; they may occur with little or no warning and even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can escalate and turn confrontational; you should exercise caution if you're in the vicinity. Seems it's not a very good place to go the way things are there now. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sxphil Posted October 28, 2017 #21 Share Posted October 28, 2017 Just wondering Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mugtech Posted October 28, 2017 #22 Share Posted October 28, 2017 Go to NCL board to read about fear and loathing in Barcelona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ontario Cruiser Posted October 28, 2017 #23 Share Posted October 28, 2017 Has anyone spoken to RCL about embarkation for Brillance Nov 9th? Ontario Cruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloadventurer Posted October 28, 2017 #24 Share Posted October 28, 2017 Overnight there was minor trouble in Barcelona. I think the Spanish Gov will play a waiting game - possibly arrest the Catalonia leaders - the Catalonia police chief was sacked at 4am this morning the local police now under Gov control ( whether they obey commands is another thing ) The Spanish Deputy PM is now running Catalonia from this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloadventurer Posted October 28, 2017 #25 Share Posted October 28, 2017 Breaking news Sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has called for "democratic opposition" to direct rule from Madrid by Spain's government. He promised to continue to "work to build a free country". Mr Puigdemont made the call in a TV address broadcast from an undisclosed location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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