The recent Barcelona attack has a huge effect on cruise ships chances of visiting again…

Do you have a cruise booked that is visiting Barcelona? Will you still be going?

Considering the latest terror attack in Barcelona, will you cruise company be brave enough to still go to that port?

I have had several experiences while travelling where I have had the call from my parents or a friend to say ‘don’t go! It’s not safe’! I have then followed my gut instinct which says, ‘go anyway’ and always had a great time.

For example, Thailand during the time that the government was in trouble and tanks were rolling through Bangkok. I was there on holiday and although there was a presence of military, I never felt it was a problem to any tourist.

Alexandra in Egypt back in 2012 at the time of the trial of the 11 men who were sentenced to death over the Port Said football massacre. I was saddened to hear about the 74-dead people, but was it anything to do with cruise ships coming to Egypt? No, it was not. I went out in the city and felt fine.

I love visiting Turkey and it is so sad for the country that ships have stopped visiting following on from unrest and attacks. Each time I have been to Turkey the guides, local people, and even the animals are all super friendly and hospitable.

So back to Barcelona. My friend Paul Evans is the cruise director on TUI Discovery 2 and was ashore in the city seated outside a bar on Las Ramblas minutes before the attack. Happily, Paul had work to do back on the ship and left some of his colleagues sat enjoying a beer when the van headed along the street driving into people. They all managed to get into the bar during the chaos and were locked in the bar as a safety measure while the Police arrived and dealt with the carnage left behind. I was so pleased to hear no crew or passengers were injured during the attack. The ship was delayed leaving the port of Barcelona while they accounted for everyone who had been ashore. Ships security officers and the swipe systems for logging on and off the ship really come into their own for tracing people who are ashore and accounting for everyone who is back on the ship.

Thomson, I must say, are one of the best organisations to be travelling with if there is ever a crisis. The staff are so well trained and the important people from the ship can make the right decisions fast.

I would go back  to Barcelona in a heartbeat and this kind of terrorism makes people like me more determined to show fanatics we are not afraid to visit major cities where there have been attacks. Besides there are so many things to see and do in the city, a day is just not long enough.

If you feel the same way please let me know by liking this post.

Happy cruising! Adrian Partridge 0333 300 2480