Palma is set to reduce the number of cruise ship berths during the summer months under a new agreement reached between the Balearic Government, Palma City Council and 20 cruise lines. From 2027 to 2029, the daily average number of berths will fall from 8,500 to 7,500 between June and September, while the rest of the year will remain at 8,500. Although the summer limits end in 2029, the agreement is in place until 2031.
The agreement was signed at the Consolat de Mar by Marga Prohens, President of the Balearic Government, and representatives of the cruise lines, led by Alfredo Serrano, President of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in Spain. The renewal brings Palma City Council into the process, with its Demographic Control Centre providing data to help regulate cruise activity and protect the interests of the city, particularly in the historic centre. Monthly reports and annual summaries of port calls and progress will also be published.
The event was attended by Palma Mayor Jaime Martínez, Minister for Tourism Jaume Bauzà, and the President of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, Javier Sanz. The agreement maintains a cap of three cruise ships per day in Palma’s port, with one permitted to carry more than 5,000 passengers. A governance committee, chaired by the Tourism Minister, will meet at least twice a year to oversee implementation.
Environmental measures are a key part of the agreement. Cruise lines will conduct a study of tourist movements across Mallorca to improve traffic flows and promote alternative destinations. In the event of a drought in Palma, ships will be barred from taking on potable water at the port. Priority will be given to zero-emission vessels, including those powered by transitional fuels such as liquefied natural gas, methanol or hydrogen, or those able to connect to shore-side electricity. Companies have also pledged to reduce waste and ensure cruise routes avoid Posidonia seagrass meadows.
Alfredo Serrano highlighted the environmental improvements, saying that “in 2019, before COVID, there were 23 days with four or more cruise ships in Palma. Compared with that year, high-season arrivals are down 18%, and water usage per passenger has fallen by 40%. Thirty per cent of cruise passengers now travel on LNG-powered ships. While the cruise sector does not build ships, it is committed to energy efficiency and reducing consumption, aiming in the coming years to move towards zero emissions using renewable energy.”