Key Aspects:
- Holland America Line alerted guests to unrest in Torre Pacheco, which is around 69 miles from the cruise port in Alicante, Spain.
- The area around Alicante’s cruise port is still considered safe, and the warning was issued out of an abundance of caution.
- More cruise ships will be calling on Alicante this summer from brands like MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, among others.
Holland America Line issued an important safety alert to passengers onboard Oosterdam before visiting the port of Alicante, Spain, on July 18, 2025.
The warning wasn’t given to scare passengers or because the port is super dangerous, but to make passengers aware of unrest in the fairly close Torre Pacheco to help them make smart decisions while exploring.
The unrest is related to anti-migrant protests that unfolded following a violent attack on a 68-year-old pensioner.
“As you may be aware, there has been a high level of political and social unrest in the town of Torre Pacheco, located just over hundred kilometers south of Alicante,” read a letter to the up to 1,964 guests onboard.
To clarify, the distance from Alicante’s cruise port to Torre Pacheco equates to around 69 miles and it would take over an hour to make the drive.
The Carnival-owned brand also confirmed that none of the shore excursions offered by the cruise line would visit the impacted region.
“Please be assured that the safety and security of our guests and team members are our top priority and our security department remains in close contact with government and private sources, as well as our local agents and tour operators,” the cruise line reassured guests.
“We continue to monitor the situation and would not bring our guests to a location we considered to be unsafe.”
As expected, no issues have been reported for the 82,305-gross ton ship’s visit.
She will now stop in Valencia, Spain, on July 19, before disembarking the current 21-day cruise in Barcelona, Spain, on July 20.
More Cruise Guests Should Take Note
Before summer ends, several more cruise ships will be sailing to Alicante, Spain, with brands like P&O Cruises, MSC Cruises, Cunard Line, Regent Seven Seas, and Silversea Cruises on the port schedule.
Most immediately, MSC Cruises’ MSC Musica and P&O Cruises’ Britannia and Arvia will call on Alicante before July is through.
Holland America Line won’t be represented at the port again until Nieuw Statendam visits as part of a 13-night sailing from Amsterdam to Barcelona on September 18, 2025.
Read Also: Are Cruises Safe? What You Really Need to Know
Especially for cruisers coming in the next few weeks, it will likely be smart to plan to stay in the port city, where the unrest has not spread as of this time.
If taking a shore excursion, passengers should make sure to book directly through their cruise line or with a reputable tour company.
Cruise guests should also remain extra aware of their surroundings while enjoying the port, which in reality, is a good practice no matter if someone is home or abroad.
The cruise lines will of course continue to monitor the situation, but no itinerary changes are expected unless the unrest begins to pose a greater risk to the port city.
