Questions are being raised about whether the agreement limiting the arrival of cruise ships in Palma, the capital of Majorca, which was implemented in 2022 is being fulfilled following a hectic May bank holiday weekend. Up to five cruise ships docked at the same time on Monday (May 5), setting overtourism alarm bells ringing across the Balearic island.

In the last week, 23 cruise ships have docked in Palma, four of which were mega-cruise ships with capacity for more than 5,000 passengers. This is 21.05% more than in the same period in 2024, raising serious questions about whether the 2022 agreement needs to be renewed or revised. The chaos is set to continue, as the cruise season in Palma has only just begun. In 2021, the Balearic Government reached an agreement with shipping agents limiting stopovers from 2022 onwards. According to the document regulating this agreement, only one mega-cruise ship and two smaller vessels may be in Palma at the same time.

This, therefore raises serious questions as to why five ships, full of passengers, were able to dock on both April 29 and May 2.

According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, there is a small print in the agreement. Although it establishes a weekly limit of 8,500 cruise passengers per day, ships with fewer than 500 seats do not count towards the limit.

Seven of the ships that docked had a capacity for 500 passengers. Four had more than 5,000 and eleven have between 501 and 4,999 passengers, according to data from the Balearic Port Authority. Both the regional government and the association for cruise companies have assured that they are complying scrupulously with the agreement, the local outlet reported.

The largest to arrive was the Marella Explorer 2, with a capacity for 6,780 people.

There is not expected to be any easing of the situation, either. If the forecasts of the Balearic Port Authority are correct, May 2025 is set to see up to 65 cruise ships docking in the city - 4.84% more than in the same month last year.

Between January and December 2025, 551 ships will arrive with a capacity for more than 1.8 million passengers - 47 ships and 41,085 cruise passengers more than in 2024.

While these figures may seem extortionate, pre-pandemic levels have not yet been recovered. The all-time high was recorded in 2019 when 592 cruise ships arrived in Palma.

Conservation organisations, including the Platform Against Mega-Cruise Ships and the environmental group GOB have been fighting against mass tourism in the Balearics for several years. The platform was created following the record-breaking year in 2019, calling for a limit on ships with more than 5,000 passengers. Two years later, the regional government announced the historic agreement, which remains valid until 2027.

Menys Turisme Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) is the latest to join their ranks. Together, the groups have taken aim at cruise ships due to the congestion they cause in the Balearic capital, but also because of the environmental impact they have due to their emissions, energy and water consumption.

The Regional Minister for Tourism, Joan Bauçà, recently stated that his intention is to renew the framework agreement before it expires, incorporating new sustainability and efficiency requirements. He argues that the agreement is currently being complied with.

However, conservation groups have accused shipping companies of failing to comply with the current agreement and are calling for Palma to follow Venice's model, which since August 2021 has banned ships over 180 metres in length and over 25,000 tonnes from sailing in its waters.