The government placed a low priority on naval activities, particularly in the 1870s; as a result, the shortage of funds precluded an active fleet policy. The ironclad fleet, including "Custoza", was kept out of service in Pola, laid up in reserve; the only vessels to see significant service in the 1870s were several screw frigates sent abroad. In 1880, "Don Juan d'Austria" had her sailing rig reduced. "Don Juan d'Austria" and an Austro-Hungarian squadron that included the ironclads , , , and and the torpedo cruisers and travelled to Barcelona, Spain, to take part in the opening ceremonies for the Barcelona Universal Exposition of 1888. This was the largest squadron of the Austro-Hungarian Navy that had operated outside the Adriatic.