How to arrive:
The Airport of Barcelona is about 13 km from Barcelona center.
Trains and buses have frequent schedules to the center, but since you
have to change a couple of times and also to walk the last part to
the terminal, the best option for traveling from the airport to the
cruise terminal is to catch a taxi.
Taxis are quick and not expensive. The journey will take about 35 min's
by taxi. The journey from the airport to the port is unlikely to cost you more than €40.
If you are a group of 4 or more you might consider a private transfer
with Barcelona-airport-transfers.
Luggage storage is only possible at terminal 1 (intercontinental flights) or at train station Sants Estacio (directly connected to the Airport and Plaça de Catalunya.
The Cruise Terminal of Barcelona and getting around:
The port is the starting and arrival point for many Mediterranean cruise itineraries. The seven operating terminals, and the various docks and facilities, are at a short distance from the city center. The terminal is at Port Vell in Barcelona which is at the Southern most end of the famous Ramblas. The seaport terminal is only 10 min's walk from the Ramblas. However, since there are several cruise terminals at the port and if you are in one of the terminals which are further away from the Ramblas you may catch a taxi or the shuttle bus, which will take you to Monument Christopher Columbus which is at the Southern most end of the Ramblas. The shuttle bus service runs from all port terminals down to the monument.
There is a port shuttle bus that goes from the cruise terminals to the Columbus Monument at the bottom of Las Ramblas. The bus is called Cruiser T3 but is often referred to as the 'Blue Port Bus'. The fare is €3 per person, €4.50 return. You cannot use a T10 ticket on this bus. The nearest metro station is Drassanes which is on line L3. It is about 2-3 minutes walk from the Columbus Monument, where the shuttle bus stops. The bus is wheelchair friendly.
If your ship will be moored at Moll Barcelona (the Barcelona Pier with the North and South Terminals) you can walk in 5 minutes to the monument. On this pier is also the World Trade Center with car park. Most likely you will be docked (larger ships) at terminal A, B, C or D.
A taxi is a good bet (around 15 Euro) if you want to go to Placa de Catalunya with its famous stores and stroll back, slightly downhill, over the Ramblas towards the harbor. Taxi back will be 2.10 euro more, due to port charges. Do not pay more than that as cabbies make you believe.
As your hand luggage is checked by the port authorities itself before entering the modern terminal, there is ample of opportunity to stock up on your favorite alcoholic beverage in the competitive priced tax-free shops before boarding. No carry-on bags will be checked when boarding the ship.
In spring 2018, Carnival Corporation opened a new terminal, which is designed to accommodate Carnival's next-generation ships, powered by eco-friendly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Ships from eight Carnival brands -- AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (U.K.), Princess Cruises and Seabourn -- visit Barcelona throughout the year.
Printable map to take along.
Hotels near the Cruise Terminal
Cruise calendar for this port.
Check here for festivals and events in Barcelona when you are in port.
Watch a destination video
Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers
Monthly Climate Averages for Barcelona Spain Cruise Port
Barcelona balances itself on the cutting edge of architecture, intellectual
life, and style. Among the city's unique delights is its Picasso Museum,
palm-lined avenues, striking Gaudi architecture, revamped beachfront,
and late-night club scene.
The capital of Spain's Catalonia region is one of the country's -- maybe even
Europe's -- most beautiful and vibrant places. A city of contrasts, it is like
no other in Spain; this is most evident in its architecture, a marriage of Gothic
spikes and modern curves.
Barcelona is also a city of neighborhoods, all distinct, which are surprisingly
walkable and easily accessible by bus, metro or even on foot (in comfortable
shoes). Don't miss a stroll along Las Ramblas, replete with produce and
flower stands, a historic opera house and a thoroughly intriguing open
pet market.
Maybe you will be there when they are celebrating one of the many fiestas:
whether they are celebrating a saint's day or the changing of the seasons,
the people of Barcelona fill the streets with color, music, and excitement
for young and old. Experiencing the traditions ranging from Spanish to
Catalan or even unique to the city of Barcelona, adds to a visitor's
enjoyment like nothing else can. The largest fiestas in Barcelona are
Sant Joan (Saint John) on June 23rd ringing in the summer, and La Mercè
for the Patron Saint, September 24th. The most beautiful holiday is
undoubtedly Sant Jordi (Saint George) – the day of the book and the day
of the rose April 23rd.
Museums
The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is indispensable for understanding the formative years of Pablo Ruiz Picasso. The genius of the young artist is revealed through the more than 3,500 works that make up the permanent collection. However, the Picasso Museum also reveals his relationship with Barcelona: an intimate, solid relationship that was shaped in his adolescence and youth, and continued until his death. Thanks to the wishes of Picasso and his friend Jaume Sabartés, Barcelona now has the youthful work of one of the twentieth century's most significant artists.
Miró's works are to be found today in the world's principal museums
and cultural institutions. Many, however, have remained in Catalonia,
mostly in the Joan Miró Foundation in
Barcelona.
Throughout his life, Joan Miró took a particular interest in the diversity
of materials, forms and colors. It led him to explore and experiment
with different art forms such as painting, sculpture, printing techniques,
ceramics, the theater, and tapestry.
One result of this was a collaboration with Josep Royo, an innovative
craftsman, who during the seventies aroused Miró's interest in tapestry
and textiles.
Sagrada Família- Barcelona's most popular and famous attraction, the Sagrada Família is a testament to Antonio Gaudi's modernist style and unlike any other church in the world
Rent a bike or take an excursion by bike with an
English speaking guide showing the most important sights of Barcelona:
the Gothic Quarter with the cathedral, the Old harbor with the statue
of Columbus, the Ciutadella Park, the Sagrada Familia, the Olympic Port
and Gaudi´s fabulous monuments with Fat
Tire Bike Tours Barcelona.
The best place for a ride is along the well-marked bike lanes by the sea, which
lead to the medieval streets of the old city, past busy ports and down to beaches.
If you're willing to brave traffic and tackle a few hills, you can crisscross
the city and there are many more bike lanes in the planning. A guide and a map can be purchased at the Tourist
Offices.
Hop on hop off. If you are coming to Barcelona for the first time, or if you are planning to stay in the city for a short time, this is one way of getting to quickly see the city's monuments and most important tourist sights of interest.
The Barcelona Tourist Office offers, among other interesting tours,
4 different, english speaking, guided walking tours,
including a Gourmet walk
in which you will find out about the history of Barcelona's cuisine as
well as some of its flagship restaurants and food outlets, and sample
some of their products.
If you want to see Barcelona from a birds eye point of view, ride the
Montjuic cable car. You can buy tickets on board. The entrance is not to
far from the harbor, just follow the cables to the entrance. If it is too windy, the cable cars won't run. So simply look to the sky to see whether they are running or not.
A small guide book is very useful, as there is so much to see in Barcelona!
It pays to compare your cruise line tours here.
Nova Icaria, Bogatell, Mar Bella and Barceloneta are all beaches in Barcelona which has restaurant and café lined promenades.
Further away:
For many visitors a trip to Montserrat is the highlight of their visit. Montserrat is a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine monk mountain retreat about one hour North West from Barcelona by train. Not only is Montserrat Monastery of significant religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery is simply breathtaking. The cable car ride up the mountain is simply spectacular.If you love to shop then you're going to love Barcelona! Barcelona
Spain shopping offers around 35,000 shops.
The
city is also home to the famous 5 KM shopping line. The shopping line
stretches from the top of the Ramblas, through Placa de Catalunya along
Passeig de Gràcia and up Avenue Diagonal. Much of the shopping line is
pedestrianized making it a pleasant experience to wander from shop to
shop without worrying about traffic.
Along
the Ramblas you will find La Boqueria A very colorful food market which also sells other goods and souvenirs.
Also along the Ramblas you also will find the Gothic Quarter, the medieval part of Barcelona. Here you will find many fine restaurants and outdoor cafe's as well as great stores who specialize in colorful ceramic goods of top quality.
The Ramblas is also the world's most pick-pocketed area!
Euro
Barcelona has free Wi-Fi in the city - they are currently working on completely covering the city, but it's not there yet. Around the Ramblas, the reception is generally good.
Fire brigade, police and ambulance: tel. 112
The most common business for shops and businesses hours are Monday through Saturday, from 9.30 oh to 13.30 oh, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h.
Big shopping centers and department stores open from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h uninterruptedly. These big stores open in December sometimes on Sunday.
In coastal cities, in high season, shops are usually open passed 22.00 h.
Pharmacies open from 9.30 to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. In all major cities you can find pharmacies that open 24 hours. Pharmacies follow a rolling late-hour schedule, which is published in the newspapers, and is posted at all pharmacies.
Museums are in general closed on Mondays.
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