chaswill Posted August 30, 2012 #1 Share Posted August 30, 2012 We land in Barcelona and should be through Spanish customs by 10:30 am. We can't board the ship until 1:00 pm. Is it worth trying to take a taxi into Barcelona for a quick tour or should we just go to the terminal and get in line to board?:confused: Oh yeah...we land on a Sunday so most everything will probably be closed.:( What would you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted August 30, 2012 #2 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It seems you have not been there before so by all means take a taxi and get a tour. Make sure you agree on a price in advance. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted August 30, 2012 #3 Share Posted August 30, 2012 We land in Barcelona and should be through Spanish customs by 10:30 am. We can't board the ship until 1:00 pm. Is it worth trying to take a taxi into Barcelona for a quick tour or should we just go to the terminal and get in line to board?:confused: Oh yeah...we land on a Sunday so most everything will probably be closed.:( What would you do? If it were me, I'd go directly to the ship, get my luggage checked through, check in and get my stateroom keys, and then go back out and get on the Hop on, Hop Off bus for a few hours. When you return to the Port, you'll be able to walk directly onto the ship, and directly to your cabin. The buffet stays open until 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 30, 2012 #4 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I would go drop the luggage then go off sightseeing either walk or get the HOHO I doubt whether you will be able to sign in at that time so just check the bags in & off you go Be sure to be back 2 hrs prior to all aboard time so you can check in etc... Don't waste time sitting in the port area... go enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grmmybtty Posted August 30, 2012 #5 Share Posted August 30, 2012 If you want to DIY, you can take a taxi directly from the airport to the port, check in your luggage, and then have your driver drop you off at the Columbus Monument. You can catch the HOHO bus there for a quick tour of the city or walk up La Rambla and just people watch. We spent a week in Barcelona in 2010 before catching a transatlantic cruise and it is a beautiful, not to be missed city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted August 30, 2012 #6 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I doubt whether you will be able to sign in at that time so just check the bags in & off you go Not sure what you mean by that, Lyn, he's leaving the Airport at 10:30AM and his normal boarding time is 1pm, of course he will be able to check in. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 30, 2012 #7 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Not sure what you mean by that, Lyn, he's leaving the Airport at 10:30AM and his normal boarding time is 1pm, of course he will be able to check in. :confused: Sometimes you have to wait until the time to board to sign in if you are not in a priority cabin We had to sit in the terminal in Amsterdam until 3pm until boarding began & you checked in at the same time That was the only time that we had arrived early to the port it was around noon It was too hot to wander around outside so sitting in the A/c was preferable We now arrive after 2pm when you usually can check in & board right away depending on the passenger load Not all ports/boarding are created equal Just saying why waste time lining up to check in if you can be out & about until the lines go down It is of course a personal choice ;) Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllanWW Posted August 30, 2012 #8 Share Posted August 30, 2012 There are two HoHO bus routes to choose from. Both go to the major sites so just pick what you want to see that then choose which route goes there. There are maps at the stops. Also watch out for pick pockets there - they are everywhere and prey of tourists. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boooomer Posted August 31, 2012 #9 Share Posted August 31, 2012 If you want to DIY, you can take a taxi directly from the airport to the port, check in your luggage, and then have your driver drop you off at the Columbus Monument. You can catch the HOHO bus there for a quick tour of the city or walk up La Rambla and just people watch. We spent a week in Barcelona in 2010 before catching a transatlantic cruise and it is a beautiful, not to be missed city. Barcelona is a beautiful city. Las Ramblas is wonderful, and if you have a chance check out some of Gaudi's architectural masterpieces. "La Pedrera" & Casa Batila. It will change your view of architects & architecture forever! It is not to be missed..... BUT BE CAREFUL. :eek: Speaking from personal experience - make sure your money and passports are well secured. Las Ramblas, is notorious for EXPERT pickpockets and scammers. They work in groups. Don't let anyone approach you or get close to you, and stay together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledobles Posted August 31, 2012 #10 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Jim and Stan are right. Get rid of your luggage, get your keys and take the bus. It's a wonderful trip and you'll get to see the highlights of Barcelona. Last time we were docked in Barcelona (July this year) the bus stopped right near the embarkation area. Couldn't be more than 50 steps away. Beware of pickpockets in Barcelona, if you get off the bus. (It's a hop on, hop off bus, so another bus is 10 to 15 minutes behind yours). Good luck and enjoy your trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudiaF Posted September 4, 2012 #11 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Better than wasting time, get picked up at the airport by a private car and have a tour . I really like Barcelonadaytours.com and have used them numerous times. You can arrange a short tour even 3 hours.;) They will take you to see the sites, your luggage is safe in their van and at end of tour they will drop you at the ship. On Sunday all the tourist spots will be open. And you will have time to see the most beautiful city! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DOJO466 Posted September 4, 2012 #12 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Better than wasting time, get picked up at the airport by a private car and have a tour . I really like Barcelonadaytours.com and have used them numerous times. You can arrange a short tour even 3 hours.;)They will take you to see the sites, your luggage is safe in their van and at end of tour they will drop you at the ship. On Sunday all the tourist spots will be open. And you will have time to see the most beautiful city! I agree, when we disembarked in BCN we had time to kill before we could check into hotel. We used Barcelonadaytours for a leisurely tour of the city, picking out sites we wanted to revisit. Very professional and comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted September 4, 2012 #13 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Better than wasting time, get picked up at the airport by a private car and have a tour . I really like Barcelonadaytours.com and have used them numerous times. You can arrange a short tour even 3 hours.;)They will take you to see the sites, your luggage is safe in their van and at end of tour they will drop you at the ship. On Sunday all the tourist spots will be open. And you will have time to see the most beautiful city! I agree with Claudia..it is a waste of time to go to the ship check in and then go out again..getting a driver may cost more but you start your tour from the airport can have a lovely lunch on Las Ramblas and get to the ship at 4pm..have a whole day tour!! Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m*u*g* Posted September 4, 2012 #14 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Sounds risky to me to wander too far from port. Get to the ship I say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudiaF Posted September 5, 2012 #15 Share Posted September 5, 2012 port is 20 minutes ( by car) from the airport... port is 5 minutes from the Las Ramblas ( by car)..what's so riskey?:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geekybiker Posted September 5, 2012 #16 Share Posted September 5, 2012 There is a regular transfer bus from the airport that will drop you off at the north end of las Ramblas if you want to save a few bucks on the taxi. The port is more or less at the south end of las ramblas. Its like a mile walk and there is a subway that runs up and down it if you like the bus from the airport drops you at the east edge of a large plaza and the subway and las ramblas enterence is on the SW edge of that plaza. Depending on where you are docked, it can be a bit of a hike in and out of the port. I'd probably take the bus in, cab to the ship and drop your bags. At that point you know if you want to cab back out to las ramblas/the ho ho stops or if you think you can walk it. Grab the ho ho. See la segrada familia if you can spare the time. I'd actually grab the subway to it over the ho-ho bus if you are short on time. You'll want a couple hours and grab the audio tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepawa Posted September 5, 2012 #17 Share Posted September 5, 2012 There is a HOHO bus stop at the Christopher Columbus Statue which is less than a half mile walk from the port. You can buy the tickets for the tours on the bus. Cheers, Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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