Live from MSC Meraviglia Sailing from Barcelona 7/7/17 with lots of photos!

[xkritter]

I cannot wait to see all of your pictures and here about the trip. I will definitely be following along!!

[AndyGurney73]

Happy Cruising, hope you have a great time

 

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[little britain]

Following along; I'm doing my first MSC this autumn after a lifetime on RCI so I'm really interested to hear your thoughts about the differences....food, activities, ambience...... I think we have sailed together in the past? And what I cannot understand is the difference classes! What does it actually mean on board?!

Thanks!

Cute cat!

 

 

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[Kizzabel]

Looking forward to your TR! Bon voyage

 

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[kikki21]

Morning all!

Wow that was a bad night's sleep but we managed to get ourselves together & are at the airport somehow.

It always baffles me why Ryanair have so few check in staff in the morning but we were checked in within 30 mins.

Security didn't take too much time & now we can try & wake up with a coffee & get on our way! [emoji4]

 

 

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[Rossco01]

Go Kikki can't wait for your first update! Have a lovely relaxing, fun time.

 

 

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[kikki21]

 

 

We're sat on the plane - I always do priority on Ryanair so we can get our bags put away & start to relax.

 

I'll be taking pics from the plane as I love doing photography from the plane.

 

See you in Barcelona!

 

 

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[kbklcamp]

So interested to read as interested in MSC and have cruise out of Barcelona booked. Thanks for doing a TR

 

 

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[70054609]

Can you please check about flexible dining for customers on the fantasia package. Been hearing on here that they have cancelled it? Due to sail September and would really like to know.

[kerryincork]

Hey Kiki. What are you going to do in Barcelona? Will you be doing the hop on hop off bus? How did you get from airport to hotel? I am thinking of using the subway?

 

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[Rossco01]

Kerryincork I went to Barcelona in Nov and getting the bus from the airport is really straight forward. Not sure about the subway although it's easy to use when in the city.

 

 

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[kerryincork]

Brilliant, thanks for letting me know.

 

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[kikki21]

Hi everyone!

We've arrived in Barcelona & had a lovely afternoon discovering the area where we are staying in the Gothic Quarter. Hotel Barcelona Catedral.

I'll post some photos when I'm back in the hotel with wi fi.

We took the taxi option from the airport. I know you can take the train or metro but with all our luggage a taxi is soooo much better & easier [emoji4]

We will do the hop on hop off bus tomorrow just checking out what to do with our day [emoji4]

Heading back to the hotel at 10pm as they are doing a free Gothic Quarter Walk - anything with the word Free & my other half is well in there!

 

 

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[Rossco01]

[emoji106]

 

 

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[kikki21]

Back in our hotel room! Phew what an afternoon/evening!

I'll rewind back to our flight this morning - it was a nice short flight just less than 2 hrs so this makes cruise departures from Barcelona quite attractive.

 

Waiting for the off!

 

 

Calke Abbey from the air

 

 

It was actually a very clear day over the UK for a change!

 

 

Across the channel & into France.

 

 

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[kikki21]

The racecourse there is Deauville - very near Le Havre & Honfleur.

 

 

We were sitting on the right hand side of the place - the above is the town of Cahors.

 

 

Next the city of Toulouse.

 

Followed by the Pyrenees - beautiful photos of the mountains which separate France with Spain.

 

 

 

At this point, you're not very far away & in fact, have started the descent into Barcelona Airport.

 

 

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[kikki21]

In fact this time round, we flew into the airport via the sea. Last time, the airport approach encircled Barcelona. This approach was far more exciting.

 

 

 

The W Hotel

 

 

And finally some cruise ships!!!!

 

 

And nearly there!

 

We decided that due to all our luggage, we would take a taxi to our hotel, generally the rate is between 25 & 30 Euros & depends on traffic.

 

 

 

 

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[kikki21]

I choose the Hotel Barcelona Catedral for great location - it's near everything & right in the Gothic Quarter - there are masses of shops, bars & restaurants here. Good choice & the hotel has free wi fi!

 

 

There is a terrace bar & restaurant & a roof top pool area!

 

 

The hotel is right round from the Barcelona Cathedral which is a sight in itself!

 

 

We checked in, freshened up & went to look for a tapas lunch & right opposite the cathedral found this place.

 

 

Etresche - lots of tapas choice & very tasty too!

 

 

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[kikki21]

 

The Goats cheese was heaven!

 

They are open for breakfast too. We opted not to have breakfast at the hotel so we can have a lie in tomorrow.

 

We went for a walk to the Bocqueria Market just off La Rambla.

 

 

You need to come here if you are a foodie!

 

 

 

 

Of course we had to have an ice cream!

 

 

 

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[kikki21]

We headed back to the hotel for a siesta & then we got ready to go for dinner - both of us love tapas so we choose another tapas place in the cathedral square. Again it was a good meal at Bilbao Berria.

 

 

You choose your tapas & you eat - each one cost 1.95 Euros. It was a cheap meal & filling. We had a bit of a walk round after dinner but we saved ourselves for our hotel organised & free Gothic Quarter Walking Tour which lasted an hour.

 

This was really enjoyable.

 

 

The Gothic Quarter at night is very atmospheric.

 

 

Plenty of bars & restaurants

 

 

We walked to the town hall square & then saw the Palace & back to the Catedral.

 

 

 

That was the end of our enjoyable walk - we heard singing & were treated to half an hour or so of very good street opera!

 

 

 

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[kikki21]

That's it for today folks - lie in time tomorrow.

 

All these photos are from my iPhone 7 Plus - Apple have really stepped up with the quality!

 

Cruise minus 1 day!!!!!

 

 

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[Cafedumonde]

That's it for today folks - lie in time tomorrow.

 

All these photos are from my iPhone 7 Plus - Apple have really stepped up with the quality!

 

Cruise minus 1 day!!!!!

 

 

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great report! Thanks for sharing.

[sverigecruiser]

That's it for today folks - lie in time tomorrow.

 

All these photos are from my iPhone 7 Plus - Apple have really stepped up with the quality!

 

Cruise minus 1 day!!!!!

 

 

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Thanks! Your report is very appreciated!

 

We are flying to Barcelona on tuesday so we have to wait some more days! Eight days until our cruise!

[Bradtez]

Fantastic review, thank you so much for going into so much detail. We will be sailing out of Barcelona on the 5th Jan. Quite Jealous of you only having a 2 hour flight, ours is 16 :(.

[kikki21]

Thanks! Your report is very appreciated!

 

 

 

We are flying to Barcelona on tuesday so we have to wait some more days! Eight days until our cruise!

 

 

 

Morning Sverigecruiser - honestly that last week went by so fast!

I'm now really excited for tomorrow!

 

 

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