Debarkation in Barcelona

[jamesv2811]

We’re looking at catching a train when we arrive in Barcelona and quite torn on what time to choose for it.

 

Where does Valiant Lady dock and what time is it usually arriving? There’s a train at 9.05am which we’d like to get to so weighing up if it’s possible.

[cantgetin]

9:05 is early.  VV suggests that you not schedule a flight before noon.  That said, they usually dock before 7am, sometimes as early as 5am.   You can disembark as soon as the ship has been "cleared" by local Customs.  That' usually about 7:30 or before.

 

You can probably make the train IF everything goes smoothly, but things do happen on ships and they can run late just like planes can.  I've been on ships that have lost an engine, that have been delayed by giving assistance to other vessels at sea,  fog delay, etc.  In one instance, the DCL ship rescued an inebriated passenger who went "man overboard" off a Carnival ship.  There are some great YouTube videos of that; the best were taken from the Carnival ship but you can hear the staff captain giving orders on some taken from the Disney ship.  If the ship is late getting to the dock, you'll be late getting off.

[yarramar]

There is no way that I would book a train that early unless you can just get the next one (or the one after) without penalty.

Even if you could get off the ship reasonably early, you then need to consider transport to the station. Will you have someone with your name on a board waiting for you? Even if your sailing is at 1/2 capacity, out of the 1000 or so passengers, there maybe a few hundred with the same idea as you all waiting for the 10 taxis available.

Plus there is all the reasons given above that the ship may dock late.

The consensus among many experienced cruisers is to spend the night at the port of debarkation.

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, yarramar said:

There is no way that I would book a train that early unless you can just get the next one (or the one after) without penalty.

Even if you could get off the ship reasonably early, you then need to consider transport to the station. Will you have someone with your name on a board waiting for you? Even if your sailing is at 1/2 capacity, out of the 1000 or so passengers, there maybe a few hundred with the same idea as you all waiting for the 10 taxis available.

Plus there is all the reasons given above that the ship may dock late.

The consensus among many experienced cruisers is to spend the night at the port of debarkation.

While there's no need to stay overnight I definitely would never book a 9:00am train. That's just crazy. Why put yourself to all that stress?

[neverendingcruising]

I believe VV is using the World Trade Center.

 

1ª planta Edif. Este, Moll de Barcelona, s/n, 08039 Barcelona, Spain

[jamesv2811]

Thanks, will choose a later train!