Prima TA Semi-Live 11 Days to NY from Spain, 4+ days @Barcelona from JFK ... land/cruise early Thanksgiving vacation

[Von & John]

Thanks for the fabulous walking tour & photos of Barcelona...

Brings back many memories of our trips 🙂

Enjoy the rest of your time there & the cruise to come!

Cheers from Talkeetna  --  Von

[mking8288]

Good late & relaxing Sunday morning, a light conteniental breakfast from nearby for less than 5 Euros, juice & banana excluded.

 

Metro station 1 block from our hotel, Aerobus station to airport, another 1/2 block further up. Santander Bank w ATM that we use 👍 Lots of sidewalk cafe & local restaurants everywhere 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forget to pack or bring something from home, or to pack lighter next time - for your convenience, these mini marts got them, at fair prices. 

 

[mking8288]

@dexddd - power station in running mode, zebra station 😁 🤗 is on vacation mode, cruising next. 

 

Hotel room has bedside USB charging port (our devices firewalled using those) and the bathroom has a single 110 volts outlet, no adapter needed. 

 

 

Otherwise, a simple 110 to 220 2-pin adapter like the ones used on cruises is all one needs.

Bath Gel, Shampoo, Conditioner, Hand Wash, etc. has been wall-mounted out of large dispensers ... eco-friendly 👌

Edited November 19, 2023 by mking8288

[bedfordmom]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

Good late & relaxing Sunday morning, a light conteniental breakfast from nearby for less than 5 Euros, juice & banana excluded.

Looking good. Curious does your hotel offer breakfast for a fee? More times than not it is a lot less to go outside the hotel but sometimes I like the convenience of eating at the hotel. 

[mking8288]

32 minutes ago, bedfordmom said:

Curious does your hotel offer breakfast for a fee? 

We choose the option, breakfast buffet for extra 20 Euros p/p per day. Across the street, cafe & restaurant breakfast for 1/4 to 1/2 of the hotel costs. Yes, that's for the convenience. 

 

After another taxi ride, 15 Euros later, doing on the scenic Port Cable Car next before lunch 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Next time, buy e-tickets ahead & join closer to front of the line, pass the tickets window, about 20 minutes wait from that point.  One-way is 12.50, reduces for children but no senior discount. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Port Cable Car ... port area, east of La Rambla, not where cruise ships docked

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

More photos ... while waiting for lunch, changed of plans for the afternoon 😎

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bedfordmom]

Do you have enough time to see Monserrat? Remember taking a train from Barcelona to this magical place

[mking8288]

Nosotros estamos aqui - we are here, kicking heels 47 Euros for 4 of us, nothing fancy but good enough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Scouting the cruise port ahead, just one ship today ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Last look up at the park & tower area before we head back ... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The P]

On 11/12/2023 at 9:58 AM, mking8288 said:

Good Sunday morning ... Susan beat me to luggage packing last night - everything fits, loosely with plenty of space in her 24" spinners (Airtagged) at just 37 lbs now ... goal is to not exceed 40 lbs - that's a generous allowance for 10 lbs worth of shopping, one of our CC friends, Sharon #1 @The P from the 2022 Getaway roll call will be very proud ... too bad, not stopping in Palma this time for shoes, but I'm sure plentiful in Barcelona (and, will have time to try them out first without rushing)   The 21" rollerboard (eBags. heavy but sturdy, lifetime warranty) is just as light, definitely be under 22 lbs should we run into boarding bag police w the digital scale. 

 

Travel vest (lightweight - plenty of pockets to stuff & carry, walk-thru boarding gate and secured against casual pickpocketing in EU & elsewhere) instead of ScottVest (way overpriced these days) - useful & practical for our days in Barcelona.  

Memo/reminder ahead: for those sailing the Prima & Viva, with bedside USB charging ports - bring at least a 10' and a 6' USB extension cord, a must-have to sit out on the balcony to watch the ocean and while catching up.  This time, bringing two (2) slim 10,000 mAH battery bank (Anker & Mophie) - one for each to us to use while ashore and/or for just being out & about around the ship.  Going to pair up with Anker QC 3.0 USB chargers with a GE triple outlet power tap, and an unique 220V outlet adapter (with on/off switch) for 110V device.  Should make life easier at sea for tech geeks like me and also handy in our BCN hotel.  

 

Footnote - that's a "lot" of tech toys in this recent collection of ours, probably going to take some out for simplicity, but I'm known to be in a "continuous readiness" mode for nearly anything, not just with a Plan B but Plan C when SHTF ... not just US Dept of State worldwide travel advisories.  

 

I expect a shopping report when you return. Susan knows what she's doing! Have a GREAT time!!

Sharon

[mking8288]

Scenic Barcelona views in all directions as Cable car # I take us down to the waterfront again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were at least 3 cruise ships docked earlier, 2 still here. Prima will sail tomorrow, along with several other ships.  Walking with luggage isn't recommended - there's an inexpensive port shuttle service.

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by mking8288

[www3traveler]

I hope you have a wonderful cruise and Thanksgiving.

 

Mandy

[mking8288]

Barcelona's cruise ship terminals is long & huge, expanding as a new one is under construction ... quite a bit of distance to La Rambla and the Statue of C. Columbus.

 

 

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, The P said:

I expect a shopping report when you return

Sharon, happy Thanksgiving to you ... there's room in our luggage plus an oversized weekender tote. Okay, won't exceed CBP allowance ... nothing to declare. 

 

20 minutes ago, www3traveler said:

I hope you have a wonderful cruise and Thanksgiving ...

Mandy, will do & thanks. Now, our friends also see another TA on their radar ahead. Will have a closer look for 24 and 25 with Aqua 🤗

 

The gang voted down McD, KFC, Popeyes and Burger King's while abroad 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by mking8288

[bedfordmom]

3 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Sharon, happy Thanksgiving to you ... there's room in our luggage plus an oversized weekender tote. Okay, won't exceed CBP

The best thing about Went to East TA   To NYC is if you live near by you don’t have to worry about luggage weight restrictions 

[www3traveler]

I am booked on the Aqua for her Transatlantic late March 2025 from Southampton.  I am hoping to add a cruise TO Southampton from someplace.

 

Mandy

[kelleyfarms]

Looking forward to you bringing our ship to New York. We will board there for 2 week cruise to Galveston. 

 

John

[mking8288]

Life is a beach so we made a pit stop there ... nobody swimming, too chilly but sunbathers were out 

 

 

No, this isn't for bungees jumping, it's part of the Cable Car Tower with the elevators, max capacity of 7 and 19 in a cable car.

 

 

What a beach 😎

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

4 hours ago, bedfordmom said:

The best thing about West to East TA is if you live near by you don’t have to worry about luggage weight restrictions 

Bingo, you win today's The Price is Right Live question, not to mention gaining an extra hour of sleep, on sea days - one hour each time, for 5 or 6 times based on GMT ... almost zero jetlag.  Unlike going eastbound.  Our fellow roll call members @cruiseny4life went to sleep early this evening, time monster caught up with them. 

 

8 hours ago, bedfordmom said:

Do you have enough time to see Monserrat? 

Nope, 3.5 days went bling bling in a flash, was going do a sunrise small group tour, but 2 of them much rather sleep in late (again) - be there by 8 am and see a lot more, free time, etc. and be back before 2 pm for lunch. We did do a half day tour in May coming across the Epic TA ... unfinished things to do for 2024 😁🤗😉 

[mking8288]

5 hours ago, kelleyfarms said:

Looking forward to you bringing our ship to NY ... 

John, if you haven't but interested in joining the Prima's roll call with plans for CC Meet & Greet/Mingle, feel free to sign up - there's a surge lately with late or last minute booking, including slot pull, cabin crawl and possibly bridge & LCR games on sea days. @azcruise (Jan) on the TA, organized this sailing's M&G and staying onboard B2B since it'll get them closer to Arizona 🤓   Ross & Tom are covering the Dec 1st reposition cruise. 

 

 

[www3traveler]

Sad news to report to you folks:  Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed away today at the age of 96.  Both she and President Carter have been under Hospice care.

[mking8288]

Housekeeping replenished our complimentary toiletry kits, including tooth brushes, shaving kits, shower caps & even sewing kits - we got extras; and will consider donating to another CC'ers onboard if theirs are lost or missing - only if they check with us at the official CC M&G b/c these are not complimentary from NCL 😁 🤗 🫢 as routine replacement. 

 

 

We do drink bottled water here in Spain as the 2 free bottles comp'd daily from the hotel aren't enough, so we picked up this big jug 8L sized from Aldi supermarket nearby for under 1 Euro, that one.  Fiji at 500ml at $5 at JFK.  NCL's commonly distributed & sold Flow Water onboard ... 

 

 

Packing cubes repacked, items for laundry onboard by Day 2 are ready ... not going to waste these precise Latitudes perks.  Oh, a very nice reusable laundry bag from H10. 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by mking8288