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Barcelona (Spain)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Mediterranean - Black Sea

Local Time 2024-09-19 05:58

Port Barcelona cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Barcelona, Spain. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Barcelona cruise port is currently ranked the largest Mediterranean cruise port with turnaround operations (roundtrip itineraries) and the world's 4th busiest. Its harbor area is one of the world's biggest. By population (over 1,6 million) the city is ranked Spain's largest and Europe's 16th largest.

By the metro population (around 5,5 million) it is ranked EU's 6th largest (after Paris , London , Madrid , Ruhr, Milano ). The city is on the Mediterranean Sea, located between the mouths of two rivers (Llobregat and Besos).

IMPORTANT : Since October 22, 2023, cruise vessels are no longer allowed to dock at Muelle Barcelona Norte (northern port, near the World Trade Centre area) and instead are redirected to berth at Moll Adossat Pier (southern port) which was previously utilized by larger cruise companies like NCL-Norwegian , RCI-Royal Caribbean and MSC . As a result, disembarking cruise tourists instead of stepping directly into the city's historic downtown (10-minute walking distance) are transported via shuttle buses (~30 minutes drive distance) from the southern port to access the city center.

Barcelona cruise port

Barcelona Port (locode ESBCN) is ranked Europe's 9th largest containership port by annual traffic.

The Port's area (sized 10 km2 / 4 mi2) is divided into 3 zones - Port Vell, Commercial Port, and Barcelona Free Port ("Zona Franca de Barcelona", industrial/logistics port).

There is an ongoing enlargement project that will double the port's size by diverting the Llobregat river to the south.

• UN-LOCODE (United Nations location code) - ESBCN
• supported by excellent road, rail, and air infrastructure
• deep harbor water and berths (draft 11,5 m / 38 ft)
• sheltered harbor area
• access unrestricted by tides
• capability to accommodate 9 cruise vessels at a time

Each of the Port's international cruise ship terminals has air conditioning, public phones, lifts and escalators, currency exchange kiosks, duty-free shops, gift/souvenir shops, cafe-restaurant, taxi rank, bus shuttle to downtown.

The cruise port is accessible the whole year round - 24/7, 365 days a tear.

The best vantage points to observe the cruise port's traffic are the cable car (connecting La Barceloneta neighborhood, Ciutat Vella district), the Ferry Station and the Montjuic Castle.

Cruise ships usually arrive in Barcelona in the early morning (4, 5, 6, 7, 9 am) and in the early afternoon (at 1, 2, 2:30 pm) and depart from Barcelona in the late afternoon or in the evening (at 5, 6, 7, 8:30, 10 pm).

Port Barcelona's cruise operations contribute to the city's economy (as revenues) around EUR 796 million (USD 900M) annually. The cruise port adds EUR 413 million (USD 467M) annually to Catalonia's GDP (gross domestic product). This industry also supports 6760 local jobs and generates EUR 152 million (USD 172M) in government taxes. Each cruise vessel in Barcelona generates on average EUR 1 million (USD 1,13M) in sales, contributes EUR 0,5 million (USD 565,417) to Catalonia's GDP, and generates EUR 0,2 million (USD 226,131) in Gov taxes.

In 2014, at its 6 existing cruise terminals, the seaport handled 764 ship calls and over 2,36 million passengers, with an economic impact of EUR 257 million (spent on restaurants, bars, visiting museums, churches, also on transportation and city shopping). On February 5, 2014, Royal Caribbean announced that for the summer 2015 season the Allure of the Seas ship will be based in Europe and homeported in Barcelona. Starting May 24, the Allure's program had 25 voyages with a repeating 7-night round-trip itinerary visiting the ports of Palma de Mallorca , Marseille , La Spezia, Civitavecchia-Rome, Naples. Right after the RCI's announcement, the Barcelona Port announced its estimation for the Allure's additional 158000 passengers and expected spending of around EUR 17,5 million in the city.

On July 23, 2015, Carnival Corporation announced its agreement with Barcelona Port Authority to invest over EUR 46 million in building a second (private) cruise terminal at Moll Adossat (read more in the "Terminal" section). The facility was opened on May 5, 2018. On September 13, 2015, the cruise port had its day record for cruise tourists, handling a total of 26,770 passengers on 4 cruise ships visiting the port in a single day. These were the vessels Norwegian Epic , Nieuw Amsterdam , Vision OTS and Allure OTS .

Port's cruise passenger growth in the period 2010-2015 was as follows: 2010 (2,350264 million, growth of 9,06%), 2011 (2,658691 million, growth of 13,06%), 2012 (2,408618 million, -9,4%), 2013 (2,599363 million, growth of 7,9%), 2014 (2,364292, -9%), 2015 (2,540302 million, growth of 7,4%).

The Port ended 2015 with more turnaround passengers (embarking in Barcelona) reporting 3,7+ million (a 7% increase). The number included regular ferry passengers (~1,1 million) and cruise ship passengers (~2,54 million). The biggest increase in passengers concerned those leaving on ships using Barcelona as a turnaround port (where the itinerary begins and ends). In 2015, the cruise port posted its highest-ever number of handled passengers (2,5+ million). In terms of home-ported ships, Barcelona was ranked Europe's second - following Port Venice .

In November 2016, Port Barcelona presented its "Air Quality Improvement Plan" - an initiative aiming to reduce bad emissions from port activities. The document involved 25 actions rolled out in 53 operations. Among the most representative actions are promoting the LNG fuel (liquefied natural gas) as an alternative for both marine vessels and road freighters. The policy offers discounts for cleaner ships and replacing the Port's service fleet with electric vehicles. According to statistics, port activities produce 7,6% of the city's average NOx concentrations annually and 1,5% of the fine particulates. Promoting LNG-powered ships , terminal machinery and trucks is one of the plan's highlights. LNG fuel cuts NOx emissions by 80% and eliminates soot, particles and SOx emissions. The environmental discounts are on port fees. Currently, the law allows a max 5% port fee discount for environmental reasons.

For season 2019, the cruise port had scheduled a total of 830 ship calls with estimated 3,2 million tourists.

In May 2021, MSC Cruises signed a deal for building an exclusive (for MSC ships only) terminal in Port Barcelona. The facility will be operated under a 31-year concession, includes an MSC investment of ~EUR 33 million (~USD 40,2M) and is planned for completion and inauguration in 2024.

In June 2022 the Port announced that starting in 2023, all visiting cruise ship tourists will pay an additional EUR 3 (12+ hours stay) and EUR 1 (fewer than 12 hours stay). The new port fees are added to the existing EUR 1,75 per person and are usually included in the cruise fares listed upon booking. For comparison, since 2019, Port Marghera-Venice charges EUR 10 port fee.

In 2024, Carnival Corporation installed a total of 1350 solar panels at two of its Barcelona cruise terminals in Barcelona - Palacruceros (Terminal D) and Helix Cruise Center (Terminal E). Both installations have combined capacity to generate over 100% of the energy required for daily operations. The solars produce 866,000+ kWh annually, with the surplus power (estimated at 32% for Terminal E/Helix) fed back into the city power grid, contributing an additional 245,000 kWh annually.

Port Barcelona statistics

FY2018 (fiscal) was a record year with significant growth in various sectors. Port's main trade is with China. Around 25% of all TEUs (containers shipped on large box ships ) passing through the port start or end in China. In 2018 also increased the shipping trade with Algeria (+45%), USA (+18%), India (+4,4%), Mexico (+12,6%), Vietnam (+27,5%), Thailand (+18,7%), Egypt (+14%). "Motorways of the Sea" (Mediterranean routes connecting to Italy and North Africa) goods shipping volumes increased 7%.

These Mediterranean lines connect Barcelona to the ports Civitavecchia-Rome , Genoa (Milan) , Savona , Livorno-Florence , Porto Torres (Sardinia Island) , Tangier (Morocco) , Algiers (Algeria) and La Goulette-Tunis .

• Liquid bulk (mainly hydrocarbons) grew 5,2% (to 15,2 million tons), LNG +3%, gasoline +12,6%, Biofuels +34,8%. Dry bulk cargo decreased 4,7%. Vehicle shipping decreased 3% (to 810,218 units). The port handled a total of 262,379 TEUs (+7,7%). Port's rail traffic increased 13,3%. Car transport by rail increased 11% (to 263,900 units).
• In 2018, the port handled total 4,4 million passengers (8,6% increase), including 1,4 million ferry (+2%) and 3 million cruise (+12%). Turnaround passengers grew 16%. Day-passengers grew 8%. Low-season cruisers increased 17% and were ~44% of all cruise passengers.

For 2018, Port Barcelona reported 4% increase in net turnover - EUR 173,5 million (USD 198 million), 8% increase in profit - EUR 53,7 million (USD 61,3 million) and 4% increase in cash flow - EUR 102,5 million (USD 117 million).

APM Terminals (global container terminal operator) operates under the concession port's container terminal. In 2019, APM Terminals Barcelona invested ~EUR 47 million in equipment (29x new straddle carriers/trucks, 2x new Super PostPanamax gantry cranes, 1x Reefer Rack with refrigerated container plugs) to improve terminal's efficiency and productivity. Also in 2019 APM increased terminal's reefer (refrigerated TEU-container) capacity by 31% (to a total of 632 reefer connections) and launched online real-time TEU tracking (on its website).

Cruise itineraries to and from Barcelona Spain

Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Barcelona:

• Mediterranean itineraries on cruises out of Barcelona port visit the largest ports of Italy, France, Greece, and Turkey. Feature destinations are also the French Riviera and the Italian Riviera (coastal regions with top-luxury resorts).
• The most commonly operated are 7-day round-trips. One-way itineraries from Barcelona end up in Civitavecchia-Rome , Genoa , Piraeus-Athens , Venice , Istanbul .
• Most of the Canary Islands itineraries leaving roundtrip from Barcelona also visit North Africa (Morocco) and Funchal (Madeira Island) often combined with other ports in Spain and Portugal.
• Short-break (Mini Cruises) from Barcelona to Genoa are 2-nights / 3-days long. They are operated by MSC Cruises ships and visit Marseille France .
• Among the most visited Mediterranean island ports are Mallorca, Sicily, Corsica, Malta, Sardinia.
• World Cruises from Barcelona are offered mainly by Costa Cruises ships. The itineraries are usually eastbound (via Suez Canal ) and visit ports in Southeast Asia, South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), South America.

Ship relocation voyages (RepositionCruises.com) are one-way itineraries from Barcelona to the largest ports of the UK, Holland, Denmark, as well as to the Canary Islands. Eastbound routes (transiting the Suez Canal) may end up in ports in Asia ( Dubai , Singapore , Hong Kong ) and even in Australia ( Sydney NSW ) on longer "around the world" itinerary segments.

Westbound Transatlantic crossings (on ship relocations out of Barcelona) are offered in the Fall (starting in late September - early October through the end of November). Among the special destinations that may be visited is Bermuda. The disembarkation could be in NYC New York, in some of the large Florida ports, also in Bridgetown (Barbados) , Fort de France (Martinique) , even in Havana (Cuba) . The longest Transatlantic cruises out of Barcelona are on Costa ships repositioning from Europe to South America. They offer disembarkation in either Brazil ( Rio De Janeiro , Santos-Sao Paulo ) or Argentina ( Buenos Aires ).

Barcelona cruise terminal

Port Barcelona has a total of 8 cruise ship terminals, 4 ferry terminals, and 2 large yacht marinas. There are restaurants and cafes at most of the terminals.

(NEW) Catalonia Cruise Terminal G (Royal Caribbean)

In January 2024,  RCG/Royal Caribbean Group became the solitary contender/only bidder for Barcelona Port's newest Cruise Terminal G. The bid was placed by the consortium "Catalonia Cruise Terminal G" including RCG and CTI/Cruise Terminals International Ltd (2022-founded, London England UK-based company that owns, develops and manages cruise port infrastructure).

The approval for Terminal G was granted in April 2024.

RCG will co-fund the project (total budget EUR 85 million/USD 92M), start the construction works, and also will be the managing company of Terminal G, scheduled for completion/inauguration in 2027-Q1.

The modern facility encompasses an area of 54000 m2 (581250 ft2) including a dock/quay with length 450 m (1476 ft), which allows berthing for the world's most colossal cruise vessels .

Initially, three companies - NCL/Norwegian ,  Viking OCEAN  and  Virgin Voyages - planned to participate in the bidding process. However, as the process resumed, Royal Caribbean remained the sole bidder.

One of the tender's stipulations was that the partner/participating entity could not hold a controlling interest in Terminal G.

Until 2024, through its subsidiary Creuers del Port de Barcelona, RCG held a 38% stake in Barcelona Port Investment - the entity that manages Barcelona's cruise terminals A, B, and C (at Adossat Dock), along with World Trade Center's two terminals. The remaining 62% were owned by the Turkish company Global Ports Holding/GPH. Since 2023, GPH is the sole proprietor of Creuers del Port de Barcelona's shares as RCG opted to divest its stake (38%) to ensure compliance with the Terminal G tender's conditions.

(NEW) MSC Cruise Terminal

In May 2021, MSC was approved to build an exclusive (for MSC Cruises ships only) terminal.

The facility will be operated under a 31-year concession (2024 through 2055), sized 11670 m2 (125620 ft2) and designed by Ricardo Bofill.

The new MSC Cruise Terminal project is budgeted ~EUR 33 million (~USD 40,2M).

Construction works started in June 2021, with planned completion and inauguration in 2024.

Port Vell/Maremagnum cruise terminal "M" (Old Port Barcelona)

The Port Vell port complex includes a fishing port, 2 yacht marinas, 1 cruise ship terminal, ferry terminal. Terminal M ("Maremagnum", near the World Trade Center) is for both ferry and cruise vessels. It has 3 small piers - named "South Pier" (S), "North Pier" (N) and "East Pier" (E). All terminals are designed to serve smaller ships. Their location is near the World Trade Center (which has a dedicated cruise parking area) and the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel.

The Maremagnum terminal (aka "Port Vell terminal") is the port's smallest and the most central as location. The terminal is a short walking distance from the old city. The walking distance from here to La Ramblas street is some 10 min. There is a tour bus stopping at Portal de la Pau (at the harbor's end of Las Ramblas).

The Port Vell area has the Maremagnum (shopping mall, nightlife complex), the IMAX Port Vell (cinema complex) and the famous Aquarium Barcelona (with over 8000 fishes and 11 sharks kept in 22 seawater basins).

(Carnival Corporation) Terminal D/Palacruceros/Moll Adossat Pier

At Adossat Pier are located 4 terminals - at berth A, berth B, berth C, berth D (Palacruceros). They have the biggest distance from downtown. Here berth most (including the largest) cruise ships. This dock handles over 85% of the visiting ships. There is a blue bus shuttle between the Port and the city center (Las Ramblas).

Moll Adossat Barcelona (or Muelle Adosado in Spanish) is the port's biggest wharf and also the newest cruise terminal. At this long quay can be berthed 4 large vessels simultaneously.

In October 2013 was announced a plan for the expansion of Terminal D and the building of a new Terminal E serving ships with capacity 4500+ passengers.

(NEW/Carnival Corporation) Terminal E/Helix Cruise Center/Barcelona Adossat

At the end of April 2017, the world's largest cruise shipping company Carnival Corporation released renderings of its new cruise terminal at Barcelona Adossat. The facility was named "Helix Cruise Center" and inaugurated on May 5, 2018, as Europe's newest passenger terminal.

• The new terminal (cost EUR 46 million / USD 55 million) is designed to handle Carnival's largest ships, among which are the new class LNG-powered vessels .
• The facility is designed by Batlle I Roig Arquitectura, sized 12,500 m2 (134,550 ft2). Paired with an existing facility, it represents Europe's largest (combined) passenger terminal.
• Building's design company is "Battle I Roig". The plans show a modern architectural style featuring straight lines, minimalistic concepts, a contemporary and comfortable environment.
• Construction works officially started in July 2016 and were completed in May 2018.

The new terminal is located at Adossat Wharf. Currently, this berthing is used by 8 of Carnival's all 10 brand companies. The terminal is used as both destination (call port) and homeport (for Barcelona turnaround operations). Carnival expects to handle here 1+ million passengers annually after the opening of the new (2nd) terminal.

This terminal has its own pier-side parking facility (max capacity 300 vehicles) dedicated to embarking passengers.

The new terminal is exclusively used by Carnival Corporation ships (only) as the company was granted with exclusive concession rights to operate the facilities. In addition to the new cruise terminal in Barcelona, Carnival Corporation also operates exclusive terminals at ports Puerta Maya (Cozumel Mexico) , Grand Turk Island , Mahogany Bay (Roatan Island, Honduras) , Amber Cove-Puerta Plata (Dominicana) , Long Beach (California USA) , plus 2 private Caribbean islands (in the Bahamas) - Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays .

World Trade Center

The World Trade Center has two terminals – pier South and pier North. Those terminals provide easy Las Ramblas tours. There is an overflow area at the East berth.

San Bertran cruise terminal

The port's Sant Bertran wharf is a terminal for the ferry and small-sized cruise vessels. It is used for docking of smaller cruise ships only during peak season.

The building's interior size is 2200 m2 (23680 ft2). The wharf's width is only 12 m (40 ft). The berth's length is 255 m (837 ft) allowing max ship length of 220 m (720 ft) and a max draft of 11 m (36 ft).

The distance from San Bertran to the city is 400 m (1310 ft).

Port Barcelona Ferry Terminals

The port has 3 terminals dedicated to ferry shipping traffic:

• Terminal Drassanes is operated by Balearia .
• Terminal Ferry de Barcelona is operated by Trasmediterranea .
• Grimaldi Terminal Barcelona is operated by GNV-Grandi Navi Veloci .

Each of the ferry terminals has a ticket office, air conditioning, public phones, cafe-restaurant, taxi rank, and provides short-term parking for check-in passengers (before embarkation).

Long-term parking is not permitted (only drop-off areas).

Long-term parking is available at the World Trade Center (phone number 0034 93 508 80 62), at Valet Parking Cruceros (phone number 0034 93 511 37 44) and at Parking Viajeros (phone number 0034 618 70 79 70).

The port's ferry terminals are with convenient underground (metro) and bus connections.

Barcelona tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

• Picasso museum: the best artworks of Picasso.
• Montjuic: see all the city, its countryside and the ocean from a vantage point. There is a good view of the two industrial Barcelona port terminal.
• La Sagrada Familia: Gaudi designed that iconic church in 1883. The building has big doors that show charity, hope, and faith. The towers and the frontage are designed with mosaic work.
• La Rambla: breathtaking promenade which connects the old Barcelona’s heart with Port to Placa de Catalunya. The famous street offers shops, cafes, lively food markets, street performers and here is situated the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the opera theater of Barcelona.
• Palau Guell: a 19th-century palace designed by the famous Antoni Gaudi
• Barri Gotic: enjoy the old-world experience in the narrow pavement streets with shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars. Here you will find the Picasso museum and the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia.
• La Pedrera: the last work of Antoni Gaudi before Sagrada Familia was made for Pere Mila Camps, a property developer.
• Barceloneta: situated across Port Vell, an ex-fishing port. Enjoy a clean and sunny beach surrounded by houses in a bright colour. The gamblers can spend some time at the Gran Casino de Barcelona.

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19.09.2024 20.09.2024 - 22.09.2024 20.09.2024 - 24.09.2024 20.09.2024 - 24.09.2024 Map Barcelona port with cruise ship terminals on Moll Adossat pier and shuttle bus Guide with Map to Barcelona's Cruise Ship terminals and port including an overview of the cruise ship dock, which has . You might also be interested in our guide to . All big cruise ships dock at terminals on the pier called There are currently near Moll Adossat wharf and terminals Cruise lines that dock on Moll Adossat include: among others... ........... Article continues under ad: PROMO for Barcelonayellow.com visitors: .......... Barcelona's cruise ship terminals to downtown city center and how to get to wharf dock. Barcelona is the world’s fourth largest cruise ship port surpassed only by three bigger cruise ports in Florida USA. The Cruise Port of Barcelona is one of Europe's three largest. Cruise ships sail from Barcelona for many Mediterranean destinations as well as cities located in the UK and along Europe's Atlantic coast. Numerous large cruise ships arrive at Barcelona's port, utilizing one of the cruise ship terminals located on within the Barcelona port vicinity. The Barcelona port area is quite close to the city center and also to the and . Barcelona airport is about 20 km/12 miles from Barcelona cruise ship port Moll Adossat. There is no direct bus connection or shuttle service. Cruise guests should take a taxi or private transfer. Ask about the fixed price for rides from cruise ships to the airport. Barcelona cruise port is 5 km / 3 miles from the city center of Barcelona and 2 km / 1 mile from the old medieval are of Barcelona. All Barcelona's cruise ship terminals are very close to Barcelona's city center. Most cruise ships dock on the biggest pier called Moll D'Adossat pier where there are 5 cruise terminals called On this page you can find a map of locations of Barcelona cruise ship docks and terminals - and how to get to and from the downtown Barcelona city centre to the cruise ship terminals. You can also find information about getting from the cruise ships to Barcelona airport and information about luggage services and at Barcelona cruise ship port for cruise ship passengers. Walking from the cruise ships is not really a good option for passengers with several items of luggage. From the Moll Adossat cruise ship terminals (A, B, C, D, E) in Barcelona port, it is about a walk to the edge of the Cuitat Vella (Barcelona’s old city)  . There is a slight uphill walk to cross a harbour bridge (see photo below) In total it is a   walk to the downtown center of Barcelona, which is .  : photo of walking route. There's a slight uphill walk to cross the bridge from Moll Adossat. Most cruise ship passengers choose to take a taxi from Moll Adossat terminals to the Barcelona city centre. Taxis in Barcelona are reliable and taxi fares are charged using taxi-meters, so you will not be cheated. (previously called Portbús) The T3 Cruisebus is a cruise port shuttle bus service that goes from the cruise ship terminals on Moll Adossat (A, B, C & D) to the Portal de la Pau plaza, which is by the harbour end of the walking street 'La Rambla' where the Christopher Columbus monument is. Expect some lines and delays, both for taxis and the port bus in peak periods. Book a private transfer from your hotel to your cruise ships. Links below    passenger information  The  is located 20 km / 12.4 miles south of the Barcelona harbour. The driving time is 20-30 minute drive from any of the Barcelona cruise ship terminals to the airport - depending on traffic conditions. There are public transport options available to get to the airport, but the easiest option is to take a taxi cab or pre-book an airport transfer taxi.  There is a   flat rate - called   - for a Barcelona taxi    on   in Port of Barcelona. The T4 cruise ship flat rate fixed price is   and includes   surcharges/supplements. This is called the "   " on the taxi price list. There are no direct links from airport to cruise ships by train or bus shuttle.  Please note that the name Moll Adossat name does not appear on Google maps, but the road on the Moll Adossat wharf is called "Passeig Escullera" and that road is on Google Maps, so use that road name Passeig Escullera, if you want to find directions to and from the cruise ship terminals A, B, C, D & E on Moll Adossat in Barcelona harbour. to Barcelona airport  at this location, but it closed at the end of 2023. Dock  is due to close at the end of 2026. Then from 2027 onwards  ships of will dock on the Moll Adossat. Berth S Sud is located on the pier, by Barcelona's  and the hotel. The Grand Marina hotel is convenient for cruise ships docked on terminal S. From terminal S, it is a short to Barcelona’s old gothic area and the famous pedestrian street  .  All the hop-on/hop-off Barcelona tour bus have bus stops at Plaza Portal de la Pau, which is at the harbour end of walking street and the column.  Barcelona Cruise terminal M (Maremagnum). is now . This cruise ship terminal was also called the "Port Vell terminal" and was the smallest of all Barcelona cruise ship docks and the most central. This terminal was next to . From terminal S Sud it is a short walk to Barcelona's old city centre, where you can catch , or the Barcelona . Cruise ship terminals in Barcelona are all within 30 minutes from most hotel locations in the center of Barcelona. Many Barcelona cruise ship passengers prefer to stay in hotels near the Barcelona cruise ship port area and close to the medieval city center of Barcelona. On the map below you can see a selection of the best reviewed hotels in Barcelona in the medium to expensive price range that are within a 15-20 minute radius by taxi cab from the cruise ship terminals in Barcelona. Red tags are six Barcelona cruise ship terminals, A, B, C, D, E, and S Blue H1-H5 tags are 1 to 5 star hotels. Click for hotel information and to book The hotel searches below are for hotels near to metro stations near cruise ships in Barcelona. There are added commission and booking is secure. Registered black/yellow Barcelona taxi have a fixed flat rate price of  - called   - which includes luggage and   surcharges/supplements for the taxi ride from Barcelona Airport Cruise ships terminals on Moll Adossat. Check with your taxi first before leaving that this price will be charged.  This is called the "   " and is displayed on the   displayed in all taxis, usually on a back side window. Remember to   if you can pay using a credit card - usually it is possible, but not always. Book  . Read more about   dock Barcelona This page sponsored by © Copyright Barcelonayellow.com. Do not copy from this page without permission All rights reserved Last Updated on Saturday, 08 June 2024 12:23

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Popular categories, barcelona cruise port: this is what you need to know.

By: Charlotte · Last updated 26. July 2024 · In: Spain , Travel

Are you docking at Barcelona Cruise Port?

Or maybe your cruise departs from Barcelona? Then you’re in for a treat!

Spain has many port cities such as Cartagena and Malaga, but Barcelona cruise port is among the busiest and most popular in Europe. And it’s easy to see why! The port can accommodate some of the largest cruise ships in the world, and it offers a wide range of services and amenities to passengers.

Located just a few miles from the city center, Barcelona cruise port offers easy access to this exciting city’s sights and attractions. So let’s take a look at how to get around from Barcelona cruise port, the best shore excursions and the top things to do close by.

Everything you need to know about Barcelona Cruise Port in one place!

Article overview

Where does the cruise ship dock in Barcelona?

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In the Barcelona Cruise Port map below you can see how close it is to the city center.

Barcelona Cruise Port, or Port de Barcelona in Spanish, is located on the edge of Ciutat Vella, or Barcelona’s old city center. The port has nine terminals, with Terminals A, B, C and D, based at the Adossat Quay, being the most commonly used for cruise ships.

The other terminals are the World Trade Center Dock (North, South and East) and Maremagnum Dock (M) mostly used by smaller Mediterranean cruise ships.

The exact terminal where your ship will dock depends on the size of your ship and the schedule. You can confirm the terminal location with your cruise line or travel agent.

Barcelona Cruise Port is conveniently located within walking distance of many of the city’s top attractions. The distance from the port to the city center varies depending on which terminal your ship is docked at.

Moll Adossat is located around 30-40 minutes away on foot from the beginning of La Rambla. While the other terminals are about 10-15 minutes away.

Yes, Barcelona is a walkable city from the cruise port. The city center is easily accessible on foot from all of the terminals if you are in shape.

However, depending on the weather, if you are limited on time or whether you carry luggage or not, it can be better to take advantage of the port bus or private transfer.

Let’s take a closer look at all your options.

Most Popular Shore Excursions

Make the most of your time in Barcelona by booking a shore excursion departing from the cruise port. Whether you are interested in visiting famous landmarks, sampling delicious food and wine, or simply soaking up the local atmosphere, there are plenty of options available to suit every taste and budget. 

This private tour is perfect for first-time visitors to Barcelona who want to see the city’s most iconic sights within a limited time.

You can customize your own itinerary or do the suggested one including the famous Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter, Parc Guell, Casa Batllo and the lively La Rambla street.

Your English-speaking driver will pick you up at the cruise port, or anywhere you’d like. The tour is perfect for a group, as the price is for up to 8 people.

🎫 Check price and availability here >> Barcelona Half-Day Sightseeing Tour

Explore Barcelona through three unique perspectives: land, sea, and air, on this super fun guided tour .

Start with a walking tour through Passeig de Gràcia where you will see some of the most emblematic buildings of Gaudí, architect of the world-famous Sagrada Familia that have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, such as Casa Batlló and La Pedrera up to plaça Catalunya and Gothic Quarter.

Then enjoy breathtaking views of the city from above during your helicopter flight and take a boat to enjoy the beautiful skyline, accompanied by your guide. Such a unique and fun tour, and quite affordable for everything that’s included.

You have to make your way to the meeting point at Passatge de la Concepció 8, but the tour ends right back at the Cruise Bus stop, close to the Colombus Monument.

🎫 Check price and availability >> Barcelona Walking, Helicopter & Sailing Tour

Calling my fellow foodies! No trip to Barcelona is complete without trying the city’s delicious tapas and wine. This popular tour takes you to some of the best tapas bars in the city, where you’ll sample a variety of traditional Spanish dishes.

Enjoy typical Spanish vermouth and tapas in a truly authentic wine cellar in the Gothic Quarter. Eat and drink vibrant Spanish flavors in the same bar where Picasso, Lorca, and Dali wrote, painted and argued. Explore the squares, parks, alleyways, and beaches from a local’s perspective. So much fun!

You have to make your way to the meeting point at Plaça de Sant Agustí Vell, 16.

🎫 Check price and availability >> Barcelona Electric Bike Tour Tapas and Wine

Transportation from the cruise port

As a major port city, Barcelona offers several transportation options to and from the cruise port. Here are the best transportation options:

If I haven’t booked a shore excursion, I love having a private driver pick me up right at the cruise port for a hassle-free transfer and to make the most of my limited time.

Not only will the driver help you with your luggage so you can jump right into the airconditioned car, but he will also know exactly where to take you and give you some advice for visiting the city.

Luxury for a very affordable price.

🌟 Check price and availability >> Barcelona Cruise Port Transfer to City Centre

Is it easy to get a taxi from Barcelona cruise port?

All the terminals at Barcelona cruise port have taxi stands, but there are often long lines to catch one. And remember that there will be a surcharge for pier pick-up or drop-off. The last time I was there it came out to about about 10€.

The most affordable way to get to the Barcelona Cruise Port is by using public transportation. The city’s metro system is an affordable and efficient way to get around. You can take the metro from the Drassanes station on the green line, which is located near the port.

To get to the metro station you can take the Cruise Bus service (known as the T3 Port Bus and Blue Bus) offered by the port authority. The buses don’t follow a set timetable, departures are coordinated with the arrival and departure of the cruise ships.

The shuttle bus runs in circles from the port to the Colombus Statue in front of the World Trade Centre and costs €3 per person and €4.5 for a return ticket. From there, you have to walk about 7 minutes to reach the metro station and the beginning of La Rambla.

To continue on by bus you can catch the D20 to the beaches around Barceloneta, or the V13 that will take you to Plaça Universidad, from where you can walk to Plaça Catalunya in about 5 minutes.

The tickets for the Cruise Bus can be purchased with cash (coins or small notes) on the bus itself or online .

Barcelona public transport still operates on paper tickets valid for metro, bus, tram and train, which you can buy from vending machines at most stops.

If there are two or more of you travelling together, you can save money by purchasing a T-familiar travel card for €10 allowing 8 journeys over 30 days to be made by metro or bus in Barcelona.

Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus

Visit Barcelona at your own pace aboard a red double-decker bus , with two different routes available. Hop on and hop off as many times as you wish through the day with a single ticket.

🎫 Check price and availability here >> Barcelona 24 or 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

Uber is not currently available in Barcelona, but the city has several other ride-hailing services, such as Cabify and Free Now. These services are similar to Uber and offer a convenient way to get around using the city’s regulated taxis.

Barcelona Airport To Cruise Port

For those of you who are starting your cruise in Barcelona, you’ll have a few options to get from El Prat Airport to Barcelona cruise port or vice versa. The total distance is 17 km and should take around 25 minutes by car.

You can book a shuttle from Barcelona airport to the cruise port with Moventis Experience. There are no set times or vehicles, it all depends on when you arrive and how many passengers have booked the shuttle.

Landing Terminal 1:

If you’re landing at   Terminal 1, after collecting your luggage you should make your way to the Tourism Office   located on the right side of the arrival point. Someone from the Moventis crew will wait for you to finish the check-in process. Loom for someone in a bright orange uniform.

Landing Terminal 2:

If you land at Terminal 2, go to the Tourism Office   and you will find a From2 agent waiting for you, who will provide you with the necessary information to reach your destination.

The fastest way to get to the Barcelona cruise port by public transport is the super-convenient Aerobus , which departs every 5 minutes from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. A one-way ticket costs only €6.75 and you’ll have WiFi onboard if you need to do some last-minute research.

The bus takes you to Plaça Catalunya where you can take the metro two stops to Drassanes or you can hail a taxi and get to the port for about €10.

If you prefer not to wait for a shuttle or bus you have the option of going by taxi or private driver.

🚘 Click here to book a private transfer from the airport to Barcelona cruise port.

🏨 Click here to book a private transfer from the airport to your Barcelona hotel.

✈️ Click here to book a private transfer from Barcelona cruise port to the airport.

How much is a taxi from Barcelona airport to cruise port?

The fixed price to get from the airport to Barcelona cruise port is €39. There is no need to book in advance since there are always plenty of licensed cabs waiting at the taxi ranks at both airport terminals.

Nearby attractions

As one of the busiest cities in Europe, it’s important to book all your Barcelona tickets in advance. Some attractions have even stopped selling tickets on the ground, and require to be pre-booked.

If you visit during the warmer months and are limited on time, get skip-the-line tickets or you will spend most of your time waiting in line.

Barcelona City Center is easy to visit from Barcelona Cruise Port . As mentioned above, it is located just a few miles away from the port and offers a wide range of things to do. So whether you have 24 hours in Barcelona or just a few, these are the attractions you must see:

La Rambla 

La Rambla is a lively pedestrian street that stretches for 1.2 kilometers, from Plaça de Catalunya to the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell. It is lined with trees, flower stalls, street performers, and outdoor cafes, making it a vibrant and exciting place to explore.

Along La Rambla, you will find many interesting sights and attractions. One of the most popular is the Boqueria Market, a colorful and bustling market that sells fresh produce, seafood, meats, and other local delicacies. It is a great place to sample some of the city’s famous cuisine and immerse yourself in the local culture.

🥘 If you’re a lover of Spanish food (who isn’t, right), I highly recommend this paella class overlooking Las Rambla & Boqueria Market. You will shop for fresh produce at the market and also learn how to make Spanish tortillas, gazpacho and tomato bread.

Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is a stunning basilica located in the Eixample district of Barcelona. It was designed by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi and is known for its unique and intricate design.

Despite being under construction for over 100 years, the Sagrada Familia remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Barcelona, drawing millions of visitors each year. It’s a must on any Spain bucket list .

As the most famous landmark in Barcelona, Sagrada Familia draws quite a crowd. So I highly recommend you book your tickets in advance.

You can visit the Sagrada Familia with an expert guide, skip-the-ticket-line access and choose between a small-group or private experience.

🌟 Check price and availability here >> Sagrada Familia fast-track access tour

Gothic Quarter

The Gothic Quarter is one of the most historic and charming neighborhoods in Barcelona. It is located in the heart of the city’s old town and is known for its many charming streets and alleys, such as the Carrer del Bisbe, a narrow street that is famous for its beautiful archway, and the Plaça Sant Jaume, a historic square that is home to the City Hall and the Palace of the Generalitat.

One of the most famous landmarks is the Barcelona Cathedral, a stunning Gothic cathedral that dates back to the 13th century. The cathedral is known for its beautiful stained glass windows, intricate carvings, and impressive bell tower.

Another popular attraction in the Gothic Quarter is the Plaça del Rei, a beautiful square that was once the site of the royal palace of the Catalan kings. Going for a stroll through the Gothic Quarter is one of the best things to do in Barcelona at night .

Parc Guell is a beautiful park located in the Gracia district of Barcelona and is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. The park was designed by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi and is known for its stunning architecture, colorful mosaics, and beautiful views of the city.

One of the most famous landmarks in Parc Guell is the Dragon Stairway, a colorful staircase that leads up to the park’s main terrace. The staircase is decorated with a mosaic of colorful tiles and is guarded by a large dragon statue, which has become one of the most iconic symbols of the park.

🌟 Remember that all the Barcelona highlights I mentioned above are included in this Private Barcelona Highlights Shore Excursion .

Sagrat Cor Church

If you have the time I highly recommend you also see Sagrat Cor Church, a stunning basilica located on the top of Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona. It was designed by the Spanish architect Enric Sagnier and was completed in 1961.

The church is known for its beautiful Neo-Gothic style architecture and its impressive location, which offers stunning views of the city and the surrounding mountains.

One of the biggest draws of Barcelona is its stunning beaches. The city has several beaches that are easily accessible from the cruise port, including:

• Barceloneta Beach:  The most popular beach in the city, Barceloneta is known for its lively atmosphere and wide range of activities.
• Nova Icaria Beach:  A quieter beach that is popular with families and offers a variety of water sports.
• Bogatell Beach:  A long, wide beach that is popular with locals and offers plenty of space to relax and soak up the sun.

Barcelona is home to a wealth of museums and art galleries, many of which are located in or near the city center. Some of the top museums and galleries to visit include:

• Picasso Museum:  A museum dedicated to the life and work of Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
• Museum of Contemporary Art:  A museum that showcases contemporary art from around the world.
• National Art Museum of Catalonia:  A museum that houses a collection of Romanesque art and Catalan modernism.

So as you can see, there is no shortage of things to see and do near the Barcelona cruise port. Whether you’re interested in history, art, or simply soaking up the sun on the beach, there is something for everyone in this vibrant city.

The only hotel at the Barcelona cruise port is the  Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel GL in the World Trade Center, a very good 5-star hotel.

The hotel offers 291 spacious and stylish rooms and suites, all of which are equipped with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Many of the rooms also offer stunning views of the port and the city skyline.

One of the highlights of the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel GL is its rooftop terrace, which offers breathtaking views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. The terrace is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a busy day of sightseeing and features a swimming pool, a bar, and plenty of comfortable loungers and seating areas.

The hotel also offers a range of other amenities and services, including a fitness center, a sauna, a restaurant, and a bar. The hotel’s restaurant, the Aire de Mar, serves delicious Mediterranean cuisine in a stylish and elegant setting.

🌟 Book your stay at Barcelona cruise port >> Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel GL

Frequently Asked Questions

The distance between the main cruise terminals at Moll Adossat in Barcelona Cruise Port and Las Ramblas is approximately 2.5 kilometers, which is about a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute taxi ride.

The distance between the Barcelona Cruise Port and the nearest train station, Estació de França, is approximately 1.5 kilometers, which is about a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride. The main Barcelona Sants Train Station is 6 km away, about 20 minutes by car.

It takes approximately 30 minutes to travel from the Barcelona Cruise Port to the Barcelona-El Prat Airport by taxi or private transfer. Alternatively, you can take the Aerobus shuttle service, which takes about 40 minutes.

• Summer (June to August): The average temperature during this time is around 27°C (81°F), with highs averaging around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 22°C (72°F).
• Shoulder seasons (April to May and September to October): The average temperature during these seasons is around 20°C (68°F), with highs averaging around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F).
• Winter (November to February): The average temperature during this time is around 12°C (54°F), with highs averaging around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).

The nearest beach to the Barcelona Cruise Port is the famous Barceloneta Beach, which is located about 2 kilometers away. It is easily accessible by taxi or public transportation.

Several cruise lines operate from the Barcelona Cruise Port, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Celebrity Cruises.

Yes, €100 a day is enough to cover basic expenses in Barcelona, such as food, transportation, and one or two attractions. However, the amount you spend will depend on your travel style and the activities you choose to do. On average I have spent €150 per day in Barcelona.

Barcelona can be expensive, especially in tourist areas and during peak season. However, there are many budget-friendly options for food, accommodation, and activities. Eat street food and explore parks, architecture and viewpoints to keep your expenses down.

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FROM DATE TO DATE CRUISE LINE Choose All Search Cruise

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Barcelona Cruise Port - Creuers Terminals, is composed of 5 Terminals. North and South Terminals are located in the World Trade Center, while the other three; Terminal A, Terminal B and Terminal C are located on the "Adossat" dock, crossing the "Porta d'Europa" bridge.

Barcelona Cruise Port has obtained the "Safe travels" stamp, as safe infrastructures preventing COVID-19.

Granted by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the leading global association in the sector.

Barcelona Cruise Port certified with the "Responsible Tourism" distinctive, by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of Spain.

Barcelona Cruise Port is divided into different terminals. We analyze in detail the characteristics of some of the most important.

In all our terminals you can find information points (GIC - Guest Information Center) to answer queries in order to visit the city without missing a detail.

Barcelona Cruise Port

Creuers del Port de Barcelona

World Trade Center - Terminal Sud

Moll de Barcelona s/n

08039 Barcelona - Spain

Tourist Information Guide

Barcelona Essentials Pass: unlimited transport with city audio guide

Barcelona Cruise Port Terminals: Tourist Transport and Facilities At The Docks.

Page content.

This page answers most questions we receive from tourists regarding the Barcelona Cruise Port. These include transport options from the port to the city centre and the airport, car and coach parking, nearby accommodation, baggage storage, car hire, and the location of the terminals in relation to the city centre. We also have a detailed map of the cruise port area shown below.

Where Are The Cruise Terminals?

The cruise ports are at the foot of La Rambla (Barcelona's most famous Boulevard, also often referred to as Las Ramblas ) which runs through the heart of the city centre.

Cruise terminal names and locations

There are 9 terminals in total at the Barcelona port, 7 of these are cruise terminals. They can be roughly categorized into 3 main locations.

Terminals A, B, C and D and E are based at the Adossat Quay and are furthest away from the city centre. The Terminal D is also called Palacruceros.

World Trade Centre Terminals

There are 2 terminals at the World Trade Centre (WTC) pier which are called North, and South terminals.

Sant Bertrand Terminal, is also near to the WTC (refer to our cruise terminal map) This terminal is generally used for ferries between Barcelona and the Balearic Islands.

There is a stop for a hop on hop off tourist bus near the World Trade Centre. This could be a good option if you want to start exploring the city right away, because the World trade centre is right in the middle of the cruise terminals and within easy walking distance after you embark.

Maremagnum Port Vell

There is one small terminal at the Maremagnum Port Vell however this terminal is mainly used for large ships and not cruise liners.

Barcelona Cruise Terminals Map

Options for travelling to and from the cruise port to the city centre..

Private transfer service

You can book your private transfer online before your trip and print out a voucher which you bring with you. When you arrive the driver will be at your disembarking point holding a card with your name on it. From there you will be driven directly from the disembarking point to your destination. When cruise ships arrive there can be several thousand people also looking for transport to the city centre. With a private transfer you will bypass the queues and make your way to the hotel in the shortest possible time. The service is a little more expensive than the other forms of transport however if you don't have a lot of time in the city or you just want to have a stress-free arrival with someone to help you with your bags, then a private transfer may be worth considering.

The nearest cruise terminal to La Rambla is about a 15 minute walk away. However there are 7 cruise terminals and if you arrive at one which is furthest from La Rambla you would need to catch a shuttle bus called the Cruise Bus which will take you only as far as the World Trade Centre you would then have a walk of about 15 minutes form there to Las Ramblas.

It is not recommended to walk to the city centre if you are arriving at cruise terminals A, B, C, D or E (Adossat Quay) because you have a long walk (about 2 km) from the terminal to the Columbus Monument which is at the foot of La Rambla . If you have luggage you will not find this walk too comfortable in the midday heat. If you are arriving at the North, East or South cruise terminals (at the World Trade Centre) then it is possible for you to walk, although it is still a good 15 minutes to the foot of La Rambla .

Cruise Port Shuttle Bus Service Cruise Bus known locally as the "Blue Bus"

The Cruise Bus runs from all the cruise port terminals to the World Trade Centre and back. The bus is also adapted for easy access for the traveller with a disability with a wheelchair.

Cruise Bus Tickets

The tickets for the Cruise Bus can only be purchased with cash on the bus itself.

Once at the metro you will have a good transport connection to the rest of the city. We have written more information about the cruise port shuttle bus if you require more detailed information.

Cruise Bus Ticket Prices Single ticket: €3.00 Return ticket: €4.50

You cannot use the T-Casual transport ticket on this cruise bus service. There is no fixed timetable for the Blue Bus however the cruise terminal operators co-ordinate the running of the bus with the arrival and departures of the cruise ships.

Hop on hop off tourist bus has several stops near the cruise terminals.

Many tourists arriving on the cruises do not have much time to see the city and would like to go on a hop on hop off tourist bus to get a good overview of Barcelona's main attractions. This is probably the quickest and most convenient way to see the city - especially if your visit is short.

There are stops for both hop on hop off tourist buses near the cruise terminals which make it easy for a tourist to catch this bus service, these are at the World Trade Centre . You can purchase your tickets for the tourist bus online in advance of your trip. You then need to present the printed out voucher to the driver. We have written a detailed page on the hop on hop off tourist bus service and include details of exactly where the stop is in relation to the cruise port. Follow the link below to learn more.

The other option is to catch a taxi from the port to the city centre which is cheap and quick (normally less than 10 minutes).

Taxi fare: €20.00

How to travel to the cruise port docks from the Airport

Our page on the Barcelona airport transport explains the options for public transport to and from the Airport to the city centre. From there you would need to make your way to the ports by foot. None of the public transport methods take you directly to the ports from the airport so you would either need to make several changes using different transport systems or be prepared do some walking.

Bus transfer to Barcelona airport

If you want to travel by bus public transport this is what you need to know:

Take the Aerobus to Plaça de Catalunya, then catch the metro from Catalunya to Drassanes. From there walk to the World Trade Centre and then catch the Cruise Bus to your cruise terminal. As you can see it is not straight forward to use public transport to commute between the airport and cruise terminals.

Taxi to Barcelona airport from the cruise port

One option for travelling to and from the airport to the docks is to catch a taxi. Taxis are quick, available and cheap. The journey will take you about 25 minutes. There are no additional charges for your luggage. You also have 2 additional supplements. One for taking you from the airport and the other for alighting at the cruise terminal or vice versa. For the exact taxi rates and supplements we recommend you visit the Metropolitan Institute For Barcelona Taxis web site that list the up to date fares for Barcelona Taxis.

Taxi fare: €45.00

Private transfer to Barcelona Airport from the Cruise Port

Another option is to book online a private transfer from the Cruise Port to Barcelona Airport (or vice versa). The advantage with this is that you can reserve the service before your trip and you will not have queues to deal with. You also have a more personal service which can be reassuring if you are not familiar with the city.

Important note that some tourists have instructed taxi drivers to go to Terminal A" (or B or C etc) and the taxi driver has misunderstood and taken them to the airport terminal instead. Make sure you specifically say the Cruise Terminal otherwise you could end up at the airport instead!"

Cheap car parks near the cruise port

The terminals themselves offer short term car park facilities to give you enough time to load and unload.

If you want to park your car for more than a few hours, days or weeks there are car parks that are a short drive from the Cruise Port.

Follow the link below to learn more about the car parks that can meet your different parking needs when bringing your car on a cruise.

Baggage Storage

There are no locker storage facilities actually at the Cruise port itself however there is one close by. We recommend you follow the link below to learn about a luggage storage facility that is near to the cruise port.

Nearby Accommodation

The nearest hotel to the docks is the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel. which is at the World trade centre. This hotel offers magnificent views of the port area and is a good base for your trip to Barcelona.

Review of the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel

We have also created a page on hotels within walking distance of the cruise port.

The monument to Christopher Columbus (Colon) marks the foot of the Southern most end of the Ramblas. The Columbus monument is a useful landmark to find your bearings when walking toward La Rambla from your cruise ship. The walkway, which you can see in the centre of the picture, is Port Vell and behind us we have a walk way across the Marina to the Barcelona Aquarium. This picture was taken in October and the sun is still shinning!

Facilities for people with a disability at the Port

The port caters for the tourist with a disability including those with wheelchairs. The port has lifts at all major locations so travelling around with a wheelchair around the port area offers no obstacles. The Blue Bus (cruise shuttle bus service) is also adapted for the traveller with a disability with a wheelchair.

Ferries To The Balearic Islands

If you wish to arrange a trip by ferry across to the Balearic Islands Mallorca, Minorca or Ibiza, it's recommended that you visit the official websites of the 3 ferry operators that offer this service to gain timetable and pricing information. The operators are:

Acciona Trasmediterranea: Website: Trasmediterranea

Balearia Website: Balearia

Cruise port timetable, Cruise Arrival information

You can look up the timetable, arrival terminal and other information for your cruise ship by following the link below. If you want to find the cruise terminal where your cruise ship arrives, you should look up your ship and then follow the link to a detailed information page that will show your ship's arrival dates and times along with the cruise terminal will arrive at.

Barcelona cruise ship arrival information

Further Information

If you require more specific information regarding the cruise port and its terminals we recommend you contact the Cruise Port customer services department - SAC (Servicio Atencion de Cliente) or visit the Official website for the cruise port, details given below:

Email: [email protected] Tel: +34 93 306 8806

Official Website: Port de Barcelona official web site

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Independent Quest: Maps and Guides for Travelers ™

Barcelona (Spain) Cruise Port Guide: Review (2024)

Ultimate guide to Barcelona cruise port: where cruise ships dock, top things to do, beyond the top attractions, sightseeing, local tours, language, money matters, opening hours, safety, US travel advisory, and basics.

By: Editor-in-Chief Update: September 6, 2024

Cruise passengers visiting Barcelona for the day as a port of call need to plan the stay as there are so many enjoyable things to do in this spectacular city.

• Where cruise ships dock
• Top things to do

Beyond the top attractions

• Sightseeing and Tours
• Must-know: language, money matters and more

Safety, US travel advisory, and basics

Barcelona has a unique charm that all visitors rave about. Among top things to do, cruise passengers can visit exceptional museums and religious sites, savor memorable gastronomic delights, or enjoy a leisurely walk around the old town and the modernistic city center.

And, of course, the extraordinary architectural landmarks by Antoni Gaudi, such as the uber-famous Sagrada Familia or La Pedrera , are an absolute must-visit.

La Pedrera in Barcelona

Photo © IQCruising.com

If embarking or disembarking in Barcelona, you should also enjoy the fun of an overnight. In fact, unless you have been in Barcelona before and have thoroughly explored Spain’s second largest city, the cruise traveler will regret if flying directly to embark on a cruise without spending some good time in the capital of Catalonia.

Sagrada Familia - Barcelona

Photo by Bernard Gagnon CC by SA

After all, there are very good reasons why Barcelona is the 4th most visited destination in Europe (after London, Paris, and Rome), the 12th-most-visited city in the World and a UNESCO Awarded City.

Casa Batlló in Barcelona

The urban architecture of Barcelona is world famous as is Antoni Gaudi, the most illustrious son of the city. But besides the exuberant Art Nouveau of Gaudi, there are too may sites to be visited in one day.

Where cruise ships dock in Barcelona

Port of Barcelona

Barcelona's two cruise ports (WTC Port and Moll Adossat) are ideally located to explore the city. The WTC Port has 3 piers around the World Trade Center building, it is located just under 1/2 a mile (700 meters) from the Plaça Colon and the start of La Rambla, but only small cruise ships can dock here.

► Explore: Terminals Where cruise ships dock, Terminals, Services and Amenities ... Learn More ►

Top things to do on a cruise to Barcelona

For those that only have a few hours to explore Barcelona - before Embarkation or after Disembarkation - at least one of the following Top Highlights must be visited:

• Sagrada Familia Basilica
• Passeig de Gràcia and Art Nouveau
• Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
• Casa Batlló and Casa Amatller
• Picasso Museum
• Miró Foundation
• Palau Güell
• Gran Teatre del Liceu
• La Boqueria
• Plaça Reial
• Cathedral of St. Eulalia (La Seu)

El Born and La Ribera

• Ciutadella Park
• Montjuïc Park

Port Vell and Barceloneta

Basilica of the sagrada familia.

The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia (one of the most famous modern churches in the World and a masterpiece by Gaudi ) is inevitably on top of any must-see list.

Sagrada Familia, Interior - Barcelona

Photo by Gary Ullah CC by SA

The Basilica is under construction since 1882 (completion is planned for 2026), is located around 5 miles (7 km) from the port and it will take around 30 minutes to get there by taxi. Allow at least a couple of hours to visit the church. Insider's tip: it is highlight advisable to buy tickets online to get a fast entry.

Passeig de Gràcia & Art Nouveau

The Passeig de Gràcia is one Barcelona's most wonderful tree-lined avenues, where all major luxury boutiques have their stores, a delight to walk and also where Gaudi architectural exuberance is displayed in Art Nouveau residential buildings.

Casa Milà or La Pedrera is a major highlight of Barcelona and just a couple of blocks down you will find another two architectural gems - the Casa Batlló (also by Gaudi) and Casa Amatller (by Josep Puig i Cadafalch). To get there, the Editor suggests either to get a taxi straight to La Pedrera or on the Metro (underground or subway) green line (L3) from Darsannes Station (close to Plaça Colon) directly to Diagonal Station. Again, online reservations are advisable to visit any of these buildings.

Picasso Museum and Miró Foundation

Science and Charity by Picasso

Photo Public Domain

Barcelona has quite a few renowned museums but two should be highlighted. The Joan Miró Foundation has on display one of the best collections in the World of the works by this abstract modernist artist, whilst the Picasso Museum exhibits focus on the earlier works (and many times ignored adolescent art) of this Spanish modernist master. "Science and Charity" painted when Picasso was 16 years old is a must see. Although the Picasso Museum is relatively close to the cruise port and is easy to get there - by taxi or even walking -, the Miró Foundation is a bit off the beaten track on Parc de Montjuïc .

Miró Foundation in Barcelona

If planning to visit the Miró Foundation be aware that it may difficult to find taxis close by for the return and that the Funicular de Montjuïc that connects the park to Avenue del Parallel is the fastest and easiest way to get there and back.

La Rambla in Barcelona

La Rambla is arguably the most famous of all Barcelona's streets connecting Plaça Colon (aka Plaça Portal de la Pau), very close to the Cruise Port, and another major square in the city: Plaça de Catalunya , where Passeig de Gràcia starts.

Plaça de Catalunya in Barcelona

Palau Güell in Barcelona

This three-quarter of a mile (1 km) pedestrian, tree-lined, and wide avenue is a popular place for locals and tourists alike. For the last 10 years, it has become embellished by street performers, flower stands, restaurants and all sort of touristic glitz. On a side street, close to Plaça Colon, the Palau Güell is a must see for those interested in Gaudi's architecture. On the left side, midway, the Gran Teatre del Liceu is the most prestigious theater in Barcelona. At the opposite end, the La Boqueria or Mercat Sant Antoni is one of the city's leading tourist landmarks and the oldest market hall in the area dating back to 1840.

La Boqueria in Barcelona

Barri Gòtic

To the right (east) side of La Rambla, the cruise traveler will find the narrow and winding streets of the oldest district in Barcelona known as Barri Gòtic where many landmarks are to be found: the Plaça Reial (Royal Plaza), the Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi, the Plaça Sant Jaume, the old Jewish Quarter (Call Jueu), the Pont del Bisbe, the Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA).

Plaça Reial in Barcelona

Cathedral of St. Eulalia in Barcelona

Cathedral of St. Eulalia - La Seu

Last but certainly not least, another major highlight of Barcelona - the Cathedral of St. Eulalia or La Seu (as the local call the majestic church), built between 1298 and 1460. All the area around the Barri Gòtic has a unique ambiance inviting the traveler to an historic journey to the time when the first populations settled here during the reign of the Roman emperor, Augustus, 2,000 years ago.

For those that have been in the major touristic areas and visited the top highlights of Barcelona, there are many other places that are very seldom offered on cruise ship excursions. The neighborhood known as El Born has become a great place to visit on a leisurely walk.

Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona

Farther east of the Barri Gòtic - in fact, just across Via Laietana, - what once was the main trading center and one of the richest neighborhoods of the city during the 13th and 14th centuries, El Born and the adjacent La Ribera neighborhood are both worth a visit. This is the area where the Picasso Museum is located (on Carrer Montcada) but, at end of this narrow street, the Passeig del Born , the Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar , and the El Born Cultural Center are off-the-beaten-track landmarks to be discovered. For those with a sweet tooth, the Chocolate Museum (Museu de la Xocolata) is also close by.

Cascada Monumental, Parc de la Ciutadella

Farther east, is the Ciutadella Park (Parc de la Ciutadella) with a number of historical landmarks - the Catalan Parliament, the Castell dels Tres Dragons, the Cascada Monumental among others - and the Barcelona Zoo . The latter is not particularly impressive, but the Park itself, with its ponds, fountains, and lawns, is a nice green area for those that enjoy outdoors.

Park Güell in Barcelona

Montjuïc and Güell Parks

Two other parks are top attractions in Barcelona: the Montjuïc Park and the Park Güell , the latter is a bit farther away from the cruise port although a must see for fans of Gaudi's architectural design. Located on a hill around 5 miles (8km) from the sea, it offers wonderful views of Barcelona. Besides the extraordinary landscape and design, the Gaudí House Museum where the famous architect lived for 20 years should not be missed. All hop-on-hop-off sightseeing buses have stops close by; the Metro station of Lesseps on L3 (Green Line) is 1 mile (1.6km) away.

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona

The Montjuïc Castle dominates the homonyms park and is relatively close to the Cruise Port - easy to get to with a funicular, which starts at the Parallel metro station on Avenida Parallel. At the Montjuïc Park the traveler will find many attractions such as the already mention Fundació Joan Miró and the wonderful Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) , the Poble Espanyol , the Botanical Garden and Science Museum, the Olympic Park built for the 1992 Summer Olympics, the Palace Albéniz and a couple of two other interesting museums - the Catalonia’s Archaeological Museum and the Ethnological Museum. From the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya a long and wide park/avenue ends at the Plaça de Espanya where the old Bullring has been revamped into a popular shopping mall, along the way the Font Màgica, the CaixaForum Barcelona (contemporary art exhibition center) and the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion are landmarks not to be missed.

Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona

Also close to the Port, a stone's trow from the Portbus T3 stop, the Port Vell is where one of the best Aquarium in Europe is located and a delight for those cruising with children. The entire area was redeveloped for the 1992 Olympic Games hosting a marina, the “Maremagnum” shopping center, a park and seaside cafés. Farther along the coast, the Museu d'Història de Catalunya , housed in a waterside warehouse, is an invitation to travel trough the history of Catalanoia and the start of the old fishermen’s neighborhood known as Barceloneta . This is one of the best places to savor fresh fish in Barcelona with many good restaurants to choose from. Beyond the residential grid of narrow lanes, the beaches of Barceloneta are one of the best-kept secrets of the city (enjoyed almost exclusively by locals) and are perfect for pure relaxing time.

Barcelona Sightseeing and Local Tours

The charming character of Barcelona, the infinite mix of ancient and modern architecture, the excellence of museums and galleries are a sensorial feast that can easily be discovered on your own. Exploring Barcelona on foot is a joy - be it on a walk trough the nooks and crannies of the old city lined with modern shops, a stroll along wide boulevards with fashionable boutiques and renowned brands, contemplating the unique details of astonishing UNESCO listed buildings with mind-boggling facades or just people watching on a stylish café.

Tour Kiosk in Barcelona

With so much to see and enjoy, Barcelona has an amazing array of independent tours available. Be it on a sightseeing hop-on-hop-off bus, a bicycle, scooter, van, limousine, rickshaw, electric car or convertible the variety of tours is almost endless. Activities like Catamaran Sailing, Jet Ski, Para-sailing, Para-gliding, Land Sailing or Balloon Flying are on offer and easy to access. The delicious local cuisine and famous gourmet chefs of the city's restaurants are destinations for a good number of tours. And for those that wish to explore beyond the city, the coastal town of Sitges and the rocky peaks of Montserrat with its monastery are must-visit destinations.

Tourist Cards

When calling at the Port of Barcelona or if staying in Barcelona for more than a day, there are a number of Tourist Cards that can be very advantageous, saving both time and money. With the Barcelona City Card (€ 43.20 online) you'll be able to travel free on the metro, buses, trams (including the airport train and metro) and free admission to, or discounts at, Barcelona's most important museums and many places of interest. The Barcelona Card Express € 19.80, online) offers 48 hours free travel on public transport and discounts in museums and city sights.

► Explore: The Cruise Terminals in Barcelona Where cruise ships dock, all services and amenities ... Learn More ►

Must-know: language, money matters and opening hours

Language: Spanish (Castilian) is an official and common language in all of Spain. However, there are other three regional and official languages: Catalan ( 17%), Galician (7%) and Basque (2%). Catalan is the official language in Barcelona. On the whole, English is widely spoken in all major touristic areas and all major cruise ports. The English-speaking cruise visitor will easily communicate with locals pretty much everywhere.

Currency and money matters

The Euro (€) (EUR) is the legal tender in Spain as a full member of the European and Monetary Union. US$ dollars or any other currency are NOT accepted and you must have Euros to pay for services or purchases in cash.

Credit cards: Most credit cards are accepted everywhere in Barcelona. Debit cards can also be used in most restaurants and shops.

Cruise passengers will find in Barcelona ATMs by all banks, in shopping malls, or next to supermarkets, where you can cash Euros with both your debit card and credit card. ATMs in Spain are usually labeled Telebanco or Cajero .

Tipping: Tipping is not expected in restaurants, cafes, or bars as employees have labor contracts with all sorts of benefits. However, it is customary to round up the check but always less than 5%. The same applies to taxi drivers.

Haggling: You are not supposed to haggle on any shops or services except when dealing with street vendors. Be aware that most street vendors in Barcelona are not legal, and you can get your purchases confiscated.

Business and commercial opening hours

Museums in Spain are open with different schedules. Some museums open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm, while others are open between 10 am and 5 pm. Be aware that all museums in Spain close on Mondays. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 2 pm.

Most shops in Barcelona are open on weekdays, and Saturdays, from 8:30 am to 8 pm. However, smaller stores and boutiques close for lunch (and “siesta” ) between 2 pm and 5 pm. Shops close on Sunday except for shopping malls which open seven days a week and on most holidays from 10 am to 11 pm. Department stores like El Corte Inglés are close on Sunday.

Like most large cities in Europe and Spain, Barcelona is relatively safe but is known for petty crime and pickpocketing. Cruise visitors must be vigilant when walking in crowded touristic areas.

US Embassy and nearest consulate to Barcelona

U.S. Consulate in Barcelona Address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23 - 08034 Barcelona Phone: (+34) 93 280 22 27 Website: it.usembassy.gov/madrid

For comprehensive and updated information about traveling to Spain see the U.S. Department of State website page evolving advisory.

Covid-19 advice for cruises to Barcelona (Spain)

For updated coronavirus (Covid-19) information and travel advice to Spain and Barcelona visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in Spain . For more Traveler's Health advice to Spain see the CDC Website .

Barcelona Basic Info at a Glance

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Passenger terminals

The international terminals of the Port of Barcelona welcome and manage travellers from all over the world.

Seven international passenger terminals

The Port of Barcelona is the leading cruise port in Europe and the Mediterranean and has seven international passenger terminals located on the Adossat quay and the Barcelona quay. All of them have a wide range of services for cruise passengers and ships and are equipped with the highest security measures and highly qualified personnel.

Terminal D - Palacruceros

Terminal e – helix, terminales wtcb, guide for cruise passengers.

The Port of Barcelona closes the North Terminal of the World Trade Center and moves around 340 cruise ship and ferry calls per year to the Adossat wharf

The main logistics hub in the Mediterranean.

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One day in barcelona from a cruise ship: a self-guided walking tour.

One of  Spain’s great cities , Barcelona is renowned for its art and architecture – notably Antoni Gaudi –  glorious beaches and a first-class culinary scene. Whilst one day in Barcelona will not be enough time to see everything, it will allow you to see many of its major landmarks and give you a good feel for this Spanish metropolis.

I have visited this vibrant city on multiple occasions, including on a cruise, and am excited to share the best way to spend one day in Barcelona from a cruise ship. My 1-day Barcelona itinerary , framed around a self-guided walk , is specially designed for cruise passengers and will help you make the most of your time ashore.

At the end of the article, you’ll find useful information on getting from the Barcelona cruise terminal to the city centre and how to get around .

Some articles on this website contain affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases . Read the full disclosure here .

BARCELONA CRUISE PORT AT A GLANCE

Barcelona cruise terminal : Large cruise ships dock at one of the four Moll Adossat terminals Terminal D, the farthest away, is approximately 4 km from La Rambla. Distance from the cruise terminal to the city centre : 25 – 45 minutes on foot to the southern end of La Rambla. Shuttle buses and taxis are available. Best time of year to visit Barcelona:  May to June or during autumn (fall) Currency:  Euro (€). Cash is widely used and most places accept major credit cards. Check here  for live exchange rates. Tipping:  Tips are not expected when ordering a coffee or a drink in Barcelona. Although a 5 -10% service charge is usually added to your restaurant bill, it is common practice to add a small tip (5%) on top of this.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Barcelona Self-Guided Walking Tour

The best way to see Barcelona in one day is on foot and I recommend making the most of your time ashore with my self-guided walking tour . The total distance from start to finish is approximately 4 miles ( 6 km ).

It starts at Port Vell, near the cruise terminal, and finishes at La Sagrada Família, Gaudi’s masterpiece. To save time, and ease your aching feet, you can take the metro back from La Sagrada Familia to Drassanes station at the southern end of La Rambla. From here, you can walk or jump on the Cruise Bus back to your ship.

For step-by-step directions and to send to your phone, click here or on the map.

My Top Tips for Visiting Barcelona on a Cruise

• How much you will be able to see will depend on your time in port. If you have limited time ashore, you will need to sacrifice visiting the inside of one or more of the Gaudí properties on Passeig de Gràcia.
• But don’t be tempted to skip visiting the inside of La Sagrada Família; it is extraordinary. And even if you’re not keen on visiting churches, it’s worth visiting Barcelona Cathedral, if only for the views from its roof.
• A city pass can be an excellent way of saving money, particularly if you are trying to fit as much as possible into your day in Barcelona. The Go City® Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass  does pretty much what it says on the tin, granting free access to many of the city’s top attractions and activities. Get the lowdown in my Barcelona Pass review or check current prices and inclusions here .
• If you are disembarking at the port of Barcelona and have an extra day to spare, make the most of your time there by booking a hotel room and exploring the charming Catalan capital over two days.

What to See in Barcelona in One Day from a Cruise Ship

During your day in Barcelona, you will be transported back through the centuries by exploring its enchanting Gothic Quarter, elegant plazas, majestic cathedral and superb Modernista architecture . There will also be time to stop for lunch in one of Europe’s greatest food markets.

Port Vell, the city’s old port, is a brisk stroll from the cruise terminal. This marina, lined with palm trees and public art, is one of the most picturesque parts of the city.

Nearby is a famous Barcelona landmark, the Columbus Monument . Rising 60 meters above the southern end of La Rambla, this monument was built in 1888 to commemorate Christopher Columbus’s first voyage to the Americas.

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter

Strolling around the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) is one of the best things to do in Barcelona in one day. With its charming squares and a warren of narrow medieval streets, this is one of the oldest districts of Barcelona.

Plaça Reial , the Royal Square, is lined with bars and towering palm trees and features street lamps designed by Gaudi.

The smaller Plaça del Rei is where the Catholic Monarchs are thought to have received Columbus on his return from his first New World voyage. 

Barcelona Cathedral

Your next stop is the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia.

Barcelona’s Cathedral was built between the 13th and 15th centuries and has a 14th-century cloister with orange trees, magnolias and resident swans.

For panoramic views over Barcelona, take the lift to the cathedral’s roof .

Address: Pl. de la Seu

Opening hours: Barcelona Cathedral is open to tourists between 9.30 am and 6.30 pm on weekdays, between 9.30 and 5.15 on Saturdays and from 2 pm until 5 pm on Sundays. It is open for prayer and worship outside of these hours. Further information is  here .

Lunch at Mercat de la Boqueria

Are you feeling peckish?

Barcelona’s famous Boqueria Market, officially known as Mercat de San Josep, is located on the opposite side of La Rambla from the Gothic Quarter. This maze of more than 300 stalls sells delicious products that typify Barcelona’s cuisine and is the perfect place to stop for lunch.

La Rambla (also known as Las Ramblas) is synonymous with Barcelona. Stretching for almost a mile through the heart of the city centre, this pedestrianised boulevard links Port Vell to Plaça de Catalunya.

Plaça de Catalunya

You have now reached Plaça de Catalunya, located at the northern end of La Rambla.

Separating the old town and Eixample district, this is Barcelona’s beating heart and is a favourite meeting place for locals and visitors alike.

No Barcelona itinerary would be complete without a smattering of Gaudí’s extraordinary properties.

Two of these – Casa Batlló and Casa Milà – are on Passeig de Gràcia, close to Plaça de Catalunya. Our final stop is the world-famous Sagrada Família, which is a 15-20 minute walk from Casa Milà.

Casa Batlló

Antoni Gaudi’s one-of-a-kind architectural creations partly define Barcelona and are not to be missed. Casa Batlló is the first of his two great buildings on Passeig de Gràcia.

Taking his inspiration from the shapes and colours found in marine life, Gaudi created this whimsical building between 1904 and 1906. 

Even if you don’t have time to take a peek inside, it is well worth stopping by to admire its façade, which is covered with mosaics reminiscent of fish scales. 

The wavy and curvy design – no sharp angles here – is continued inside with exceptional details, including beautiful stained glass windows and colourful tiles.

Address: Pg. de Gràcia, 43

>>>  CLICK HERE  TO BUY YOUR SKIP-THE-LINE TICKET WITH AUDIOGUIDE

La Pedrera (Casa Milà)

La Pedrera, or Casa Milà, is the second Gaudi building on Passeig de Gràcia.

This is an atypical Gaudi building. It has a colourless, stone-like appearance and looks like it has been carved from a massive rock, softened with wavy lines and iron ornaments.

From its rooftop, there is a bird’s eye view over Barcelona and of Casa Milà’s chimneys and ventilation towers, which are artworks in themselves.

Address : Pg. de Gràcia, 92

La Sagrada Família

End your day in Barcelona at the city’s most iconic landmark, La Sagrada Família.

La Sagrada Família has been a work in progress since 1882. Gaudí was still working on it before he died in 1926, aged 73.

The outside of this masterpiece of Modernista architecture features symbolic carvings and is crowned by honeycomb Gothic towers.

Inside, it’s an explosion of colour amongst columns shaped like tree trunks, underneath the canopy of a psychedelic forest.

Get the lowdown on visiting this extraordinary site with my tips for Visiting Sagrada Família .

Opening hours: The Basilica of the Sagrada Família has seasonal opening hours. Check here for current information.

Admission fee applies

>>> BUY YOUR SKIP-THE-LINE TICKET FOR SAGRADA FAMÍLIA WITH AUDIOGUIDE  HERE , OR WITH A GUIDED TOUR  HERE .

How to get to Sagrada Família from Barcelona cruise port

But what if you just want to concentrate on La Sagrada Família when you are in port? The quickest way of getting there from the cruise port is by taxi. This journey should take about 15 minutes. To travel between Barcelona cruise terminal and the Sagrada Família by public transport, take the cruise shuttle bus to the Columbus Monument at the end of La Rambla. This is close to Drassanes metro station where you should catch the green line to Diagonal. At Diagonal, change onto the blue line and alight at the stop Sagrada Família. 

Other Things to Do During a Barcelona Cruise Stop

We all have different tastes and preferences. If these places don’t rock your boat (ahem), here are a few further suggestions for what to do in Barcelona in one day.

Walk amongst the sharks at Barcelona Aquarium

The Barcelona Aquarium in Port Vell is one of the best of its kind. Its enormous Oceanarium – a transparent 80-meter-long tunnel – allows you to walk among the sharks, ocean sunfish and many other species.

>>>  CLICK HERE  TO BOOK YOUR SKIP-THE-LINE TICKET FOR BARCELONA AQUARIUM

Tour Camp Nou

All you footie lovers out there can take a tour of Camp Nou, home to  FC Barcelona  and the largest-capacity stadium in Europe.

>>>  CLICK HERE  TO BOOK YOUR CAMP NOU TOUR

Take a cable car to Montjuïc

For panoramic views of Barcelona, use the hop-on-hop-off bus or take the cable car to visit Montjuïc, home of the 1992 Summer Olympics.

>>>  CLICK HERE  TO BUY YOUR CABLE CAR RETURN TICKET

Getting to Barcelona City Centre from the Cruise Terminal

As Barcelona’s cruise terminal is the starting and arrival point for many Western Mediterranean cruise itineraries, it is important to check which operating terminal your ship will berth.

Large cruise ships dock at the  Moll Adossat terminals (Terminals A, B, C and D). Terminal D is the farthest away of the four quays and is approximately 4 km from La Rambla.

Walking to the southern end of La Rambla will take 25 minutes from Terminal A and 45 minutes from Terminal D.

The  Cruise Bus is a shuttle bus between the  Moll Adossat  cruise ship terminals and the Columbus Monument at the end of La Rambla. In 2024, the fare is €3 euro one-way or €4.50 return.

Getting Around Barcelona

The best way to visit Barcelona in one day is on foot. However, to return from La Sagrada Familia to the cruise port, your best bet is to take a metro service to Drassanes station, close to the Columbus Monument.

If you don’t fancy tackling the city’s metro system, Barcelona’s hop-on-hop-off bus is another option. A one-day ticket gives you access to two routes that include stops in this Barcelona itinerary and more. An audio commentary is also available.

>>>  CLICK HERE  TO BUY YOUR BARCELONA HOHO BUS TICKET

Barcelona Shore Excursions

But perhaps you prefer someone else to take care of all of the arrangements, you want to benefit from the knowledge of a local guide or you’re looking for something a little different? Then why not explore Barcelona’s highlights on an organised activity?

Although your cruise line will gladly provide a shore excursion, you can often do better using an independent tour operator. Just make sure that you have enough time to make it back on board before your cruise ship sails.

Paella Cooking Experience + Boqueria Market Tour

This is an ideal experience for any foodies. In this 2.5-hour tour, you’ll make sangria and learn how to rustle up an authentic paella, one of the things for which Spain is most famous .

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR ACTIVITY

Tapas and Wine Walking Tour

Combine wine tasting and grazing on tapas with a 3-hour walking tour through the Gothic Quarter and El Born neighbourhood of Barcelona.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR WALKING TOUR

Barcelona Boat Tour

Explore Barcelona from a different perspective on this one-hour boat tour around the city’s coastline.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR BARCELONA BOAT TOUR

Take a Barcelona bike or segway tour

Lastly, explore Barcelona on two wheels with this selection of bike tours.

This 3-hour guided tour takes you through the Gothic Quarter, Olympic Port, and Gaudi sites like the iconic Sagrada Familia.

Alternatively, get up close to the city’s famous monuments on this segway tour.

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT SPAIN!

• What is Spain Famous For? 20 Reasons to Visit Spain
• 2 Days in Barcelona: Itinerary & Best Things to Do
• One Day in Barcelona from a Cruise Ship: Itinerary & Best Things to Do
• Top 10 Things to Do in Tarragona: Spain’s Roman City by the Sea
• Tips for Visiting Sagrada Família: Things You Should Know Before You Go
• One Day in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
• 15 Fabulous Reasons for Visiting Valencia, Spain
• Solo Travel in Portugal and Spain: 10 Unmissable Places to Visit
• The Ultimate One-Week Tenerife Itinerary & Guide
• 10 Best Things to do in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife
• Exploring Tenerife by Bus: TITSA Buses Made Easy in 2022

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media.

By SuperyachtNews 25 Jul 2022

PARTNER CONTENT

Marina Port Vell - in the heart of Barcelona

Uniquely located in the centre of this iconic city, marina port vell is the perfect destination in the western mediterranean….

Marina Port Vell is a world-class marina for superyachts perfectly located in the heart of Barcelona. Originally built during the 1992 Olympic Games, it has now assumed a strategic role for the city and provides a major boost to the Catalan coast as one of the first marinas in Spain to specialize in the superyacht sector.

A popular superyacht homeport and the perfect summer destination, set between the cruising grounds of the Western Mediterranean and the Caribbean, Marina Port Vell has in recent years witnessed a major shift in the traditional cruising patterns. Marina Port Vell is the premium Superyacht facility offering over 150 berths and one of the world’s longest quays (440m), which makes it an ideal destination for the mooring of superyachts up to 190m.

Marina Port Vell and Barcelona’s popularity has enabled the showcasing of prolific worldwide industry events at the marina, including the MYBA Charter Show, The Superyacht Show from LYBRA and the Salón Náutico Internacional de Barcelona. It is also the venue of choice for many brands synonymous with quality and excellence such as Maserati, Lamborghini and Aston Martin as well as high-end retailers including Montblanc and Jo Malone.

The Marina is a well-established nautical hub bringing together multiple industry-related companies to offer guests the best services in award winning buildings such as The Gallery, designed by architecture practice, SCOB Architects. A 24-hour serviced space which takes design and lifestyle inspiration from the surrounding superyachts within the marina and the sea.

Marina Port Vell continues to grow in popularity during the summer as the Mediterranean’s leading Superyacht Marina and is well established as a favourite winter home port destination. Run by a team of highly qualified professionals to provide the service levels required for effective running and management for these renowned 70m plus superyachts. In September 2021 a new €20 million investment plan was agreed upon, involving the remodelling of the marina to enhance its capacity and strengthen its specialised ad hoc services for 30m plus vessels, creating 23 new berths for vessels with a length of up to 70m.

Thanks to this new configuration, the marina will boast 55 berths for superyachts, a figure that will increase up to 65 in periods of high occupancy to accommodate the sought after winter berthing demands and the growing popularity of visiting superyachts in high season summer. The plan includes the remodelling of different spaces within the marina, such as; reconfiguring the marina basin, a landscaping project and installation of a new bunkering system. Additionally, a sustainability Master Plan has been introduced to ensure that the marina continues to be a sustainable, safe and innovative infrastructure providing quality services.

Barcelona has established itself as the most important city in the Western Mediterranean. An Iconic and vibrant cosmopolitan city, known for its year-round good weather, culture and gastronomy attracting talent, creativity, and innovation with an offering of an array of world leading activities and attractions within the city and on Marina Port Vells doorstep.

Renowned for its fantastic gastronomic options, Barcelona boasts 30 plus Michelin Star restaurants, and a luxurious first-rate shopping district housing iconic buildings such as  La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. Barcelona also has the unique advantage of being home to the only Superyacht Marina in the Mediterranean located within a city, only a 5-minute walk into the town centre and nearby beaches. A short drive to the stunning Costa Brava or a 2-hour drive to Europe’s prime ski resorts in the Pyrenees mountains makes Barcelona and Marina Port Vell the perfect destination. For more information regarding pricing, availability and reservations, contact Marina Port Vell’s team.  

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Barcelona, Spain (ESBCN)

Port of Barcelona is located in Spain at 41.309N, 2.1738E. 148 vessels have arrived within the past 24 hours and 53 ships are expected to arrive in the next 30 days.

Port time: Sep 19, 05:58

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These Boats Are Really Big, but Barcelona Has the Room

The city has become a hub for billionaires’ superyachts, banking on the strength of the “blue economy.”

A huge yacht under repair in Barcelona, Spain, which has become a hub for superyachts. Credit... Samuel Aranda for The New York Times

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By Raphael Minder

• Jan. 10, 2022

BARCELONA, Spain — Launched less than a year ago, the 460-foot-long, eight-deck Solaris is one of the newest of the superyachts that are the floating palaces of the sea. It has a helipad, of course, plus a swimming pool and all the other high-tech amenities required by its Russian billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich .

But on a recent morning in Barcelona, the $600 million Solaris was out of the water, wedged into a dry dock, as workers toiled underneath its light-gray hull. They were fixing its finlike stabilizers, which help steady the massive vessel in rough seas but retract when there are no swells. At the opposite end of the boatyard, another giant, the Sea Rhapsody, was getting a final checkup before being put back into the water.

As the rich have gotten richer during the pandemic, their boats have gotten larger and more expensive — and when these over-the-top superyachts aren’t taking their owners to private holiday spots in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, they need a place to drop anchor and deal with repairs.

And it is here that Barcelona, whose days as a commercial shipyard faded years ago, sees an economic opportunity.

Barcelona has turned itself into a hub for these luxury vessels, combining a private marina that is investing 20 million euros ($22.7 million) this year to turn itself into the largest port reserved for superyachts in the Mediterranean and maintenance facilities that can hoist behemoths out of the water and then summon a small army to do repairs.

And it doesn’t hurt that Barcelona offers the ships’ crew members downtime in one of the Mediterranean’s biggest tourism destinations.

Attracting billionaire yacht owners is only a small part of Barcelona’s efforts to tap into the “blue economy” of the sea, said Jaume Collboni, the deputy mayor. Barcelona’s port authority recently approved the construction of a new terminal for cruise ships, set to open in 2024. The city is also overhauling the seafront area that was developed for the Summer Olympics of 1992, which Barcelona hosted.

The pandemic was a huge blow for a city that normally welcomes millions of visitors. It showed that “diversification is becoming very important,” Mr. Collboni said. “When tourism dropped down to zero, some parts of the city were heavily affected, and we have needed to find new jobs, also for a less qualified work force.”

At the same time, the spread of the coronavirus gave the world’s billionaires a new excuse for keeping their distance from other people, a role perfectly suited for superyachts.

Worldwide about 5,700 yachts are over 30 meters long (just under 100 feet), and this fleet is set to expand 15 percent by 2025, according to industry projections . At the pinnacle of this market are about 370 megayachts of over 60 meters, whose number has risen 70 percent in the past decade and is forecast to reach 500 in about seven years. Construction yards have been struggling to keep up: The order book for superyachts is full until 2025.

MB92, the company that operates Barcelona’s superyacht maintenance facility, known as a refit yard, has 180 employees, but much of the labor is carried out by about 1,000 subcontractors whose jobs cover a variety of specialties, including painting, carpentry and insulation work. About 40 workshops are scattered around the yard, and during the peak repair seasons of spring and fall the yard can work on about 25 yachts at a time.

The yacht maintenance business has been jumping. MB92, which also owns a smaller yard in La Ciotat, France, reported revenue of €191 million (about $215 million) in 2021, up from €150 million in 2019.

Even if a superyacht is a striking showcase of wealth, owners expect those working for them to keep silent about their assets and whereabouts. When asked about the Sea Rhapsody’s destination once it left the yard, Henk Dreijer, the commercial director of MB92, demurred, suggesting that it was bound for “the Caribbean, but it could also be the Seychelles or somewhere else.”

“We work for people who like to be very discreet,” he added.

In Barcelona, which is led by a left-wing city government , not everybody welcomes the arrival of billionaires and their yachts, whose marinas are typically fenced off from the rest of the city’s waterfront.

“We are bringing in the richest people in the world, but they don’t spend their money in our local neighborhoods, they have yachts that fly the flags of tax havens, and they hire crews who are not from Barcelona,” said Gala Pin, a city lawmaker in Barcelona until 2019.

“We have also allowed private and very opaque companies to squeeze profits from public land and instead fence off access to a port area that should be enjoyed by all the citizens of Barcelona,” she added.

A decade ago, Ms. Pin and other residents held demonstrations to protest the initial project to develop Port Vell, a privately owned marina for luxury yachts. But Ms. Pin now concedes that the yacht business is very firmly anchored in Barcelona. Meanwhile, the city’s dwindling fishing fleet is squeezed into a small enclave, sandwiched between MB92’s yard and the superyacht marina.

Port Vell is in the midst of a major overhaul to become the largest superyacht marina in the Mediterranean. It is jointly owned by QInvest, a Qatari investment firm, and a group of investors led by Vagit Alekperov, the president of the Russian oil company Lukoil. Mr. Alekperov is also a partner in a fund run by Squircle Capital, a private equity firm based in Luxembourg. In 2019, Squircle bought a majority stake in MB92, the shipyard operator.

Even if the owners spend little time in Barcelona, the largest of these yachts have several dozen crew members who make lengthy stays and are “people with salaries that are generally higher than local salaries and money that they have not been spending on board,” said Ignacio Erroz, the director general of Port Vell. He said a PwC study commissioned by his company had estimated that Port Vell contributed €30 million a year to Barcelona’s economy.

Mr. Erroz forecast that Barcelona would continue to grow as a superyacht hub, in large part because “being able to anchor right in the heart of a big city is a major selling point.” But he also anticipated tougher competition.

“I think we will see many more existing ports adapting their infrastructure to welcome this kind of boat,” he said.

Raphael Minder covers Spain and Portugal, based in Madrid. He previously worked for Bloomberg News in Switzerland and for the Financial Times in Paris, Brussels, Sydney and finally Hong Kong. More about Raphael Minder

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Barcelona, Spain

Cruises from Barcelona depart year-round. With mountains to the west and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea to the east, Barcelona possesses panoramic beauty. Among the most-visited sites in the Catalonia region's capital are structures designed by Antoni Gaudi, including the colorful Casa Batllo, whimsical Park Guell and Barcelona's most iconic building, the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family, known locally as the Sagrada Familia. Walking tours are popular here, with plenty to admire in the Gothic Quarter and on La Rambla, a bustling pedestrian street lined with stalls and trees. Foodies find themselves on tours of tapas restaurants or exploring the sprawling Mercat de la Boqueria, a covered market with roots in the 13th century. For soccer fans, an excursion to Camp Nou, the home stadium for FC Barcelona, proves an exciting pilgrimage.

LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA'S CUP BARCELONA

Welcome to the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup taking place between August and October 2024 in the beating heart of beautiful Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and one of the most visited cities on planet Earth. Situated around Port Vell and along the beach to Port Olímpic, the sailing world has made Barcelona their home for what promises to be one of the most intense America’s Cups in the event’s 174-year history.

WHAT IS THE AMERICA'S CUP: THE RACE WITH NO SECOND PLACE

It is the oldest international sporting trophy – dating back to 1851 – and stands as one of the hardest sporting endeavours. The New York Yacht Club, one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, held the trophy for 132 years before losing it in 1983 to Australia. Since then, the Cup has only been won by teams from the United States, Switzerland, and New Zealand. The current Defender of the America's Cup is Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

WHERE: BARCELONA, CATALONIA, SPAIN

“Like a jewel in the sun” was how Montserrat Caballé and Freddy Mercury described Barcelona in their famous song about the city. The cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region–known worldwide for its art, architecture and vibrancy–is shining even brighter as preparations are well underway to welcome the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup and its teams. All the teams’ bases are located within the Port Vell area and surrounded by the America’s Cup Race Village where tens of thousands of spectators can be accommodated daily. The racecourse, just outside the port entrance breakwaters, is set in front of significant fan zones, beach viewing platforms and a hospitality area to provide the perfect vista.

WHEN: AUGUST – OCTOBER 2024

The Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta starts on the 22nd August and the Louis Vuitton Cup (Challenger Selection Series) will follow, leading up to the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Match starting on the 12th of October 2024. During 2023 and early 2024, three preliminary events will be held in Vilanova i La Geltrú, Jeddah, and Barcelona. In June 2023, all teams set up their bases and are training in Barcelona. Further details and race schedules will be published in due course.

WHO’S RACING: Emirates Team New Zealand, INEOS Britannia, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, NYYC American Magic and Orient Express Racing Team

The holders of the America’s Cup are Emirates Team New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, but some strong competition is coming for them. INEOS Britannia, the ‘Challenger of Record’ from the United Kingdom, are in charge of the Louis Vuitton Cup (Challenger Selection Series) to decide who will race against Emirates Team New Zealand for the trophy. The unique format of the Cup sees the Defender of the trophy automatically entitled to race in the final Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Match whereas the Challengers will undertake a series to find the top yacht to take on the New Zealand team. The additional confirmed entries are: Alinghi Red Bull Racing from Switzerland, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli from Italy, American Magic New York Yacht Club from the USA and Orient Express Racing Team from France.

WHAT BOATS: AC75 AND AC40

The AC75s are the pinnacle of foiling monohull yachts. Created for the 36th America’s Cup, they are a technological leap ahead of typical yachts as Formula 1 is to your daily driver. With foils that lift them out of the water and enable the yachts to generate so much momentum that they sail 4x faster than the wind.

For the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, the second generation of the AC75s will be even faster with wider foils and refinements all over. Eight crew will be aboard and some of the finest sailing talent will be charged with racing them.

The AC40s, meanwhile, are the boats used for the UniCredit Youth and Puig Women's America’s Cup events and as training vessels for the main teams competing in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. Smaller but no less potent, with a four-person crew, these pocket-rockets were launched to much fanfare in September 2022, and their performance has been astonishing.

Event Format

The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Barcelona will comprise several events that will eventually culminate in the October 2024 Match. The Preliminary Regattas will serve as warm-up races ahead of the Louis Vuitton Cup (Challenger Selection Series), which decides who moves on and faces the Defender for the ultimate prize. The very best female and youth athletes from around the world will be thrust into America’s Cup level racing for the UniCredit Youth & Puig Women's America's Cup events, paving the pathway to the future of the America’s Cup itself.

LOUIS VUITTON CUP: SEPTEMBER 2024

The Louis Vuitton Cup (Challenger Selections Series) will determine which team will face the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match.

The Louis Vuitton Cup will comprise of a double Round Robin stage and a Semi-Final stage, followed by a two-boat Final. The top four teams will race in a first-to-five-points Semi-Final, with the two winners advancing to the Final Match Race. The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the team to first score seven points, will face Emirates Team New Zealand, the Defender of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup. 

LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA'S CUP MATCH: STARTS 12 OCTOBER 2024

The America’s Cup is the race with no second place. Either you win or you lose, and it has been like this for over 170 years.

In October 2024 the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand will face the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup (Challenger Selection Series) in a 13-race Match. Each race will be a match race between the two teams. The winner of each race scores one point, the loser scores no points. The first team to score seven points will become the Defender of the 38th America’s Cup.

HOW TO WATCH

The America’s Cup Race Village is where you want to be in the middle of the action and experience the event's buzz off the water. The Race Village is completely FREE throughout all America's Cup events, and it will be located in Port Vell along Moll de la Fusta, connecting people to boats, team bases and events. The beaches between Port Vell and Port Olímpic will allow FREE race viewing for everyone.

There will be no ticketing arrangements and we encourage everyone to come and soak in the unique atmosphere of world-class America’s Cup racing that promises to be fast, furious and very close. Having witnessed the racing live, don’t forget to take a stroll through the Race Village to watch sailor presentations from the main stages as well as food, drink, sponsor and team activities daily.

For those spectators wishing to watch the races from their own vessels, areas will be dedicated for yachts and small crafts around the perimeter. Be sure you register your boat HERE to stay up to date with all the latest information

For those unable to attend the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup races in person and see the action just off the waterfront, don’t worry! The America’s Cup races will be live-streamed across the official America’s Cup website as well as available to watch on YouTube in most territories. The America’s Cup Social Media channels on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X (formerly known as Twitter) will also be fully activated and updated throughout the racing with a mix of multi-media, and daily race reports will be available on the America’s Cup website after racing.

Hospitality

Open for the duration of the competition, HOUSE OF AC37 is the exclusive and official land-based ticketed hospitality experience of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. Situated within Port Olímpic and set alongside the UniCredit Youth & Puig Women's America's Cup Team Bases, House of AC37 benefits from one of the best locations in Barcelona at the heart of the competition. Finding a perfect balance between thrilling race entertainment and first-class gastronomy, ‘The House’ has been designed to cater to your home comforts while delivering a refined and authentic America’s Cup experience. With giant screens, expert commentary and Michelin quality dining, this is the prime spot to set up your race base for the competition. Click the link below and secure you official hospitality packages.

HOW TO FOLLOW

High quality coverage (live, highlights, clips and news) of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Barcelona will be distributed on the broadest possible basis to maximise the audience for the event. This will include distribution on TV, online and on mobile through partnerships with broadcasters and via the America's Cup website and its official social media channels.

Party spot? Video shows dozens of boats docked at new sandbar in Ohio River

Summer is coming to a close. But the weather is warmer than ever, so why not one last hurrah?

Dozens of docked boats, sitting alongside people partying, were spotted on a sandbar in the Ohio River on Sunday. The sandbar recently appeared across from Coldstream, located in southeastern Anderson Township, according to a social media post from licensed drone pilot and videographer Zak Kauth.

In the caption of the video, Kauth said the sandbar appeared as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were completing maintenance dredging in the area.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , dredging is when sediments and debris are removed from the bottom of a body of water. It is often done to maintain or increase "the depth of navigation channels, anchorages, or berthing areas to ensure the safe passage of boats and ships," per NOAA.

The Enquirer reached out to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for more information about the sandbar and is awaiting a response.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

As of Wednesday, Sept. 18, the video had amassed over 18,000 views, 800 likes and 29 comments, with users questioning the cleanliness and safety of the river.

"I've never seen the Ohio River look that clean," one comment reads.

"Why does it look so clean??" another user wrote.

The riverfront of the Ohio River used to be home to popular sandy beaches, and the water, at one time, was relatively clean and clear, per Enquirer history columnist Jeff Seuss . From the early 1900s until the late 1920s, several privately owned beaches were open to the public in Bellevue and Dayton, Kentucky. 

But is it still safe to swim in the Ohio River?

The  Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission  says “yes and no.” Its website lists risks, including river currents, floating or submerged debris and commercial and recreational traffic, plus “possible human health risk due to water quality conditions,” such as bacteria and harmful algae bloom.

Enquirer reporter Jolene Almendarez took a dip earlier this summer to see for herself. Take a look below.

Prada’s Space-Age Bid for the Most Elusive Sporting Trophy in History

In pursuit of the America’s Cup, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team is taking sailing out of the water—literally.

Only four countries have ever won sailing’s America’s Cup, the longest-running sporting competition in history. For more than 120 years, in fact, there were only two contenders—America and the United Kingdom—racing on average every four or five years. But the UK never won; it lost the very first race to the New York Yacht Club’s schooner the America in 1851. Sailing has come far since then.

For Patrizio Bertelli, Prada Group Chairman and himself a passionate sailor, it’s been a long road since the first Luna Rossa race team was announced in 1997. Five campaigns to challenge for the cup have seen Prada race off against the holders twice, most recently in 2021. But like the Brits, they have never won the “Auld Mug,” as the trophy is known. Now in his sixth campaign, Bertelli’s determination is undimmed.

“It’s the difficulty of winning it that makes the America’s Cup so fascinating,” he says. “It’s unique—a difficult, complex challenge. It involves building a group of highly specialized people coming from different fields, people capable of working together harmoniously for months with very intense rhythms. It’s a difficult mechanism to set up, but even more difficult to manage. It takes perseverance, determination. You can’t give up; you must keep trying.”

For almost all of its history, the America’s Cup was, by its nature, closed off to the greater public. Races were generally held a good way from shore and were stately in pace, though not without their occasional upsets. But in 2012, everything changed with the debut of foiling. Foiling is the use of advanced physics to allow keelless sailboats to fly on carbon-fiber foils above the waves. How’s that? Think of a sailboat as a vertical airplane wing. Wind over the sail creates thrust. But the water creates drag. Lots of drag. The foils, however (space-age hydraulically powered legs cocked alternately depending on the angle to the wind), create enough lift to raise the entire hull out of the water, reducing drag to a minimum. Speeds, of course, rise exponentially—if you can keep it up on the foils, that is. It’s a knife-edge balancing act that makes for very, very good TV.

“In Barcelona, as in the last edition of Auckland, with only the rudder and the side foils in the water, these flying boats are capable of sailing at more than fifty knots,” says Bertelli. “There are no more sail changes, the crew is composed of eight people, the races don’t last more than forty-five minutes, the tactics and strategy are transformed. A whole different world, but that’s the America’s Cup, the most advanced expression of this sport.”

For Max Sirena—a veteran Luna Rossa skipper who has raced in five previous Prada campaigns and is team director and skipper of this, his sixth—the process of harmonizing high-tech equipment with a human crew is a long and delicate process. “The boat is so complex and fragile at the same time,” he explains, “so you need to learn how to use it at its best. In terms of control, we are more advanced than with the last generation of boat. There is way more technology applied to the performance of the boat. We have a better idea on how best to use the boat. The biggest challenge is us. The main thing is to be prepared. The strength of the team really comes out during the down moments. When you win, it’s easy. I spend a lot of time to ensure the team remains strong when things aren’t going our way.”

Space age and transformative for sailing though foiling is, that didn’t prevent Miuccia Prada from following storied nautical tradition back in April and smashing a bottle of bubbly over the bows of the latest Luna Rossa AC75 boat—in this case, using Cantine Ferrari’s Maximum Blanc de Blancs. For fans of the famous Linea Rossa, the red stripe that has graced Prada sportswear since the first America’s Cup campaign, a small collection of technical gear as worn by the team on the water is available online now . This is no mere merch opportunity, however. In partnership with Woolmark, a body set up to protect and promote the use of fine-quality wool, the clothing is made using merino wool. It’s not perhaps the first thing you would associate with such a high-tech sport. But mindful of sustainability, Prada joined with Woolmark to exploit the natural breathability and performance capabilities of merino for wind- and waterproof sailing gear and jersey training clothes that look every bit as good on the street.

Back on the water, currently the America’s Cup boats are nudging fifty-five knots (or more than sixty mph) on a good day, though most sailors will tell you that it’s consistency, not top speeds, that wins races. Sailing at this level is increasingly likened to Formula 1 on water. And the fast new physics of foiling has coincided with huge advances in the media technology to cover it, a move that is bringing new interest from global audiences and luxury brands as sponsors, not least Louis Vuitton, which sponsored the qualifying round robins from the early 1990s until 2017. This year, after a brief hiatus, it’s back and this time it’s sponsoring the America’s Cup itself, too.

“I believe that today, thanks also to Luna Rossa and its six challenges, the fame and the draw of the America’s Cup have increased greatly, and holding it in Europe is certainly an added value,” says Bertelli. “This is why more and more luxury brands identify with it.”

Race days at Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli’s base, in the harbor of Barcelona, are a family thing. Support staff, friends, and kids gather en masse on the dock’s edge, decked out in the team’s iconic silver-gray gear, waving giant Italian flags and singing along with the Italian pop blasting out of the speakers as the team makes final preparations to Luna Rossa before slipping the lines and heading out to the waters of Barceloneta. While all the teams have their fan base, none, it seems, are louder or more emotional than Luna Rossa’s. You’d be forgiven for thinking this is an Italian-only affair. But while national pride is certainly at stake, building a viable team means drawing on expertise from all over the globe.

“We have nineteen nationalities amongst us,” says Bertelli. “It is unthinkable today to want to form a group with so many specializations and with such a high-level drawing only from a single country. In the regatta, however, they are all Italians except James Spithill, who is in his fourth campaign with Luna Rossa and therefore is truly one of us.” “Jiiimmmeee,” as the mainly Italian crowd hails the Australian co-helmsman of Luna Rossa, is as much of an Italian hero as Francesco “Cecco” Bruni, his Palermo-born counterpart.

In the Louis Vuitton Cup’s fleet races, held from late August, Luna Rossa soared out to a commanding lead on points before a late rally from veteran sailor Sir Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia pipped them. But still, they were through to the semis, which began over the weekend. If, as it appears, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS Britannia face off in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup, it will be a nail-biter. As we go to press, after today’s racing, the standings are 4–1 for both in their respective semis—the UK against Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli against American Magic Team USA. Each front-runner has to win only one more race to go through to the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup in late September. The semifinals continue Wednesday. And each has ample reason to hope for a win.

For more info and how to view, go to americascup.com .

Nick Sullivan is Creative Director at Esquire, where he served as Fashion Director from 2004 until 2019. Prior to that, he relocated from London with his young family to Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. He has styled and art directed countless fashion and cover stories for both Esquire and Big Black Book ( which he helped found in 2006) in exotic,uncomfortable, and occasionally unfeasibly cold locations. He also writes extensively about men’s style, accessories, and watches. He describes his style as elegantly disheveled.

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