Air options for Valiant Lady Oct. 29 out of Barcelona

[barante]

We just returned last week from a Carnival Pride TA. Fell in love with Barcelona. So as soon as we got home, we booked the Valiant Lady TA departing Oct. 29.

 

But what to do with air?

Prices have really shot up since we were able to snag oneway business class tickets on TAP from BCN to IAD for less than $1,000 pp.

The cheapest business class tickets I see now are more than that--and Royal Air Maroc, which gets mixed review. The cheapest premium economy from IAD is on SAS, but the $1,000 deal involves an eight-hour layover in Copenhagen. 

I see Virgin used to sell air for its cruises, but that no longer seems to be true,

 If anyone has any ideas, suggestions, please speak up. Obrigado.

 

[_tacocat_]

If you have frequent flyer miles or other cc point currency that can be transferred to airlines/used for flights, that’s probably your best bet.  Transatlantic airfare is insane right now, and then you have to add on the premium for a one way international flight!

[jon81uk]

One way flights are significantly more expensive that returns, from UK to Miami a single can be double the cost of return. 
We use miles to book the one way flights. 

[cantgetin]

You can always book the April 2024 TA from Miami to BCN and then do a round trip ticket that will cover both your cruises.  The April 2024 TA is an incredible price right now (or it was a few days ago).

We've done the 2 cruises/round trip air deal a couple times now.  It is always a far better deal than one way tickets.  The only downside is needing to wait for the release date on the latest flight.

[Ekposh]

18 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

You can always book the April 2024 TA from Miami to BCN and then do a round trip ticket that will cover both your cruises.  The April 2024 TA is an incredible price right now (or it was a few days ago).

We've done the 2 cruises/round trip air deal a couple times now.  It is always a far better deal than one way tickets.  The only downside is needing to wait for the release date on the latest flight.

Isn't that then needing 2 x BCN - IAD? 

[cantgetin]

1 minute ago, Ekposh said:

Isn't that then needing 2 x BCN - IAD? 

October is BCN to Miami, April is Miami to BCN cruise.

 

We book flights October home airport to BCN and April BCN to home airport.  Then we add flights  in April from home airport to MIA (or FLL depending on cost and times) as well as October MIA to home airport.    We usually do the MIA flights as one way on SW, but could do it round trip on any airline as well

[Ekposh]

1 minute ago, cantgetin said:

October is BCN to Miami, April is Miami to BCN cruise.

 

We book flights October home airport to BCN and April BCN to home airport.  Then we add flights  in April from home airport to MIA (or FLL depending on cost and times) as well as October MIA to home airport.    We usually do the MIA flights as one way on SW, but could do it round trip on any airline as well

Misread, sounds a good idea! Though flights ex US seem very expensive. The only thing I would suggest is seeing if there is anything to another European airport (like JetBlue to Amsterdam) then connect to BCN. I doubt there will be much value in that though. 

[hfxdeb]

Doing the transatlantic in April Miami to BCN. Does Virgin offer any transport to BCN airport? How long of a walk is it from where the ship docks to the end of the BCN pier?

[cantgetin]

9 hours ago, hfxdeb said:

Doing the transatlantic in April Miami to BCN. Does Virgin offer any transport to BCN airport? How long of a walk is it from where the ship docks to the end of the BCN pier?

Virgin docks at the World Trade Center port, so you are not on the long pier at all.  It is a 10 minute walk to the Columbus statue which is a major transportation hub in the city.  Taxi to BCN  in April people were reporting everything from 22 Euros (which is what I paid) to 35 Euros.   There were plenty of cabs, both small and large available at the terminal. A regular cab will hold 2 people + luggage, but if you have a lot of luggage you may need the larger one.  The large cab will hold up to 6 depending on amount of luggage.   VV did offer transportation; I think it was $25 per person; the feedback was not good as they were supposedly quite disorganized.

 

A group on the cruise did their own early morning transport.  They started with something like 52 Euros for a 6 person van, but had so much interest that they increases it to a 13 person van for $82 Euros; the group just split the cost.  These were just people who signed up with the guy who organized it on our social media group.  They did an early morning self disembarkation; meet the van at 7:45, van will depart at 8 whether all are present or not (the organizer had an early flight).

Overall, the terminal at the WTC port in Barcelona was A LOT better organized and run than our embarkation in Miami was!

 

[hfxdeb]

21 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

Virgin docks at the World Trade Center port, so you are not on the long pier at all.  It is a 10 minute walk to the Columbus statue which is a major transportation hub in the city.  Taxi to BCN  in April people were reporting everything from 22 Euros (which is what I paid) to 35 Euros.   There were plenty of cabs, both small and large available at the terminal. A regular cab will hold 2 people + luggage, but if you have a lot of luggage you may need the larger one.  The large cab will hold up to 6 depending on amount of luggage.   VV did offer transportation; I think it was $25 per person; the feedback was not good as they were supposedly quite disorganized.

 

A group on the cruise did their own early morning transport.  They started with something like 52 Euros for a 6 person van, but had so much interest that they increases it to a 13 person van for $82 Euros; the group just split the cost.  These were just people who signed up with the guy who organized it on our social media group.  They did an early morning self disembarkation; meet the van at 7:45, van will depart at 8 whether all are present or not (the organizer had an early flight).

Overall, the terminal at the WTC port in Barcelona was A LOT better organized and run than our embarkation in Miami was!

 

Thank you so much. We have light luggage and don't mind public transit, we have been to Barcelona a few times so know where the Columbus statue is, we will probably plan to take public transit then. Our flight leaves a bit before noon so we should have plenty of time. Great information!