Montserrat (Cataonia) May 2023 self-guided tour pictures & info for sharing

[mking8288]

We recently returned from our Norwegian Epic's 15 nights TA from New York to Barcelona, Spain - and, arranged for a semi-private small group tour to do a half day / 5 hours trip to see the jagged mountains at Montserrat - with a monastery, etc. It is about a 1 hour drive from Barcelona's city center.  

 

This is the direct link to the entire Semi-Live "Epic" TA 15 Nights TA from NYC to Barcelona - post #434 - connect to our arrival & disembarkation morning, with 6 to 7 cruise ships docking that day in the busiest port in Europe, and, they are building and expanding facilities to handle more ships on any given day.  

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2932245-semilive-an-epic-ta-15-nights-ny-to-barcelona-042223-050723/?do=findComment&comment=65336354

 

A sub-set of these pictures first posted on the NCL's forum as part of our Semi-Live Trip Report posted, with over 50+ pictures taken, about 1/3 were uploaded to the Semi-Live Report but the rest are being posted here, with a link to/from the Semi-Live Report.  We were met or picked up just outside our ship's cruise terminal on the morning of embarkation, reconfirmed for 8:30 a.m. and our driver/guide was prompt and there early, holding a sign with our name on it - helped us with our luggage to the van nearby, stored our luggage in the van, and once all the parties were onboard, proceeded to Montserrat. 

 

The tour operator's team has been very responsible & thorough, updating and keeping us informed of scheduling, payment options and re-confirming details & answer questions and concerns that we might have.  It is strongly recommended that one has access to a mobile/cellular phone that works in Spain, and a WhatsApp app that can send/receive calls, text messages and voice mails when needed.  

 

Upon arrival, one has time & access to on-site restrooms - food court/snack bars to purchase beverage, snacks and meals as desired.  There is a good deal of walking and some of it involving climbing steps.  Montserrat can be reached via daily train services from BCN with transfer, and there is the option of riding the cable car up to the mountain top instead.  With just 7 of us, our driver/guide did not go with us into the monastery grounds but gave us excellent direction, information & tips, suggestions, and where to meet him with the allocated time - and, drove us back to the city afterward, seeing the "other" side or back side of the jagged mountain - and dropped us off at our individually preferred/requested spots.  For us, that was to our hotel with our luggage - excellent service.  

 

Look for part 2 of this mini series, our next morning's Half Day City Highlights of Barcelona ... which can be done for someone disembarkation off a cruise, with a late day/evening flight connection at the BCN Airport - it would be rushing.  

 

 

After taking the down escalator (or elevator) one will be directed to go thru a quick Spain border control/immigration area, for a passport check & getting it stamped for entry - and then move to the luggage area.  There are restrooms (called W.C.) nearby - if you aren't sure, ask for direction.  Luggage will come up into the carousals (airport style) - ours had already be taken off & lined up, color-coded as tagged, made it easy to find & collect.  Limited porter services available, apparently.  We managed on our own just fine, as our 24" spinners were about 21 kg / 40 lbs each only - plus a smaller carry-on bag.  

 

 

 

 

 

Above & below is where tour buses, airport transfer, and our driver/guide - greeters with our name written on a large cardbox ... would come & look or us.  We're out earlier & waited inside for about 10 or 15 minutes, and walked out to look for him/her.  He was early by about 15 minutes, helped us with some of the luggage & walked a short 3 to 5 minutes to the van - and, we're off in air-conditioned comfort.

 

 

View of the city's hilltop - mountain as we're driven to see the cruise terminals - the size of a major airport's grounds with parking & transport facilities.  

 

After picking up another couple that arrived earlier on another cruise ship, we began heading for the port's exit.  

 

That's a privately owned luxury ship ... 

[mking8288]

From the time we arrived at Montserrat, take that 15 minutes walk and started exploring ... we have about 1.5 hour to see everything, our purchased timed ticket to see the Black Virgin Mary was arranged by our tour operator ahead - be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, there are stairs & steps to climb up and down.  Snacks, sandwiches & beverages are available near the entrance and opposite the cable car & train station ... bank ATM also on site.  

 

Looking back, it was a wonderful trip and highly recommended if your stay in Barcelona is short.  Next time we visit, we will probably take the train instead (with a transfer in the city) to get there directly, there is the option of taking the cable car up, at one (1) train station stop earlier - Google that info or how - as DIY.  To fully appreciate the experience, we feel one will need 3 to 4 hours, if not a whole day, as some of the spots require a good amount of hiking & walking on trails.  There is a hotel on-site for those that wanted to stay overnight, perhaps to see the sunrise or sunset on the jagged mountain top.

 

[mking8288]

More pictures - (note - some of the pictures uploaded are out of sequence, time limitations did not allow for re-arranging them ... overall, should find it useful to see & visualize the experience)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This van is identical to ours, different driver - has room to fit our luggage in the back, very comfortable and no complaints from those sitting in row #3 or the back row - total of 7 adult passengers plus the driver.   Near the entrance where we're dropped off & the spot where our driver/guide waited for us.  

 

 

 

 

We're returning to the city via a different route coming down the back or opposite side of the mountain, stopping briefly for a look at the different aspect of the jagged mountain. 

 

 

 

Below, finally back in the city of Barcelona and getting dropped off - urban traffic on a Sunday afternoon.  We ran into a brief shower up in the mountains but the sun is out again, they badly needed the rain and has been in an extended drought. 

Edited May 12, 2023 by mking8288

[sunlover5]

Thank you so much for this!  I am researching this right now. We will be there in November and have decided to do it on our own taking the train. We will take the gondola up and the train trek down!!!!

again, thank you for sharing your pictures with us. 

[mking8288]

21 minutes ago, sunlover5 said:

We will be there in November and have decided to do it on our own taking the train. We will take the gondola up and the train trek down!!!!

 

DW and I concluded that, now that we have gained first hand experience doing this pilgrimage and she isn't religious, Montserrat is uplifting for the mind & spirt - that on our next visit to BCN, we will plan ahead to spend a whole day up there - an overnight stay will probably be not easy to book and $$$ but could be worthwhile.  Check the train schedule carefully - Google or Siri the details & tips, I read those and get there early for a headstart.  Reserve the timed slot (optional fees, I believe) to see the Black Virgin Mary if you desire - allow plenty of time to be there, a separate line or queue for those with advance reservations - and see the rest of the monastery first, use the restrooms first (long wait for the ladies/women).  

 

You can pack for a picnic lunch, bring water and snacks, etc. or just buy there at the indoor food court or concessions.  We didn't have time to stop & check out the outdoor market vendors, selling mostly local goodies including honey, cheesecake & some artwork.  The hike to the hilltop with the cross is said to take 2 to 3 hours for most, ditto the caved building where the BVM was initially found.  

 

Taking the train from the city (if not doing the cable car) - it come right into the monastery as seen in the first batch of pictures, and the 2nd. set of cable car that do the steep climb the rest of the way up to the highest point/peak is also right there with ticket windows across the way.  We got there around 10:30 am and it was already busy and by 11:00 to 11:30, the whole place was mobbed and full of visitors everywhere.  

 

I'm glad that this will be seen, read & some of you considering the trip - to find it useful & helpful.  If I just leave the details on the NCL forum under Semi/Live Trip Report, fewer CC'ers will get to see & know about this.  

 

There is a 2nd in the series - associated with BCN City Highlight, half day semi-private tour - tons of pictures as well ... as we shouldn't only planned for a 2 days post-TA cruise to see this beautiful Spanish city with so much to offer.  

 

[sunlover5]

Great information!!!!  We plan to go early and are planning to spend the day there. 
I will definitely look at the train schedule. We would like to be on the train by 8:00/8:30 AM from Barcelona. If I have this right, we will have a ticket for the gondola ride up and when we want to catch the train back We will take the train rail down to the city train????  
That is the way we will buy our tickets. 😁