New Cruise Terminal in Tarragona

[Clay Clayton]

This might make having your cruise end in Tarragona rather than Barcelona a little easier and more comfortable. 
 

 

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/construction-tarragonas-new-cruise-terminal-gets-underway?NL=ST-004&Issue=ST-004_20230613_ST-004_998&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_6&utm_campaign=STRADE_News_Seatrade Cruise News Weekly Headline_News_NL_06132023_4732&utm_emailname=STRADE_News_Seatrade Cruise News Weekly Headline_News_NL_06132023_4732&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eloqua&utm_MDMContactID=db60c4e4-0afe-4832-ad88-83806cef368f&utm_campaigntype=Newsletter&eM=fe6114d63ee1af637c116a68ad60731963dbb02f790981a727f86217fc60c39d&eventSeriesCode=ES_SEATRDCRSCTNT&eventEditionCode=MTM00SCC&sessionCode=S_STRDCRSNEWS&sp_eh=fe6114d63ee1af637c116a68ad60731963dbb02f790981a727f86217fc60c39d

[LindaS272]

Might be a nice building, but still have to get to and from Barcelona! 🫣

[basenji56]

It's 61 miles to Barcelona.  Not an upgrade regardless of how green it may be.  Will put Barcelona on a par with Rome and Venice for cruise passenger inconvenience.

 

 

[Vineyard View]

19 minutes ago, basenji56 said:

It's 61 miles to Barcelona.  Not an upgrade regardless of how green it may be.  Will put Barcelona on a par with Rome and Venice for cruise passenger inconvenience.

 

 

Having just sailed Venice, and Rome in the past, I totally agree with this statement. 

[Jim Avery]

Pushing cruise ships away from many locations seems to be a disturbing trend.  I think the ever larger Behemoths of the Seas of many lines are to blame.  A Viking ship makes very little impact when they dock.   I personally cannot conceive of sailing with thousands of passengers.

[basenji56]

Are there any top quality hotels in Tarragona? Or is it just an industrial port? 
 

$120 to $160 taxi fare. 

Edited June 13, 2023 by basenji56

[Meander Ingwa]

if it is any consolation, the train from Tarragona passes a nude beach at Sitges

[OneSixtyToOne]

On our 2019 cruise, we originated in Barcelona and were suppose to overnight there. Because of port overcrowding, we had to leave that night and dock in Tarragona. This caused Viking to cancel all the excursions and substitute a makeshift Barcelona "Highlights" Tour with an hourlong bus ride just to get to the city. This was the main reason we returned to Barcelona this year. We finally were able to experience the city in all it's glory.

[DrKoob]

5 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

Having just sailed Venice, and Rome in the past, I totally agree with this statement. 

But Taragonna was one of the best ports on our 21-day Sky cruise. 

[Peregrina651]

5 hours ago, basenji56 said:

Are there any top quality hotels in Tarragona? Or is it just an industrial port? 
 

$120 to $160 taxi fare. 

 

I don't know if Tarragona is an industrial city but I do know that it is an ancient Roman outpost and is chock-a-block with Roman ruins,especially in the old city area.Tarragona is not a back water. It is a provincial capital with a long history.

 

Yes, it is a long way from the Barcelona airport but the 20 minute ride from the port of Barcelona has us spoiled. But, it isn't the only port that is some distance from a major airport, so why the complaints. Rome is inland (for which we can thank the ancient Romans; even they had a 70 mile chariot ride to their seaport of Ostia). London is inland and very few cruise ships dock in Greenwich. Athens is a distance from its port. True, it is not be a great place from which to explore Barcelona but there is plenty to see in the Tarragona area.

 

As for the taxi prices, I wouldn't worry. Tourism is a major source of income. Once the terminal opens and operations ramp up, public transportation (trains, buses, airport shuttles, limo/private car services) will be tourist-ready.

 

 

city square build on the ruins of the roman forum; only some old stones are left.

 

It's December 31. It has been fairly quiet as we wander the streets.

[Vineyard View]

We’ve been to and stayed in Barcelona several times. We have loved our time there. It’s a beautiful city with much to do. So for us, a different port with interesting history to explore would be great. However, for a lot of people who have not been to Barcelona, and it is on their bucket list, then this change will impact their time in the City in a negative manner. Not everyone has time available, but Barcelona is a great city to go into early or stay afterwards and this change may prompt more of that, as it has in Venice. When we were in Venice for several days a couple weeks ago, multiple merchants and restaurants shared that with the port changes, they are seeing more people staying in the city longer  than prior to the cruise changes there. Same migration may occur in Barcelona. Time will tell. 

[DrKoob]

If you are lucky, the day you get off there will be a festival going on. I got these shots off Viking Sky last September. One of my best days of photography ever. Here's what it looked like: 

[CCWineLover]

19 hours ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

On our 2019 cruise, we originated in Barcelona and were suppose to overnight there. Because of port overcrowding, we had to leave that night and dock in Tarragona. This caused Viking to cancel all the excursions and substitute a makeshift Barcelona "Highlights" Tour with an hourlong bus ride just to get to the city. This was the main reason we returned to Barcelona this year. We finally were able to experience the city in all it's glory.

I remember that, Joe.  Fortunately:

-We had come in several days early and did Barcelona on our own - great city

-In Tarragona we found a wonderful port city that was not crowded and full of things to walk around, explore, and see!  I wouldn't mind going back - except perhaps the trial of getting there from Barcelona Airport.  We'll be heading there in February, so we'll have to see how it goes.  Hard to believe Viking will still only charge $49 for a transfer.

[basenji56]

2 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

  Hard to believe Viking will still only charge $49 for a transfer.

That is a good price.  From the airport to the city?  

[Hanoj]

On 6/13/2023 at 12:36 PM, basenji56 said:

It's 61 miles to Barcelona.  Not an upgrade regardless of how green it may be.  Will put Barcelona on a par with Rome and Venice for cruise passenger inconvenience.

 

 

That’s the idea, right? Kinda the opposite of “build it and they will come” (adapted from Field of Dreams).

 

I’m only reading this thread now (I used search to get here 😉) because we’re contemplating an October 2025 Trade Routes of the Middle Ages itinerary that ends in Tarragona. Although our 2019 Mediterranean Odyssey ended in Barcelona, I still prefer Barna.

[makai 7]

We spent 3 weeks in Tarragona on business, but had some time to explore.  I would describe it as a “mini” Barcelona- it was  major tourist destination for Eastern European visitors at the time, with menus in several languages available.

 

food was excellent, not too crowded, many ruins to explore, and they have their own version of La Rambla without the pickpockets and grifters.  We would wander and get lost on side streets, with churches and squares everywhere.

[downsmead]

Tarragona is a lovely city to explore in its own right. We spent a lovely day there whilst staying in Barcelona a few years back. So full of history and also has a lovely shopping area (we had teenage girls with us at the time!). I think it also has its own airport with easy connections from the U.K. 

[lovetosew]

We had a lovely few days in Barcelona on our last Viking River cruise.  One of my favorite necklaces I wear I bought in a market square while having a coffee and people watching.  Looking forward to going back.