O Disembarkation in Barcelona

[PelicanLvr]

We will be disembarking from Nautica in Barcelona in November.  Does anyone know:

 

What Terminal Nautica uses?

 

How early can you self-disembark?   - O arrival time says 8 am

 

Are taxi's plentiful at the terminal?

 

Thank you in advance for any info.

[Woodrowst]

The answer to your first two questions is:  you never know.  It is up to the harbor master to assign docking assignments and our experience in Barcelona is this can change right up to the last day of the cruise.  On our recent Dubai to Barcelona Oceania cruise the specific disembarkation terminal was only announced two days in advance.
 

If there are no delays ( a big “if”) you might be able to be at the taxis at 8:20am.  But that assumes that that everything goes like clockwork and lots of things can gum up the works.

 

We have disembarked twice in Barcelona and both times there have been plenty of taxis.  But you can wait for up to 20 minutes depending on how long the line is.

 

if you are asking because you want to make an early morning flight (seemingly the most common reason people ask these questions on cruise critic) you can search for strings that address this.  You will find the consensus is not to try to make an early flight.  Too many things can go wrong and it is not worth worrying about it while you are on vacation.  The advice is to take an afternoon flight or stay a day and enjoy the wonderful city of Barcelona.

[PelicanLvr]

1 hour ago, Woodrowst said:

The answer to your first two questions is:  you never know.  It is up to the harbor master to assign docking assignments and our experience in Barcelona is this can change right up to the last day of the cruise.  On our recent Dubai to Barcelona Oceania cruise the specific disembarkation terminal was only announced two days in advance.
 

If there are no delays ( a big “if”) you might be able to be at the taxis at 8:20am.  But that assumes that that everything goes like clockwork and lots of things can gum up the works.

 

We have disembarked twice in Barcelona and both times there have been plenty of taxis.  But you can wait for up to 20 minutes depending on how long the line is.

 

if you are asking because you want to make an early morning flight (seemingly the most common reason people ask these questions on cruise critic) you can search for strings that address this.  You will find the consensus is not to try to make an early flight.  Too many things can go wrong and it is not worth worrying about it while you are on vacation.  The advice is to take an afternoon flight or stay a day and enjoy the wonderful city of Barcelona.

Thanks for all the info.  We are returning home to NYC and the non-stop leaves at 12:15 pm. 

 

We booked that flight and deciding if we should book a car to be waiting for us. 

[golfguyhhi]

Pelican,

 

By all means, book the car and driver.  The airport is only about 20 minutes from the port.  Just knowing someone will be waiting there with a sign with your name on it will be a great stress reliever.  You'll need to be at the airport to check in by 9:30.   That means you can pick a later debarkation time than 8 AM (like 8:30) and avoid the mob that clogs the exit area starting at 7:30, all desperate to be the first off the ship. 

[elbowroom]

Small ships usually dock at the World Trade Center, which is in the city center itself.

 

If the cruise only visits Europe, i.e. Schengen area, there are usually no checks on disembarkation.

Taxis are usually plentiful and organised.

There is a flat rate from port to airport that includes luggage. 

It takes 20 minutes when there is no traffic, but rarely more than 10-15 longer at that time of morning.

[WayneLaR]

6 hours ago, elbowroom said:

Small ships usually dock at the World Trade Center, which is in the city center itself.

 

If the cruise only visits Europe, i.e. Schengen area, there are usually no checks on disembarkation.

Taxis are usually plentiful and organised.

There is a flat rate from port to airport that includes luggage. 

It takes 20 minutes when there is no traffic, but rarely more than 10-15 longer at that time of morning.

The dock by the WTC is being closed in Oct.  Environmental reasons of exhaust emissions too close to occupied areas of the city.

[ORV]

33 minutes ago, WayneLaR said:

The dock by the WTC is being closed in Oct.  Environmental reasons of exhaust emissions too close to occupied areas of the city.

Seems the last time we were there the other dock was about a half mile west of it. What's the difference?

[EJL2023]

5 minutes ago, ORV said:

Seems the last time we were there the other dock was about a half mile west of it. What's the difference?

Article I read said no more docking at WtC and the Muelle Barcelona Norte….all being moved to southern docks. 

[elbowroom]

What's the difference?

 

The WTC lies on the shoreline, so visitors could walk straight into the city in a couple of minutes. For taxi drivers, it was convenient too, as it was just off the main road.

 

The other docks are built out into the sea with only one side of the quay suitable for docking. They're close to the WTC, but not convenient for pedestrians. Unless you're fit, you need the cruise terminal bus or a taxi.

 

In short, simply add another 10 - 15 mins to your journey to the airport.

The flat rate tariff is the same, 39 euros. Taxis will be of all sorts and sizes.

[elbowroom]

I hope that makes it clearer. Oceania usually docked where the Azamara is. Now you will be where the larger vessels are.

[WayneLaR]

Yes, southern docks not nearly as convenient, especially for pedestrians. 

[ORV]

6 hours ago, elbowroom said:

What's the difference?

 

The WTC lies on the shoreline, so visitors could walk straight into the city in a couple of minutes. For taxi drivers, it was convenient too, as it was just off the main road.

 

The other docks are built out into the sea with only one side of the quay suitable for docking. They're close to the WTC, but not convenient for pedestrians. Unless you're fit, you need the cruise terminal bus or a taxi.

 

In short, simply add another 10 - 15 mins to your journey to the airport.

The flat rate tariff is the same, 39 euros. Taxis will be of all sorts and sizes.

By Difference I meant in relation to this. "Environmental reasons of exhaust emissions too close to occupied areas of the city." Like you said they're close to the WTC, I walked between them in 15 or 20 minutes, and that wasn't a straight line. I find them equally close to the city for exhaust emissions. 

[WayneLaR]

You would have to raise your concern with city officials.  I'm just sharing information that I hoped others would find useful.

[EJL2023]

41 minutes ago, WayneLaR said:

You would have to raise your concern with city officials.  I'm just sharing information that I hoped others would find useful.

Exactly. And thanks for the information as will be there on a cruise next year. It could be simply they are almost equally bad but address the ones closest instead of shutting them all down and losing the industry.  In looking at google map it really does appear that the ones remaining open are closer to the open sea which could most likely mean less impact on the city center.

[babydrum]

7 hours ago, elbowroom said:

What's the difference?

 

The WTC lies on the shoreline, so visitors could walk straight into the city in a couple of minutes. For taxi drivers, it was convenient too, as it was just off the main road.

 

The other docks are built out into the sea with only one side of the quay suitable for docking. They're close to the WTC, but not convenient for pedestrians. Unless you're fit, you need the cruise terminal bus or a taxi.

 

In short, simply add another 10 - 15 mins to your journey to the airport.

The flat rate tariff is the same, 39 euros. Taxis will be of all sorts and sizes.

Is the flat rate per person or per vehicle?

[Elbig]

We plan to take the train from Barcelona to Madrid ( I think that is the better than flying). Anyway the train station seems to be fairly close to the docks. What time would be reasonable to book a train? If disembarkation starts at 8a would 10:30a or 11a be reasonable? Thx. 

[Woodrowst]

17 hours ago, WayneLaR said:

The dock by the WTC is being closed in Oct.  Environmental reasons of exhaust emissions too close to occupied areas of the city.

For more information about the closing of the World Trade Center dock to cruise ships see https://www.cruisehive.com/partial-barcelona-cruise-ship-ban-to-begin-in-october/109202

[elbowroom]

Per vehicle. 

It's official name is Tariff T4.

If you scroll down the page you will find the correct information.

https://taxi.amb.cat/en/usuari/tarifes

 

[elbowroom]

The two bugbears of "resort" cities are cruise ships and tourist apartments, particularly one brand. The move makes little or no real difference, but it makes a headline or two.

 

Big cities seems to want tourists' money but not tourists themselves...Short-term letting is, in my view, much worse a situation, as it affects the housing market, and particularly first-time buyers, who find prices spiralling out of their reach. 

[kathy9]

17 hours ago, Elbig said:

We plan to take the train from Barcelona to Madrid ( I think that is the better than flying). Anyway the train station seems to be fairly close to the docks. What time would be reasonable to book a train? If disembarkation starts at 8a would 10:30a or 11a be reasonable? Thx. 

We are taking the train from Barcelona to Madrid also. I booked iryo departing at 1155 am arrives in Madrid at 1440. Probably could have gone with an earlier time but I don't like to feel rushed.

Kathy

[elbowroom]

The train station is certainly near to the docks, 3-4 miles away.

The train itself is fast, comfortable, and journey times vary simply due to the number of stops: sometimes it goes direct, other times, stops on 3 or 4 occasions.

The Barcelona train station is a bit old and cramped, as we are waiting for the new station which will be completed...(fill in the details).

Your luggage will be scanned just before you board the train, which takes some people by surprise.

The train is often fully booked, so plan ahead. 

As prices are based on supply and demand, the difference between classes fluctuates considerably.

The Madrid station, Atocha, also the name for the surrounding district, is close to the three big museums, Prado, Thyssen, Reina Sofia.