10:40a.m. departure flight out of Barcelona?

[redsonja76]

So I have to choose between a return flight out of Barcelona at 10:40am or at 4:05 pm. Neither of those are great. Seeing as how the ship gets into Barcelona at 7:00 am, do you think we could make the 10:40 am flight, or should I play it safe and book the 4:05 flight? If I book the latter, what the heck are we going to do in Barcelona all day with our bags in tow?

 

[stsomewhere]

Usually, DCl recommends after 12pm. If you are in port overnight, the earlier flight should not be a problem ( such as the EBTA).

Otherwise, you may be held up at customs. I would choose the later flight.

 

[vegs1]

So I have to choose between a return flight out of Barcelona at 10:40am or at 4:05 pm. Neither of those are great. Seeing as how the ship gets into Barcelona at 7:00 am, do you think we could make the 10:40 am flight, or should I play it safe and book the 4:05 flight? If I book the latter, what the heck are we going to do in Barcelona all day with our bags in tow?

Personally, I'd book the latter.

You need a couple of hours ahead of time to check in for international flights and what if you were late getting in for some reason or other?

When we did the Med in 2007, a couple on our cruise had stayed pre-cruise at a hotel right at Placa de Catalunya on Las Ramblas. They asked if they could take a taxi back to their hotel at the end of the cruise and store their bags while they went sightseeing and they said yes. Maybe you could do that.

 

[everafter1]

We did the Med cruise last May and had DCL book our flights. They actually scheduled us on a 10am flight leaving Barcelona. They had a whole process in place for it and they scheduled several of us on that flight.

Plus, it was Delta and they had airline check in right there in the cruise terminal. I'm not sure if they're doing that again, but it was very helpful. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Anal Annie]

I've read before on the previous Med cruises that people were able to make the 10-10:30ish flights OK. I personally wasn't comfortable with that idea so we decided to add on a couple of nights in Barcelona afterward. Our cruise is Sat - Sat and we're staying until Monday. The flights were cheaper to wait until Monday too...

 

[vegs1]

We did the Med cruise last May and had DCL book our flights. They actually scheduled us on a 10am flight leaving Barcelona. They had a whole process in place for it and they scheduled several of us on that flight.

Plus, it was Delta and they had airline check in right there in the cruise terminal. I'm not sure if they're doing that again, but it was very helpful. Enjoy your cruise!

I would do the early flight if Disney was booking my air but we always do our own. To be safe, I'd do the later flight personally.

 

[CandyMandy]

We were in the same dynamic as you (morning flight that seemed a bit on the early side vs. one that was way too late in the day). We went with the early flight (11:49am) because after consulting this boards and speaking with car services in Barcelona it became clear that:

- We can do online check for the outbound flight in prior to the ship getting to Barcelona (I know where I'll be early that last sea day morning!) That means once we are at the airport all we have to do is go to a separate area of Lufthansa that only does baggage check for those who did online check in. No waiting in the huge general check in lines.

- We can (and will) request earliest possible debarkation time. In fact, I will inquire about that right after boarding to make sure I know the earliest time I can make the request.

- We can (and have) a hired private transfer in Barcelona that will be waiting for us in the terminal and will wisk us away the moment we get out of customs. No waiting for DCL transfer bus to load or dealing with the horrific cab lines.

- Since we are debarking on a Saturday, all the transfer firms we spoke with said the traffic to airport won't be as bad.

- Since our flight out of Barcelona is to another European airport (Germany), not to the U.S, we won't have to go through the extra security that is set up for U.S. bound flights.

Given our plan, we will be at the airport by 8:30, for a flight scheduled to leave more than three hours later. That is more than enough of a safety margin.

 

[kcashner]

Last year, DCL made special arrangements for people with flights leaving at 10 or earlier. I trust they are doing the same this year as they booked us on a 10 am flight!

Last year, we booked on our own and got a good deal. This year, DCL was much cheaper so we did air thru them.

They had people meet in Rockin Bar D (continental breakfast served there), and went off the ship before anyone else was allowed off. FYI, we had MORE than enough time at the airport.

 

[DisneyMomJen]

We did a 10:45 AM flight out of Barcelona last August without absolutely no problem. We had a car service pick us up early, I think around 7:00 AM. It is only a 30 minute ride to the airport from the port. We had to wait about a half hour before the Continental Airlines desk opened at the airport. I was nervous about this flight time, but it was fine. When I talked to Guest Services on the ship, the flight time was nothing unusual and there were a number of people who had earlier times. DCL had bus transfers going before we left the port. I think the first was 6:00 or 6:30. There were people on our flight who DCL had made their flight arrangements. I would definitley book this time out of Barcelona again.

 

[AuntyBrat]

I did this flight last May while on a cruise. The lines to check bags in for Luftansa were LONG>>>> in addition, Luftansa will weigh your carry on bags also, and if they exceed the weight limit, you will HAVE to check them. For them it is WEIGHT not size that counts. That made for LOTS of fun last minute shuffling for everyone standing at the check in desk. In addition, while they are right that you will not have to go through as much screening in Barcelona, in Amsterdam where you flight lands you will have to change planes, you will be going through the lines from H E double hockey sticks to clear customs and get to your next flight. THEN it gets more fun. Unlike the airports in the states or even Barcelona, the security screening for your flight takes place in the boarding area. The boarding area is screened off and glassed in. You can NOT bring in food or drinks from the outside areas. And the seating in these areas can be very limited. So, unlike here where you clear security and head off to grab a bite to eat and then take what ever you got to the boarding area, but not there. You will see people standing around wolfing down food and then getting in line to go through security queue up for their flight. Also, they pat down and wand EVERYONE. I did not find it overly intrusive and they had females doing females and males doing males. They were very pleasant and professional. And do not give into the temptation to buy bulbs to bring home. They will be confiscated and trashed at the first US customs you come through. Tried to advise fellow passengers but they didn't believe me...until they got tossed. Wow, I just read this and sound like merry freaking sunshine...Oh and the food on Luftansa was not to my taste. It was geared towards folks from the Netherlands, not Americans (IMNTBHO) and if you have kids, plan on bringing them something to eat or snack on. The seats were comfy for coach and the inflight entertainment was not bad.

 

[lexlaw69]

You are cutting it real close - all it will take is one bag misplaced and your safety margin is gone. That being said if you take the appropriate measures and plan you will probably be OK. I wouldn't book before 12.....our flight to Paris is at 12ish something.

 

[Dicecatt]

I had a 10:40-ish flight out of Barcelona last April. No problem...in fact, we sat in the airport for a really long time waiting for our flight.

 

[sayhello]

So I have to choose between a return flight out of Barcelona at 10:40am or at 4:05 pm. Neither of those are great. Seeing as how the ship gets into Barcelona at 7:00 am, do you think we could make the 10:40 am flight, or should I play it safe and book the 4:05 flight? If I book the latter, what the heck are we going to do in Barcelona all day with our bags in tow?

I'd book the later flight. This year, DCL is actually doing something I wish they'd done last year. They have Barcelona excursions for Debarkation day that you can only book onboard. They will take you from the ship, show you around either Barcelona or Montserrat, and then deposit you and your luggage at the airport afterwards. If I were you, I'd look into doing one of those. A *MUCH* less stressful way to disembark, kill time, and get to the airport, with some great sightseeing for added value!

On the Port Adventure page, look under Barcelona. They're clearly marked as "Onboard Bookings Only".

Sayhello

 

[nanaguide]

We did the May 15 Med trip last year. We inquired at the beginning of our cruise about debarking early - they said no problem - took our name and cabin number. We ate at 6 a.m., walked off at 6:30, got into our taxi before 7 a.m. and we were at the airport by 7:30. We were sitting at the gate by 8 a.m. - thinking now what do we do for 2 hours as our flight didn't leave until 10 a.m. We were on US Airways. I had really worried about this and it was so easy. The roads weren't busy on a Saturday morning. There were lots of taxis out front. Still I like Say Hello's Advice - go with Disney to see Montserrat. Last 2 Disney cruises I've wanted to go there - first TA it rained all day so cancelled. Last year DH lost his wallet to a pick pocket on the Metro and so we cancelled that sightseeing trip again. Someday I will get to Montserrat!!!! Oh by the way - the State Department sent DH's wallet to us about 2 months ago - minus the money and credit card. Everything else was intact. Enjoy your trip - Barcelona is gorgeous!!!!!

 

[everafter1]

We arrived with plenty of time to spare at the airport for the 10am flight that DCL booked us on. We were a party of 5, one of whom was utilizing a wheelchair. It did take a while finding our bags when we got off the ship, but we still made it with time to sit in the airport

 

[Ajojo]

Last year, I was booked through DCL for a 10:30 flight and they had us to the airport early. I was through the checkin and at the gate by 8:00. FLight was with US Air. No problem at all

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

We had a 10:15 flight that recently got moved back, but I was all set to do it. You might consider keeping your bags with you (so you don't have to spend time looking for them) when you leave the ship. I arranged a private car so I wouldn't be stressed about a taxi line.

 

[DisneyMomJen]

We kept our bags with us in order to save time in the morning.

 

[woody73]

So I have to choose between a return flight out of Barcelona at 10:40am or at 4:05 pm. Neither of those are great.

I see that you are from Germany. Guten tag.

I think you will have an easier time with an early flight than those traveling to the U.S.

Woody

 

[janey2000]

I have booked the cheapest return flight to London on Easyjet which was at 1820. There was me thinking 'what a lovely day we'll spend in Barcelona', forgetting that we will have 2 suitcase, 3 hand luggage bags and a toddler with pushchair!!!

So after doing much research on what we'll do for the day with cases I have a solution if you take the later flight.

We are hiring 2 bikes (one with toddler seat) from Fat bike tours for 8 euro's each and they will store our luggage for us

Even if we chain the bikes up and tour on foot or bus then it's still cheap luggage storage! My plan is to get the blue shuttle bus to Christopher Columbus monument and then walk the 10 mins to the rental shop. They do an actual bike tour if you are interested but with a toddler we didn't think this would be suitable for us.