Barcelona debarkation experience??

[Littled7287]

Debating on rebooking our flight home from Barcelona to a 1250p departure. We currently have a 140p departure but very little layover time to go through customs/immigration/recheck luggage once back in the US. Does anyone who has done any of the Med cruises previously have experience with departures that early/think it’s enough time to get to El Prat/go through security etc once the ship pulls in on debarkation day? Thanks!

 

[PsylockeSmythe]

On our 2018 Med Cruise, our departing flight was 2pm. If I remember right it did take us a bit (20 to 30 minutes), to get through the first security check point. Then there was the line to get the VAT that we paid on purchases refunded (another 30+ minutes). We did have time to eat something at one of the restaurants in the airport before we were able to get into the line for customs, before getting on the plane and that took another 30+ minutes.

I would say that mattering on how busy the airport is that day, expect it take take anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get through security, request the VAT refund on purchases, and get through Customs just o get to the gate that your flight is leaving from. Plus the airport was huge and and for us the gate was at the end of one of the terminals, so there was also walking time to get places.

Your 12:50p should work, but it will all matter on how soon you get off the ship and then how long it takes once at the airport.

Psy

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

I agree with Psy's post on the times. When I went through Barcelona, you had two security lines plus a check in line. First you have to check in with your airlines and drop your bag (this depends on your airline, seat category etc) but expect maybe 20 minutes? It varies so much by airlines. We did this portion in under 10 minutes. Next you have security, which is like Psy said, 20-30 minutes. And the "surprise" for many people is a second security like customs check before you get to your gate but after you have entered a main terminal area. This again took 30 minutes and that line can get LONG.

As a reminder, DCL does not promise getting into your port at a specific time. It often is on time and you can debark quickly and make it to the port. You can also be late or customs for the port can take a while to clear the ship and allow people to exit (this has happened to me).

You can obviously expedited your exit from the Magic by carrying off your own luggage and walk off as early as they allow. Getting a Taxi can take a few minutes if it's busy in port ( I waited almost 30 minutes once for a taxi in Lisbon) so you can also consider booking a car service ahead of time that will be waiting for you. Also don't forget depending on what day you are docking in Barcelona, you may have additional regular traffic (a Tuesday say vs a Saturday). I would personally be more comfortable with a 1:40 departure time, but that would also depend on how much time that leaves you go to through customs at your first US airport. That time can vary widely, but I always give myself 2 hours between flights for that process. That way if my flight inbound is a little late, or the lines are long, or I have to change terminals miles apart, I have the time to do it. Remember your next flights departure time is not it's boarding time. If your flight leaves at say 2:00pm, you probably begin boarding at 1:20 or 1:30pm and the doors close by 1:40pm.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

We have a 1pm Barcelona departure time, but, in theory, if anything goes wrong, we can grab another later flight as we are "only" flying to Paris, and not all of the way back to the states.

 

[gilsan]

Debating on rebooking our flight home from Barcelona to a 1250p departure. We currently have a 140p departure but very little layover time to go through customs/immigration/recheck luggage once back in the US. Does anyone who has done any of the Med cruises previously have experience with departures that early/think it’s enough time to get to El Prat/go through security etc once the ship pulls in on debarkation day? Thanks!

Disney recommends a departure time of 11:30am or later so you should be fine. The airport is close to the port. We sailed into Barcelona in 2014 and I remember having lots of time to spare at the airport.

Guests Arranging Independent Air Travel

For the Barcelona to Barcelona sailings, we recommend the following flight-time guidelines:

• Latest arrival time to Barcelona International Airport on Embarkation Day: 1:30 PM
• Earliest departure time from Barcelona International Airport on Debarkation Day: 11:30 AM

 

[cedricandsophie]

Don’t forget as of now we still need a test to get on the plane to come hone. So far I haven’t seen how Disney will handle tests in Barcelona. I checked with the firm they use for tests here and they have no knowledge of testing in Barcelona. I assume Disney will have something but you never know. We are on the transatlantic landing in Barcelona on may 21. I elected to come hone on the 22nd to make sure we had enough time for tests (our hotel will handle if needed) and because I found a better connection for us back to chicago.

 

[mab2012]

Well, if your 12:50 departure is too early, I'm in real trouble with my 10:50 departure! But the ticket price was too good to pass up, €17 pp, so I decided it was worth the risk. We'll plan to walk off early. Like one of the previous posters, we're just taking a regional flight into London, so if the worst happens and we miss it, we'll figure something out.

I've only disembarked in Barcelona once before, and it was six years ago, so I don't really remember the details. But we were catching an overseas flight at 12:45, and I do remember sitting on the floor at the check-in area for at least an hour just waiting for bag drop to open. So we had lots of time. Obviously there's always the risk that your ship will clear late or there will be some major delay on the way to the airport, but as long as everything is running normally, you should be fine.

 

[Littled7287]

I agree with Psy's post on the times. When I went through Barcelona, you had two security lines plus a check in line. First you have to check in with your airlines and drop your bag (this depends on your airline, seat category etc) but expect maybe 20 minutes? It varies so much by airlines. We did this portion in under 10 minutes. Next you have security, which is like Psy said, 20-30 minutes. And the "surprise" for many people is a second security like customs check before you get to your gate but after you have entered a main terminal area. This again took 30 minutes and that line can get LONG.

As a reminder, DCL does not promise getting into your port at a specific time. It often is on time and you can debark quickly and make it to the port. You can also be late or customs for the port can take a while to clear the ship and allow people to exit (this has happened to me).

You can obviously expedited your exit from the Magic by carrying off your own luggage and walk off as early as they allow. Getting a Taxi can take a few minutes if it's busy in port ( I waited almost 30 minutes once for a taxi in Lisbon) so you can also consider booking a car service ahead of time that will be waiting for you. Also don't forget depending on what day you are docking in Barcelona, you may have additional regular traffic (a Tuesday say vs a Saturday). I would personally be more comfortable with a 1:40 departure time, but that would also depend on how much time that leaves you go to through customs at your first US airport. That time can vary widely, but I always give myself 2 hours between flights for that process. That way if my flight inbound is a little late, or the lines are long, or I have to change terminals miles apart, I have the time to do it. Remember your next flights departure time is not it's boarding time. If your flight leaves at say 2:00pm, you probably begin boarding at 1:20 or 1:30pm and the doors close by 1:40pm.

That’s why we are looking at changing. Have less then two hours now for a connection from landing to takeoff of the next flight. I don’t think that’s enough time to go through customs/immigration and recheck bags, might be but if anything goes wrong there aren’t any other flights out to our home airport until the next morning

 

[Littled7287]

Don’t forget as of now we still need a test to get on the plane to come hone. So far I haven’t seen how Disney will handle tests in Barcelona. I checked with the firm they use for tests here and they have no knowledge of testing in Barcelona. I assume Disney will have something but you never know. We are on the transatlantic landing in Barcelona on may 21. I elected to come hone on the 22nd to make sure we had enough time for tests (our hotel will handle if needed) and because I found a better connection for us back to chicago.

I’m reeeeealllly hoping that if the mask mandate is lifted the reentry test will be as well. Read a hopeful news article yesterday that the airline industry thinks the order will be let to expire. All speculation and who knows until it actually happens. Had planned to test either at the port or at the airport that morning, antigen should take 15mins or so. Maybe we’ll get lucky and DCL will offer disembarkation tests to everyone needing one as part of their Europe procedures

 

[Littled7287]

Well, if your 12:50 departure is too early, I'm in real trouble with my 10:50 departure! But the ticket price was too good to pass up, €17 pp, so I decided it was worth the risk. We'll plan to walk off early. Like one of the previous posters, we're just taking a regional flight into London, so if the worst happens and we miss it, we'll figure something out.

I've only disembarked in Barcelona once before, and it was six years ago, so I don't really remember the details. But we were catching an overseas flight at 12:45, and I do remember sitting on the floor at the check-in area for at least an hour just waiting for bag drop to open. So we had lots of time. Obviously there's always the risk that your ship will clear late or there will be some major delay on the way to the airport, but as long as everything is running normally, you should be fine.

That’s a crazy good deal! Probably would have risked it too