Flying from Barcelona on Debarkation Date

[Uncleromulus]

Our preferred flight from Barcelona to Dulles leaves at 11:15 am on debarkation date. Is this realistically do-able?

 

[koala1966]

Barcelona airport was surprisingly easy to navigate, and port transportation is plentiful. If your debarkation isn't delayed, and you keep your luggage and don't do an MDR breakfast on the ship, I think it's doable. We did notice boarding is 1 hour before flight there.

 

[cruiser21]

We did a 1000am flight twice so in my opinion it's doable. You do not go through customs at the port which makes debarking very easy. Just walk off and get in a cab....no different then leaving a hotel.

 

[PurplePencil]

Keep in mind the possibilities of a delay, if everything is in working order and nothing goes wrong it is doable.
Last summer the computer system went down in Barcelona during debarkation for the Dover to Barcelona, what should have taken less than 30 minutes took upwards of an hour. It is also important to note that there is little seating and food options after immigration at the Barcelona airport.

 

[Uncleromulus]

We did a 1000am flight twice so in my opinion it's doable. You do not go through customs at the port which makes debarking very easy. Just walk off and get in a cab....no different then leaving a hotel.

How long did it take to get thru security at the Barcelona airport? Was seating on you plane an hour prior to take off? Thanks!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Barcelona airport was surprisingly easy to navigate, and port transportation is plentiful. If your debarkation isn't delayed, and you keep your luggage and don't do an MDR breakfast on the ship, I think it's doable. We did notice boarding is 1 hour before flight there.

Thank you.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Keep in mind the possibilities of a delay, if everything is in working order and nothing goes wrong it is doable.
Last summer the computer system went down in Barcelona during debarkation for the Dover to Barcelona, what should have taken less than 30 minutes took upwards of an hour. It is also important to note that there is little seating and food options after immigration at the Barcelona airport.

Thank you.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Additionally, can anyone tell me if Customs is at the port in Barcelona when you get off the ship?

Has anyone used the Disney shuttle service in Barcelona?

I have never gone overseas to Europe. Any help is sincerely appreciated.

 

[mathgeek]

Based on the time stamp on my pictures, I was on deck 9 yesterday at 8:08, then had disembarked, found my luggage and was taking pics of the ship at 8:18. I used DCL transport to the airport, which left at 8:29. I was at the airport within about a half hour. You do need to go through security and passport check at the airport, but the lines weren't terribly long. I went through and was at my gate within 40 minutes or so. However, the line for VAT refund was apparently 3 hours long.

The ship was cleared around 7:20 to disembark yesterday. There is no customs check at the port in Barcelona like in Port Canaveral. You just walk off the ship, retrieve your luggage, and walk out.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Based on the time stamp on my pictures, I was on deck 9 yesterday at 8:08, then had disembarked, found my luggage and was taking pics of the ship at 8:18. I used DCL transport to the airport, which left at 8:29. I was at the airport within about a half hour. You do need to go through security and passport check at the airport, but the lines weren't terribly long. I went through and was at my gate within 40 minutes or so. However, the line for VAT refund was apparently 3 hours long.

The ship was cleared around 7:20 to disembark yesterday. There is no customs check at the port in Barcelona like in Port Canaveral. You just walk off the ship, retrieve your luggage, and walk out.

Thanks - this is so helpful! Did you have a good time? Any tips to share?

 

[m3owbox]

Be aware that for most flights in Europe they wont let you go through security until 2 hours before the flight anyway.

 

[mathgeek]

Thanks - this is so helpful! Did you have a good time? Any tips to share?

It was fabulous! But with so many heavy port days, it was such a whirlwind compared to the Bahamas or Caribbean. I wouldn't even know where to start with tips. I did a lot of research reading previous Navigators and trip reports, so I would suggest that. Go in at least a day early. I don't know that I'd stay at the Hilton Diagonal Mar again for the night before. It was very nice and convenient with the DCL transfers but kind of far away from any touristy spots to conveniently visit. Don't stay up for a movie premiere the second to last night of the cruise - I'm still paying for the lack of sleep on that one.

I'd be happy to answer more specifics if you'd like.

 

[cruiser21]

How long did it take to get thru security at the Barcelona airport? Was seating on you plane an hour prior to take off? Thanks!

10 to 15 minutes. It's faster in Europe then in US. No taking off shoes and all that other nonsense. I believe they started boarding about an hour before, but they never shut the doors until 10 minutes before. They can see that your checked in and in the airport. The recommended time to arrive at BCN is 2 hours before flight. You should be in a cab by 830 and you'll be at the airport by nine.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Be aware that for most flights in Europe they wont let you go through security until 2 hours before the flight anyway.

Thank you!

 

[Uncleromulus]

10 to 15 minutes. It's faster in Europe then in US. No taking off shoes and all that other nonsense. I believe they started boarding about an hour before, but they never shut the doors until 10 minutes before. They can see that your checked in and in the airport. The recommended time to arrive at BCN is 2 hours before flight. You should be in a cab by 830 and you'll be at the airport by nine.

Thank you! This is all uncharted territory for us.

 

[Uncleromulus]

It was fabulous! But with so many heavy port days, it was such a whirlwind compared to the Bahamas or Caribbean. I wouldn't even know where to start with tips. I did a lot of research reading previous Navigators and trip reports, so I would suggest that. Go in at least a day early. I don't know that I'd stay at the Hilton Diagonal Mar again for the night before. It was very nice and convenient with the DCL transfers but kind of far away from any touristy spots to conveniently visit. Don't stay up for a movie premiere the second to last night of the cruise - I'm still paying for the lack of sleep on that one.

I'd be happy to answer more specifics if you'd like.

Thank you! What tours did you take?

 

[PurplePencil]

Additionally, can anyone tell me if Customs is at the port in Barcelona when you get off the ship?

Has anyone used the Disney shuttle service in Barcelona?

I have never gone overseas to Europe. Any help is sincerely appreciated.

Customs will depend on your itenirary. For sure for Dover-Barcelona, and I would guess for any cruise that leaves from somewhere other than Spain (but someone can correct me if I'm wrong). If you are doing a normal Med than there is no customs.

 

[cruiser21]

Customs will depend on your itenirary. For sure for Dover-Barcelona, and I would guess for any cruise that leaves from somewhere other than Spain (but someone can correct me if I'm wrong). If you are doing a normal Medderteranian than there is no customs.

We went from USA to Barcelona and did not go through Customs. Neither did we on the normal med cruise. I know once in your in a EU country you do not need to go through customs. Example our TA they kept our passports and Portugal customs checked them on the ship and we were good to go the rest of the ports.The same thing from Dover to Copenhagen. I think on one way cruises they get checked at first port that's why DCL holdS on to your passports.

 

[PurplePencil]

We went from USA to Barcelona and did not go through Customs. Neither did we on the normal med cruise. I know once in your in a EU country you do not need to go through customs. Example our TA they kept our passports and Portugal customs checked them on the ship and we were good to go the rest of the ports.The same thing from Dover to Copenhagen. I think on one way cruises they get checked at first port that's why DCL holdS on to your passports.

Thank you. That is interesting as the Dover-Barcelona stopped in France and Portugal before Cadiz and Barcelona. At none of the ports were passports checked and DCL did not hold onto passports. , and as I said earlier during debarkation the entire system went down which caused issues. I have done a Med, but don't recall any customs. I'm curious about the Rome-Barcelona as that is inner EU.

 

[cruiser21]

Thank you. That is interesting as the Dover-Barcelona stopped in France and Portugal before Cadiz and Barcelona. At none of the ports were passports checked and DCL did not hold onto passports. , and as I said earlier during debarkation the entire system went down which caused issues. I have done a Med, but don't recall any customs. I'm curious about the Rome-Barcelona as that is inner EU.

I understand why they held them from US to Barcelona. I'm not sure why from Dover to Copenhagen, but I don't think Iceland is part of EU. I think we got them back after leaving Iceland.