Flying from Barcelona on Debarkation Date

[mathgeek]

Thank you! What tours did you take?

I did the Adventures by Disney Mediterranean Magic package for my excursions. I can't even describe how wonderful it was! That was one of the best decisions I made for this cruise.

 

[tink1970]

Thank you! This is all uncharted territory for us.

It's always a bit nerve racking if you haven't done it before! I was on the same cruise as @PurplePencil and it was a disaster with immigration BUT as has pointed out, we had immigration because of our itinerary-BCN to BCN shouldn't have that.

The airport can be calm or totally chaotic depending on the ebb and flow of tourists, especially cruisers. The lines to drop off bags were crazy (and we were there 3 hours before the flight, right as they were opening up the bag drop off). Security wasn't better (again, this is timing) and then there is a border control check before the gate and after most good shopping/eating (although I have the taste buds of a 5 year old and really enjoyed McDonald's bruschetta!). DCL had buses waiting to fill then leave the port so if you take DCL transport then I'd do walk off and get on the bus. Other options are private transport and cabs (which appeared to be plentiful when we disembarked around 7:45 ish).

Of course there are no guarantees but I'd think that if you did walk off and got on the first bus or took a taxi and there wasn't bad traffic then 11:15 should be do-able (if not a wee bit stressful). I hate stress so rats, am staying an extra 2 nights in Barcelona after our upcoming cruise (any excuse...).

 

[Uncleromulus]

I did the Adventures by Disney Mediterranean Magic package for my excursions. I can't even describe how wonderful it was! That was one of the best decisions I made for this cruise.

Thanks! We will look into that package. I have never heard of it. Where did you find this package as we have not seen it.

 

[Uncleromulus]

It's always a bit nerve racking if you haven't done it before! I was on the same cruise as @PurplePencil and it was a disaster with immigration BUT as has pointed out, we had immigration because of our itinerary-BCN to BCN shouldn't have that.

The airport can be calm or totally chaotic depending on the ebb and flow of tourists, especially cruisers. The lines to drop off bags were crazy (and we were there 3 hours before the flight, right as they were opening up the bag drop off). Security wasn't better (again, this is timing) and then there is a border control check before the gate and after most good shopping/eating (although I have the taste buds of a 5 year old and really enjoyed McDonald's bruschetta!). DCL had buses waiting to fill then leave the port so if you take DCL transport then I'd do walk off and get on the bus. Other options are private transport and cabs (which appeared to be plentiful when we disembarked around 7:45 ish).

Of course there are no guarantees but I'd think that if you did walk off and got on the first bus or took a taxi and there wasn't bad traffic then 11:15 should be do-able (if not a wee bit stressful). I hate stress so rats, am staying an extra 2 nights in Barcelona after our upcoming cruise (any excuse...).

Thanks! We are going to chance it and book 11:15 am flight as we have reasons for wishing to get home as soon as possible.

 

[mathgeek]

Thanks! We will look into that package. I have never heard of it. Where did you find this package as we have not seen it.

On the DCL website, under the "things to do" drop down menu, there is a link to the Adventures by Disney cruise packages. If it's something you want to do, you probably need to move quick b/c our guides told us they're selling out quick for the 2019 itineraries.

 

[Uncleromulus]

On the DCL website, under the "things to do" drop down menu, there is a link to the Adventures by Disney cruise packages. If it's something you want to do, you probably need to move quick b/c our guides told us they're selling out quick for the 2019 itineraries.

Thanks!

 

[SuJo]

We took the 11:15 flight to Dulles the day after the boat docked because I was worried about the time getting to the airport. The day we docked were allowed off the ship at 8am so it seemed like there was enough time. We left from our hotel the next day at 8:10 and there was no traffic to get to the airport so we could have made the flight the day before. Not sure how the crowds were on Sat vs Sun I can say don't expect to get your VAT back as the line for that was 3 hours long and it opens at 8 so there is not enough time to get that done before your flight leaves. We flew business class so there is a faster security line you can use, United told us about it when we checked in and getting through the passport check was fast but again this may be because all the cruise people left the day before.

 

[Trera]

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.

we waited in a VAT refund line that was every bit if 2 hours..............luckily we got to the airport in plenty of time to absorb this delay.

 

[fredandkell]

Just got off the Magic and it was ridiculously easy and fast to get to the airport from the ship. We dawdled on the ship until 8:30, took a taxi, and were at the airport by 9:05!