Barcelona

Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city and the capital of the Catalonia region.

A wonderfully vibrant city and a cultural and artistic center

Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city and the capital of the Catalonia region.

Lying along the Mediterranean coast , Barcelona is the leading industrial and financial centre of Spain as well as its main trade and tourist port.

To the northwest, a set of hills run parallel to the coast and in the southwest, the old town lies along the port divided by attractive tree-lined boulevards known as Las Ramblas.

Barcelona is a wonderfully vibrant city and, having been a cultural and artistic centre since the Middle Ages, really makes for a fantastic day away from your luxury cruise ship. With so much to see and do you are guaranteed to have a memorable day off ship.

MSC excursions take in the best that this city has to offer and we bring you, as always, great deals on sights and attractions. Among the most famous of these is Gaudi’s theatrical and undulating building, the Casa Battlo, which children are sure to find fascinating thanks to its marvellous twisted shapes and shimmering colours. Not to be missed is the towering Sagrada Familia church located in the medieval quarter of the city.

Our more athletic guests may like to take the opportunity during their cruise vacation to try something new and join us on the Barcelona bike tour – a novel way to explore the city.

However, we recommend to all visitors that they sample Barcelona’s tapas and local Catalan cuisine, as we know that vacations are made memorable by great meals, too!

Cruise to Barcelona - Spain - Ocean Voyages - MSC Cruises

Directions


The Barcelona cruise port is the gateway for over 1.2 million cruise passengers every year. The Barcelona cruise port is at Port Vell in Barcelona which is at the Southern most end of the famous Ramblas. The seaport terminal is only 10 minute walk from las Ramblas. The cruise port is the starting and arrival point for many Mediterranean cruise itineraries. The seven operating terminals, and the various docks and facilities, are a short distance from the city centre and have efficient connections, including access to the railway stations and airport. Cruise Port Address: Sector C, Calle 5, ALm. C-1; Consorcio Zona Franca; Zone Franca Aduanera.

Port average temperature

Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, humid winters and warm, dry summers. Barcelona is located on the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, so Atlantic west winds often arrive in Barcelona with low humidity, producing no rain.

The proximity of the Atlantic, its latitude, and the relief, are the reasons why the summers are not as dry as in most other Mediterranean Basin locations. Lows can easily affect the area of Barcelona, causing storms, particularly in August. Some years, the beginning of June is still cool and rainy, like April and May. Together with August, September, October and November these months are the wettest of the year. The driest are February, March, June and July. As in many parts of Catalonia, the annual weather pattern varies greatly from year to year.

The temperate figures shown are based on monthly average weather conditions for the selected port. Weather data is not real-time, and sometimes no data is shown for a specific date, month or port in general.

BARCELONAMonths
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high °C121315162023272725211613
Average low °C456811151819161275
 BCN01GC - CITY TOUR (4 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Cultural  Best Seller  Take some time to discover beautiful Barcelona on this enjoyable sightseeing tour of the city. Your Barcelona experience begins at the spectacular Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia, the construction of which began at the end of the 13th and continued into the 15th century. The Cathedral is situated in Barcelona’s Barri Gòtic quarter, the city’s largely intact medieval centre. The coach will also drive past two of the famous works by the architect Gaudí for external viewings of the Sagrada Família and the Casa Batlló. Your tour will be rounded off by a stroll around the tranquil Poble Espanyol, a village purpose-built to showcase Spain’s many different architectural styles, and a brief stop at Montjuich Hill for the fabulous views of the city from the Belvedere del Alcalde. Your tour concludes with your return to the ship.Please note: the Cathedral visit may have to be cancelled on public holidays or if special events are being held. Conservative attire is recommended for visiting places of religious importance.

Price per person $61.00 Adults $43.00 Children

   


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 BCN02GC - PANORAMIC TOUR & SHOPPING (4 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour  Shopping  The fabulous city of Barcelona is well worth a visit and this whistle-stop tour will take you to see the key sights during an enjoyable half day off the ship. Upon leaving the port, your tour begins with a drive through Barcelona's main streets and squares. A short stop will be made at Montjuich Hill to take in the superb view over the city before moving on for a brief external viewing of the Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s striking yet unfinished neo-Gothic masterpiece. There will also be time to pay the impressive Barcelona Cathedral, which was constructed from the end of the 13th until into the 15th century, a visit before taking you to go shopping in the Plaça de Catalunya, a large square in central Barcelona that is ideal for a little retail therapy.Please note: on public holidays or on Sunday afternoon, the shopping stop will be at the “La Rambla”.

Price per person $61.00 Adults $43.00 Children

   


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 BCN03GC - GAUDI'S EXPERIENCE ( 4 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: moderate  Limited Availability  Cultural  Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in the fascinating world and works of Barcelona’s premiere architect: the world-famous Antoni Gaudí. After leaving the port, your tour will take you down the beautiful Passeig de Gràcia avenue for an outside view of Casa Batlló, a flamboyant building that is covered in thousands of multi-coloured tiles. Up next is Casa Milà, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for another exterior visit, followed by the Park Güell, a garden complex and one of Barcelona’s key tourist attractions due to its remarkable, sinuous buildings, stunning mosaics and ceramic-covered benches. The excursion also includes time to visit inside Gaudí’s unfinished neo-Gothic masterpiece, the Sagrada Família. Your tour ends with a scenic return drive to the port.

Price per person $62.00 Adults $43.00 Children

   


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 BCN05GC - PANORAMIC CITY TOUR & NOU CAMP STADIUM ( 3.5 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Thanks to the sheer scale of its impressive architecture, Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium – one of the world’s most famous football temples and the largest stadium in all of Europe with a capacity to seat nearly 100,000 people – is a fascinating destination, whether you are a soccer fan or not. Apart from hosting numerous key UEFA matches throughout the years, the stadium has also been used to stage other events, including concerts given by such major pop artists as Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman or U2. In 1982, Pope John Paul II even celebrated mass at the stadium, on which occasion he was made an honorary citizen of Barcelona. Your tour begins with a drive-by sightseeing tour past Gaudi’s Sagrada Família, a minor basilica, and up Montjuich Hill before arriving at Camp Nou Stadium.Please note: the feasibility of the tour is subject to the schedule of the football club and then the stadium could be closed with very short notice; for this reason the tour could be cancelled even the day before our call for reasons beyond MSC’s control. The visit to the stadium includes walking upstairs and downstairs and is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.

Price per person $65.00 Adults $46.00 Children

   


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 BCN08GC - MONTSERRAT (4.5 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour  Situated approx. 1 hour by coach from the port of Barcelona lies Montserrat, a mountain-top Benedictine Monastery that forms the highest point of the Catalonian lowlands. Santa Maria de Montserrat, to give the monastery its official name, is a key Catholic pilgrimage site and a favourite destination for religious retreats. Apart from being home to a statue of the Virgin of Montserrat – also known as the Black Madonna or La Moreneta – the monastery boasts a basilica with a resplendent interior that stands in stark contrast to its somewhat austere exterior. Interestingly, the monastery also hosts a publishing house that counts as one of the world’s oldest still functioning presses, with the first book having been printed in 1499. You will have time to look around by yourself before returning to Barcelona.Please note: the guide will give explanation only outside the Monastery; guests will visit the site individually. Conservative attire is recommended for visiting the religious site. Shooting videos or taking photos during the visit to the Monastery is prohibited.

Price per person $51.00 Adults $36.00 Children

   


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 BCN10GC - FLAMENCO SHOW (4 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Limited Availability  Drink  This tour lets you simply sit back and relax on the coach while you enjoy drive-by viewings of Barcelona’s main sights, including the magnificent Passeig de Gràcia and Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Família, which was consecrated as a minor basilica by the Pope in 2010. Continuing up to Montjuich Hill, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city below and after a photo stop, head for Poble Espanyol, a unique open-air architectural museum situated on the hill. The museum was originally constructed for the Barcelona International Exhibition in 1929 with the aim of mimicking a townscape that would reflect the architecture, style and culture typical of various Spanish regions in a single place. A 30-minute flamenco show accompanied by a fruity sangria punch rounds off your tour.

Price per person $81.00 Adults $57.00 Children

   


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 BCN14GC - AN INSIDE LOOK INTO GAUDI'S MASTERPIECES (full day, lunch not included) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Cultural  Shopping  Join us and discover the masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí, the architect whose famous works can be found in Barcelona and surroundings. Leave the port for a drive along Barcelona’s famous “Paseo de Gracia”, known as Spain’s most expensive street, to Casa Batlló with its outer walls of multi-coloured tiles (exterior visit only). Then continue on to the bizarre Casa Milá, one of seven Gaudí properties to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (exterior visit only), followed by the Park Güell, a garden-city complex and one of Barcelona’s main attractions with its remarkable, sinuous buildings, stunning mosaics and ceramic-covered benches. The excursion includes a stop to admire the outside of the Sagrada Familia basilica, Gaudí’s unfinished neogothic masterpiece. Enjoy some free time to have lunch (not included) or go shopping before driving for approx. 1 hour to Santa Coloma de Cervelló to visit Colònia Güell, one of Gaudí’s most revered works for its structural innovations and unique use of materials. Built in the middle of a pine forest, the highlight of this masterpiece is the crypt. The church itself was never completed.Please note: this tour involves walking on uneven ground, steps and cobblestone surfaces and is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties. Shooting videos or taking pictures during the visit to the Crypt is prohibited. This tour is only for guests onboard MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra and MSC Poesia.

Price per person $85.00 Adults $60.00 Children

   


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 BCN21GC - HIGHLIGHTS OF BARCELONA, MONTSERRAT & WINE TASTING (7.5 hours, lunch not included) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: moderate  Limited Availability  Tastings  Your excursion will begin with an orientation coach drive of Barcelona to admire its key sights. You will drive along “Paseo de Gracia” to reach the “Sagrada Familia” for an external visit of Gaudi’s unfinished Neo-Gothic masterpiece. Next you will leave Barcelona for a 1-hour coach drive to Montserrat, a key Catholic pilgrimage site and a favourite destination for religious retreats. Apart from being home to a statue of the Virgin of Montserrat – also known as the Black Madonna or La Moreneta – the monastery boasts a basilica with a resplendent interior that stands in stark contrast to its somewhat austere exterior. After the visit you will have free time in Montserrat to have lunch (not included). Your tour will continue with a stop at the “Cavas Vilarnau” cellars, in the small village of Sant Sadurni. Here you will learn the production process of wine, sparkling wine and Spanish champagne. A tasting is included before concluding your tour with the return to the port.Please note: the guide will give explanation only outside the Monastery; guests will visit the site individually. Conservative attire is recommended for visiting the religious site. Shooting videos or taking photos during the visit to the Monastery is prohibited. This excursion is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair. This tour is only for guests onboard MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra and MSC Poesia.

Price per person $66.00 Adults $46.00 Children

   


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The excursions in the program above are intended to provide MSC Guests with an idea of the different tours that can be arranged in each port of call; this program is merely a guide and confirmation of each excursion and its description and prices will be made during your cruise. Full information can be found in the onboard Tour Magazine.