Barcelona Weekend Break

Barcelona cruises

Although this website is primarily about planning a weekend break in Barcelona, many of Barcelona's short stay visitors spend time in the city before embarking or disembarking from a cruise. For this reason we have added this page about cruising.

Day cruises

If you are taking a short break in Barcelona you can in fact take what is "loosely" called a cruise along and around the shoreline surrounding the city.

These day and half day mini cruises take you up and down the coast surrounding Barcelona and normally include a lunch, dinner, or other refreshments. They offer a different way to sea the city and its extended coastal areas and make an ideal break from Barcelona on hot summer days. They are ideal for people of all ages and families.

Multi day Cruises

Over the last three decades Barcelona has become one of Europe's biggest and most trafficked Cruise ports.

With its perfect Mediterranean location Barcelona is an ideal starting and finishing point for cruises exploring Europe's coastal cities. Its hotels, large international airport and city attributes ensure that it fits perfectly into the many cruise operators "wish list" and its popularity is still on the up.

Cruise types

Cruises departing Barcelona can last anything from 4 days to three weeks and they can cover an equally small or extended number of ports stops.

Most cruise packages include return flights to and from your embarkation port and when overnight hotel accommodation is required this is usually include in the package as well.

Short cruises (i.e. of a duration of less than one week)

With the popularity of mini breaks, a number of cruise liners now offer mini cruises lasting as little as 4 days. E.g. of a standard grade cabin Over twenty percent of European cruises now follow this short break format which fits nicely around a weekend, or gives a first cruise ship experience to the uninitiated.

These short cruises usually take in 3 different destinations (normally in different countries) and there are of course the added benefits of the cruise ships' luxury facilities that normally include swimming pools, fully equipped gymnasium, beauty salons and much more.

Many holiday makers taking a short cruise choose to combine the cruise element with a stay in Barcelona by tagging an extra two or three days on to the beginning or end of their vacation.

Mini cruise tip. Cruise companies run more "mini" cruises in Spring and Autumn and you will therefore find the broadest selection of ships and destination options during these periods.

Long cruises

If you find the though of taking a more extended cruise from Barcelona enticing, you will find no shortage of options awaiting you.

Typical long cruises departing Barcelona have durations of up to 17 days and can include any of the destination ports below - plus of course the pleasure of cruising the Mediterranean and other oceans.

Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, Pompeii, Cruise Adriatic Sea, Venice, Dubrovnik, Cruise Ionian Sea, Athens (Piraeus), Ephesus (Izmir), Istanbul, Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Monte Carlo, Portofino, Livorno, Sardinia, Sorrento/Capri, Amalfi, Positano, Civitavecchia, Cadiz, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, St. John's, Gustavia, St. Thomas, Fort Lauderdale, Santorini, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Lesbos, Istanbul and the list goes on.

Some of the more recent, extensive and unusual cruises see ships departing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. When it come to cruises, the options are almost limitless.

Costs

The cost of a cruise can range from a few hundred euros per cabin, E.g. of a luxury grade cabin to tens of thousands of euros for a penthouse suite.

As a general guide, the lower the deck, the lower the price. Balconies, larger rooms and other add-ons all increase the cost, but the ships facilities are available whatever your room tariff.

In evaluating the cost of a cruise you should always remember that cruises are totally inclusive and that 24 hour a day catering (ranging from a la carte dining to non stop buffets) are included in the price. (Tips, which are compulsory, are an extra can be prepaid or given at the end of the holiday.)

A novice's guide to the cruise lifestyle

Your baggage will be taken to and from you room on arrival and departure and your dining, drinking and room service are included in the room tariff.

The cruise ships try to sail during the night and port during the day. Numerous excursions are available at each port of call (usually at an extra charge). The ships normally dock early and depart in the evening. You do not have to leave the ship.

Cruise ships have near unrivalled facilities that include everything you would expect from the largest and most exclusive hotel. Every ship will have formal and informal restaurants with different "sitting" times and a schedule of entertainment which, in the evening, will include lavish shows and musicals. The ships have theatres, cinemas, casinos, shops, internet cafes and sporting facilities.