LIVE: 11/2 Nieuw Amsterdam transatlantic - TravelingWithTheJones

Ola from Barcelona. We are cruising to Ft. Lauderdale and hope that you will follow along on our adventure.

This post is LIVE not from the ship yet, because the port of Barcelona is reportedly closed due to high winds, and as of 2pm local time, the Nieuw Amsterdam is at sea just outside the port.

Don't feel too bad for us; after checking our bags, we opted to leave the port area via a free shuttle bus. We are in the Port Vell shopping center enjoying one last Pata Bravas and vino Blanca (for Mrs Jones) and a cerveza for Mr. Jones. We've spent 3 days in Barcelona but we feel terrible for our friends who flew on the red eye from Miami and are sitting in a crowded cruise terminal with a lot of other weary travelers wanting to get on the ship.

Since we are basking in a World Series Championship for the Kansas City Royals, have nowhere to be for a couple of hours, and we have free wifi, it's a good time to post about our pre-trip to Barcelona.

Please NOTE: this update is being 'pecked' out on an iPhone, not our preferred writing device.

We arrived in Barcelona on Friday morning on a non-stop flight from Newark. We took advantage of United Airlines 1-way award tickets to fly from Kansas City to Newark, and Newark to Barcelona non-stop. On Friday morning, the Barcelona immigrations was fast (we were in Business Class, so near the first off the plane) but everyone seemed to clear fast.

After immigrations you collect checked luggage (this was slow as we arrived right after non-stop from Miami.) Bags in hand (there are free luggage carts,) you head out of customs where there are two ATMs to get Euros. There is also a currency exchange - the ATM offers a much better rate.

Then, we followed signs down an elevated ramp to a very orderly taxi queue were we caught a cab to our hotel.

If you are going directly to the port there is a flat taxi rate of 39 euros per cab.

I'm excited to travel along with you - we were on the Nieuw Amsterdam last year for the trans-Atlantic from Barcelona. Can you tell us where you stayed in Barcelona? Did you do any day trips?

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

Gerry

Have a wonderful trip!

Saw on the HAL site that you could book an inside cabin last Friday on your cruise for $399! Of course, the airfare would be astronomical unless HAL had some of its contract fares left....

We stayed at the new (6 months old) Cotton House Hotel in Eixample neighborhood. It's part of Marriott's Autogragh Collection of unique hotels. We stayed 3 nights using Marriott reward points and loved the hotel, which is a former residence and then cotton trading center.

We are curious to hear from anyone currently on the Nieuw Amsterdam as to what's happening on board. We are going to head back to the port shortly - it is still windy and wet outside.

According to Marine Traffic the NADM is still sailing away from Barcelona at about 7 knots and 34 nm away so it will take a while to get bat once they turn around to sail back into port.

The NADM is the blue ship icon.

Distance back to Barcelona:

Looking forward to your reports! Safe travels.

All passengers that are in Barcelona to board the Nieuw Amsterdam are being bused to local hotels to stay tonight; our port call to Alicante tomorrow is cancelled. We will share more information as we learn it.

Looking forward to hearing about your adventures crossing the pond. Enjoy your extra time in Barcelona.

So looking forward to reading about your cruise. Smooth sailing!

All passengers that are in Barcelona to board the Nieuw Amsterdam are being bused to local hotels to stay tonight; our port call to Alicante tomorrow is cancelled. We will share more information as we learn it.

Thanks for the updates.

The ship keeps sailing south east away from Barcelona and is now about 46 nm away now.

There are a number of RO-RO passenger ferries approaching Barcelona, I wonder what they will do?

I always enjoy your "live froms" so I am really looking forward to following along with you. Sounds like you are off to an unusual start but it will get better.:)

I too look forward to "traveling" with you on this TA :)

Look forward to your review . We did this itinerary, along with the preceding 7 days in the med, in '13. Hope the weather improves.

I look forward to your updates as well. We are sailing on the Dancing with the Stars cruise on NA January 3--two more months of waiting!

How ABOUT those Royals!! I grew up in Kansas City, and I'm sure they went wild last night there...what a great ending to the World Series!

Thanks for the updates.

 

The ship keeps sailing south east away from Barcelona and is now about 46 nm away now.

 

There are a number of RO-RO passenger ferries approaching Barcelona, I wonder what they will do?

NADM appears closer to the island of Mallorca than Barcelona at the moment

We are in the Melia Barcelona courtesy of HAL. Just received a letter under the door asking luggage to be placed outside of the hotel room at 8:00am tomorrow (Tuesday). Our scheduled coach transfer time back to the pier is at 11:15am. Hopefully there will be a ship at the pier tomorrow, unlike today's "no show" unexpected surprise.

Rob

We are tucked in the Melia Barcelona watching the Pittsburg and Bengals with Spanish announcers - which makes it seem very different than your typical NFL football game.

We are trying to wind down after dinner (it's a rare Barcelona restaurant that starts serving before 8:30 pm, although we could have gotten hotel food anytime.

It was a long day, and no one likes travel delays and disruptions but it's all just a part of the adventure.

Hopefully we will be on the ship by tomorrow afternoon and on our way.

Looking forward to traveling along with you! What a way to start a cruise!

Love the positive attitude!

NADM is heading towards Barcelona now and could be there in 5 hours at the current speed of 8 NM.

Thanks, peter. I don't have the patience to figure out the intricacies of marine traffic .

She shows a new ETA of 0500 TUE in Barcelona - no Alicante

And she is entering the port now (6:00 am).

And she is entering the port now (6:00 am).

Good to hear. Thanks for the update.