Which NCL/Barcelona Hotel

[cmh]

I am sailing on a Transatlantic Cruise next year from Barcelona to Miami. We want to spend an extra day in Barcelona to see some sights and to ensure we do not miss the ship. NCL has three hotels that they use for their pre-cruise hotel program. They are the Melia Barcelona Hotel, Montblanc Hotel and Tryp Apolo. From what research I have done, we are leaning towards the Montblanc since it is so close the La Rambla. Has anyone stayed at any of these hotels and if so, could you give me your suggestions.

Carolyn

[DragonflyCruiser]

We opted to stay in the historic district when we cruised from there a few years ago. We absolutely love the little Hotel Colon. It's on a square across from a cathedral. Our room had that view and small balcony. It's well located for walking. Very important on a short stay! Look for it on the web. I'd love to return! They arranged for a cab to the ship for us and it was only about 10 min. away. They could probably arrange to meet you at the airport. Ask. On our trip we found the cruise line hotels offered to be too out of the way for easy walking. Hope you report back with your findings!

[ZZROX]

Has anyone ever stayed at the Hotel Continental Palacete in Barcelona? I thinking of booking 2 nts precruise next summer.

 

Thank you

[Parrot Mom]

We were a year ago in the Hotel Continental and a funkier hotel you would never want for a pre-cruise..lol. We loved it....the large continental breakfast, the location across from The Ramblas and the balconies in the room with the bistro set so you can watch the action late, late at night.. If our next cruise leaves from Barcelona which we wll probably book in January we will book the Hotel and geat guide/driver we found thanks to the people on the internet.. I think the hotel only has sixty rooms and looks like it's been decorated by your great, great, great aunt..lol, but the free internet service, the staff, the large continental breakast and the refreshments all day long make it a bargain..We found many other cruisers there plus backpackers.. it has a/c and heat ...did not stay at the Palacete..but would if this place is booked.. We found that Celebrity hotels per person are outrageous..The place is clean and convenient..and books quickly... and if you need a guide/driver please write..Ihave a fabulous guy..Auriello..

[garycarla]

fyi - most folks find that booking the hotel directly is less expensive than through NCL.

[DragonflyCruiser]

fyi - most folks find that booking the hotel directly is less expensive than through NCL.

 

And, you can book in a better location! The only time we book with the cruise line is when we have a long trip to the ship from the 'fly-in' city. We used NCL in London since we left from Southampton and getting there was not easy.

[mbarnaby99]

We opted to stay in the historic district when we cruised from there a few years ago. We absolutely love the little Hotel Colon. It's on a square across from a cathedral. Our room had that view and small balcony. It's well located for walking. Very important on a short stay! Look for it on the web. I'd love to return! They arranged for a cab to the ship for us and it was only about 10 min. away. They could probably arrange to meet you at the airport. Ask. On our trip we found the cruise line hotels offered to be too out of the way for easy walking. Hope you report back with your findings!

 

I completely agree. I stayed at the Hotel Colon this year on my transatlantic cruise. It is very will located for walking and there are numerous places to eat in walking distance.

[gratefulguy]

And don't worry about missing the ship if you book your own hotel--most of the hotels people on these boards post about are a $10. cab ride away from the port.

Have you read through some of the Roll Calls for other ships leaving from Barcelona, e.g. Princess Grand 11/1/06 Barcelona-Galveston or Celebrity, etc.? Almost any Roll Call will talk about the hotels posters are using for pre- and post-cruise stays. And I'm sure your research has included Tripadvisor.

[Parrot Mom]

We had through a site on the net found a fabulous driver/guide..and when he picked us up at the airport we arranged to have him pick us up at the hotel the day we were leaving. As it turns out there were several people at our hotel going on the same ship.. You just have to know the EXACT dock #...it's not far from the airport.

[DragonflyCruiser]

We had through a site on the net found a fabulous driver/guide..and when he picked us up at the airport we arranged to have him pick us up at the hotel the day we were leaving. As it turns out there were several people at our hotel going on the same ship.. You just have to know the EXACT dock #...it's not far from the airport.

 

Barcelona also has a bus system that takes you to all the sites you might want to see. You buy your pass for the day/days and you are given a list of the routes by color/sites. You can get on and off as much as you wish. Busses pass each stop about every 20 min. We were all over the city! We were able to move about at our own pace and not be bothered by traveling in a group. I can't remember the prices but a real value!

[Parrot Mom]

The fact your only going to be in Barcelona for a day gives you less time to see EVERYTHING.. At one point as we went off to see an old church, etc. etc. I looked across the street and there on a new building was a primative nativity scene.. When I asked our guide what it was he said... a Picasso..navity scene that Picasso had done...it was so pure and so simple, more than larger than life.. that I honestly feel that seeing that was the highlight of our tour.. We also asked people at the hotel if they had seen the sculpture near the beach (next to the Ritz) which was a symbol of a fish and a conquistadors hat... nobody had seen it.. We stopped as long as we wanted to and for us.. we were introduced and told about the influence Gaudi had on the pedestrian walks (inlaid with blue tile) and why the streets were sort of kitty corner... As for the church... it was mobbed...and this was exactly one year ago...when supposedy the tourists had gone.lol The only thing that impressed me was the newer interpretation of the church on the side.. Next trip and there wll be a next trip I would like to go bck to the old cemetary on the side of the hill from the airport.