Packing is always an issue but more so when you are flying T/A and then board a cruise ship for 2 weeks plus of sailing. Remember, you cando laundry on board CCL ships.  If you are a VIP (10 plus cruises) it is done for you free.  Our last T/A Barcelona to Galveston was 15 days and we flew with one bag each @50 lbs and had all we needed.  We are planning to do the 16 Day CCL Magic T/A flying to Barcelona maybe and do the Magic 7 day Mediterranean and stay on board for the T/A  Working on details now.   This cruise will bring us to VIP (if we don't cruise Conquest or Ecstasy before)  so . . .VIP check in and FREE laundry service for 16 days

We stayed on our last T/A in Barcelona at The Hotel Continental Palacete on upper Ramblus Street. There are 3small balconies with atable and two chairs that over look the street. . .good for drinking coffee or wine. We walked down to see the sister hotel of the Palaceta our last stay. . .it is much smaller lobby wise but some of the rooms do have balconies . . .but we spent so little time in the room. ..walking, sight seeing, dinning and sitting in the beautiful Palacete lobby. We were both off our sleeping time zone when we arrived in Barcelona. Don't think we slept more than 3 or 4 hours the first night.We arrived on a Thursday at about 12 noon at BCN Airport. . .got to the hotel about 2 pm and hit the bricks walking. Our cruise was on a Saturday. It took about 25 min in traffic by cab to the pier. The cab will charge you for any bags over 1. Cabs are small. Think about calling ahead and get a SUV and 2 couples split the fare.

If you want to see the Hotel and Barcelona photos go our photo travel site  http://www.texaspepper.net and click on the Cruise tab and the T/A photos

Here is a sample of the hotel lobby

We booked our DFW to BCN flight for our last T/A on line at Best Travel Store http://www.bt-store.com/  and when bookings open after March 2011 we book again on Best Travel Store.


 Barcelona is a walking city. . .Barcelona is also the "PICK POCKET CAPITOL" of Spain.. .DON'T carry passports or have loose hanging bags on you. DON'T get caught in a crowd of 2 or 3 people. . .they bump you and get your purse or wallet. . .in 3 seconds and run. They ride by on bikes or motorbikes and snach off your shoulder. DON'T ride in cabs with the window fully down and your purse, bag on the sit next to you. When a cab stop sat a light or in traffic. . .a thief will reach in through the window and bingo your bag or what ever is gone. Saw it happen and talked to folks who experienced some of the above. One of our fellow passengers on the cruise had rented a car. Had his bag on the seat. . .passport,euros, camera and the window down. In 5 seconds it was gone. . .thief reached in and snapped it up.

Well enough for the bad news of Barcelona. It is a great city and if any cruisers can get there a few days before the cruise. . .you will have a wonderful time.