Packing is always an issue but more so when you are flying T/A andthen board a cruise ship for 2 weeks plus of sailing. Remember, youcando 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 15days and we flew with one bag each @50 lbs and had all we needed.  Weare planning to do the 16 Day CCL Magic T/A flying to Barcelona maybeand 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'tcruise Conquest or Ecstasy before)  so . . .VIP check in and FREElaundry service for 16 days

We stayed on our last T/A inBarcelona at The Hotel Continental Palacete on upper Ramblus Street.There are 3small balconies with atable and two chairs that over lookthe street. . .good for drinking coffee or wine. We walked down to seethe sister hotel of the Palaceta our last stay. . .it is much smallerlobby wise but some of the rooms do have balconies . . .but we spent solittle time in the room. ..walking, sight seeing, dinning and sittingin the beautiful Palacete lobby. We were both off our sleeping timezone when we arrived in Barcelona. Don't think we slept more than 3 or4 hours the first night.We arrived on a Thursday at about 12 noon atBCN 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 tothe 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'Tcarry passports or have loose hanging bags on you. DON'T get caught ina crowd of 2 or 3 people. . .they bump you and get your purse orwallet. . .in 3 seconds and run. They ride by on bikes or motorbikesand snach off your shoulder. DON'T ride in cabs with the window fullydown and your purse, bag on the sit next to you. When a cab stop sat alight or in traffic. . .a thief will reach in through the window andbingo your bag or what ever is gone. Saw it happen and talked to folkswho experienced some of the above. One of our fellow passengers on thecruise had rented a car. Had his bag on the seat. . .passport,euros,camera and the window down. In 5 seconds it was gone. . .thief reachedin and snapped it up.

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