SHORE EXCURSIONS

Drive along the elegant Passeig de Gracia with its wrought-iron street lamps and fine array of Modernist buildings, including Gaudi’s Casa Mila, with its arches and spiral chimneys. It is known locally as “the stone quarry,” because of its wavy facade of rough stone. Originally designed as an apartment building, it now houses a cultural center. Stop for a photo of Gaudi’s controversial and towering masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family) Church. Begun in 1883, it is still unfinished. A panoramic drive takes you through the memorial Arch of Triumph and Ciutadella Park, home to State of Catalona’s parliament, museums and a monumental fountain designed by a student of Gaudi. You’ll also enjoy spectacular views of the harbor and the Olympic Stadium from the top of Montjuic. Last but not least, stroll at your leisure the narrow streets and handsome squares of the old Quarter, lined with medieval buildings contemporary shops, bohemian artist workshops and cool bars and restaurants.

Explore the wonders of Barcelona at your own pace by riding a double-decker bus around the city, hopping on and off whenever you please at the attractions you find most intriguing. After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a brief but scenic drive to a meeting point. Being centrally located, begin your Hop On Hop Off tour of Barcelona. Simply hop on one of the buses and then hop off when it reaches an attraction of interest from the dozens of designated stops on the two different bus loops. You might hop off at the 14th-century La Seu cathedral, Barceloneta beach and at the hilltop Olympic Ring that was constructed for the 1992 Olympic Games. If you wish to see some of the architectural treasures that architect Antoni Gaudí designed, his masterpiece Church of the Sacred Family is a great choice. Stay for as long as you like, and then hop on another bus whenever you’re ready. The buses operate throughout the day and make a continuous loop around Barcelona’s must-see landmarks. Once onboard, you will receive a route map and headphones that explain the destinations, making it easy to choose your favorite ones. You can remain in the city for up to five hours before returning to the meeting point for your transfer to the ship.

Depart from pier and enjoy Barcelona from the comfort of a motor coach, your immersion into Barcelona's history will be immediate with a pass by the Columbus Monument and the Old Port. Next, drive along the elegant Passeig de Gracia with its wrought-iron street lamps and fine array of Modernist buildings, including Gaudi’s Casa Mila, with its arches and spiral chimneys. It is known locally as “the stone quarry,” because of its wavy facade of rough stone. Originally designed as an apartment building, it now houses a cultural center. A panoramic drive takes you by the memorial Arch of Triumph and Ciutadella Park, home to State of Catalona’s parliament, museums and a monumental fountain designed by a student of Gaudi. You’ll also enjoy spectacular views of the harbor and the Olympic Stadium from the top of Montjuic prior to the drive to the airport.

Make the most of your time in Barcelona by visiting the top-rated attractions without worrying about how to get to them or the cost. Your Attraction Pass includes transportation and the entrance fees to the most popular destinations. Start your journey by taking a Walking Tour around Barcelona´s highlights to learn more about the city and experience the day-to-day first-hand. Discover Plaça Catalunya on your own, a large plaza embossed with sculptures and monumental buildings, continue exploring and choose to enter Casa Batlló or Casa Amatller, the façade of both building are beautiful with many hidden details inside! Visit other attractions such as the Casa Vicens Gaudí and Poble Espanyol that shows all of Spain's architectural history in one open air museum. The pass also entitles you to skip the line at the Sagrada Familia, so you won’t waste any time. You can spend about eight hours, exploring the destinations by the hand of your escort, and at the end you can explore on your own or board the double-decker to get panoramic views of the city.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Use the Attraction Pass to see Barcelona’s best attractions at no additional cost.
• Ride a double decker bus around town, stopping at the attractions included in our curated path.
• Stay as long as your escort suggested at each attraction to enhance your understanding of it.
• Return to the cruise ship with your group.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a panoramic drive through Melilla, during which you will see key landmarks and discover the history of this Spanish territory in northern Morocco. From the Rostrogordo viewpoint, you will gaze out over the boundary that separates this Spanish exclave from Morocco. How Spain has retained Melilla for more than 500 years is a fascinating story and quite controversial. At the heart of the city, you will find the Plaza de Espana and the beautiful ornamental fountain at its center. The main arteries off the plaza are lined with an abundance of Modernistic architecture. In fact, Barcelona is the only Spanish city with more. While driving through the neighborhood Barrio Real, notice its grid layout, which was designed centuries ago to ensure a faster, more direct response to invasion. A stop at the 17th-century church La Purísima Concepción will offer a close-up look at religious artifacts, some dating to long before the church was constructed.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the highlights in and around Melilla in air-conditioned comfort.
• Gain a historical perspective of how Spain has retained this territory in northern Morocco.
• Gaze out over the boundary that separates Melilla from Morocco.
• Pass through historical neighborhoods known for their Modernist architecture.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Walk through Melilla at a leisurely pace that will allow time to thoroughly explore the city’s abundant Modernisme architecture. Next to Barcelona, Melilla has Spain’s greatest concentration of this highly popular 20th-century style that includes an eclectic mix of Art Nouveau influences. Many of the buildings were designed by Enrique Nieto, a student of the revered Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, who created so many of Barcelona’s architectural gems. Melilla’s so-called golden triangle contains the best-preserved Modernisme buildings, especially ones from the 1930s. Floral decorations, stylized geometric forms, and friezes with silhouettes of animals and women are but a few of the features that adorn the exteriors. Nieto eventually became Melilla’s city architect and his last major work was the Art Deco-style city hall. Following this immersion into Modernistic architecture, you will stop for tapas and a beverage at the landmark Four Cultures Square.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an enlightening walk through neighborhoods full of Modernisme buildings.
• Learn how architect Enrique Nieto reshaped the face of Melilla in the early 20th century.
• Behold countless Modernisme features on the façades of the best-preserved buildings..
• Discuss the extraordinary architecture you’ve seen over tapas in a popular square.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Begin your tour with the view from the top, as you head to Montjuic hill for a panoramic view of Barcelona. Stop at a vintage point to enjoy spectacular views of the city and its main highlights. Drive along the elegant Passeig de Gracia with its wrought-iron street lamps and fine array of Modernist buildings, including Gaudi’s Casa Batllo, with a mosaic façade and undulating roof. It is about an hour’s drive to Montserrat, an unusual multi-peak mountain topped by pinnacles that look like fingers reaching for the sky and offering stunning views of Catalunya. According to legend, villagers discovered a statue of the Madonna in a grotto a millennia ago. As a result, it became a pilgrimage site, and still draws many of the faithful to venerate the image, which now resides in a grand basilica. Over the centuries the image has darkened by the smoke of millions of candles and she has come to be known as the Black Virgin. You’ll visit the basilica, and have free time to shop and have lunch on your own.

Experience Barcelona’s diverse architectural heritage. You’ll become well acquainted with Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona’s celebrity architect – his unmistakable style with its organic shapes, twisted iron sculptures and colored tiles is hard to miss. Begun in 1883, it remains unfinished to this day. Enjoy an inside visit at his towering masterpiece, la Sagrada Family (The Holy Family). Drive along the elegant Passeig de Gracia with its wrought-iron street lamps and fine array of Modernist buildings, including Gaudi’s Casa Batllo, with a mosaic façade and undulating roof. You´ll wander through the “Poble Espanyol”, an open-air architectural museum, which was built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. It consists of 117 full-scale buildings, which are replicas of the most characteristic buildings from all over Spain. It also contains restaurants, artisan workshops and shops offering quality souvenirs. You will have some free time to enjoy lunch at your own expense. Before returning to the pier, you will take a scenic drive through Montjuïc Mountain, where you can admire its stunning views.

Grab a selfie stick and strike a pose! Use the QR code to unlock Barcelona-themed frames and turn your photo into a fun digital postcard—perfect for sharing the moment instantly with friends and family. Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Barcelona! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as some of the stops might include wi-fi. Your accompanying guide will help you choose the spot to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting, etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination. Your tour begins with a scenic drive to the Triumphal arch. You will have designated selfie stops at:

• Triumphal arch
• La Sagrada Familia
• Paseo de Gracia – Gaudi´s Houses

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Walk through two modernistic buildings with an architectural historian that will describe their design challenges in vivid detail. As futuristic as Torre Glòries tower is, its bullet shape resembles the steeples of Sagrada Familia, architect Antoni Gaudí’s famed but controversial basilica that has been under construction since 1882. Torre Glòries also has had its share of distractors, as the glass-covered, multi-colored building has been criticized for issues ranging from its small windows to awkward donut-shaped floor plan. However, seeing it in person with an informed architect will shed light on the tower’s design and how it was achieved. In the same vein, the quirky triangular Forum Building overcame initial design flaws to become an admired symbol of Barcelona’s urban renewal. The expert guide will point out its bold technologies and use of materials of alternating textures and patterns. Be sure to ask why much of the building is lifted off the ground. As you continue, you'll be led to the magnificent Sagrada Familia, where you'll have some free time to admire and contemplate its intricate façade and the beautiful surroundings. It's a truly remarkable piece of art. Finally, the tour culminates with an exterior visit to Barcelona's Cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic architecture, as you stroll through the historic Gothic Quarter. Embark on an unforgettable journey through Barcelona's treasures.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow an architectural historian through two controversial buildings for an insider’s perspective.
• Gain insight into the cutting-edge technologies used in the bullet-shaped Torre Glòries tower.
• Learn how the futuristic Forum Building endured a rocky start to become a beloved icon.
• Stroll by two well-known landmarks in the city, the Sagrada Familia and Barcelona's Cathedral.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy a leisurely, mostly downhill walk from Montjuic hill to historical Plaza España while admiring the lovely views and attractions in between. The lookout atop the hill presents a sweeping panorama of Barcelona all the way to the sea, which will give you an excellent understanding of how the city lays out. As you follow the descending footpath, you will soon pass the ramparts of Montjuic Castle, a 17th-century fortress that played a key role in the War of the Spanish Succession. The guide will elaborate on Barcelona’s history and most intriguing landmarks such as the iconic La Sagrada Familia basilica as you descend to the beautifully terraced Mirador de l’Alcalde lookout and on to the National Palace. The domed Spanish Renaissance-style building was constructed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition and now houses the National Art Museum of Catalonia. The nearby Plaza España was also built for the exposition. The bullring there is now a shopping center.

OVERVIEW

Ride an electric bike on an inspiring tour of Barcelona with a special focus on the Catalan Modernist architecture that Antoni Gaudí designed. Traveling by e-bike couldn’t be easier because its battery-powered, whisper-quiet motor makes pedaling a breeze, allowing you to go farther with less effort. You will experience that firsthand by following the guide around Barcelona caravan-style. Although you will see an array of landmarks, most of them will be icons by the revered architect Gaudí. His most recognizable building is the Sagrada Familia church, which was started in 1882 and is slated to be completed in 2026, the centenary of the architect’s death. You will also likely pause at the highly sculptural Casa Milà – the last residence that Gaudí designed – and at Casa Batlló, a house known for its organic curves that mirror the sinuous shapes in plants and animals. During free time that follows, you can explore the area around the iconic Arc de Triomf.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Zip around Barcelona on an electric bike that enhances your pedaling power.
• Pause at particularly memorable attractions, especially ones designed by Antoni Gaudí.
• See icons such as the Sagrada Familia church, considered to be Gaudi’s masterpiece.
• Spend free time exploring the area around the Arc de Triomf on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.