Mediterranean & Adriatic Sojourn
Barcelona to Athens April 3-24, 2023
Here is the description of today’s itinerary from Viking:
On your final day, embark on a panoramic drive past the Olympic Port and Forum Park before enjoying free time to explore scenic Ciutadella Park. Board your motor coach and continue your drive past the Arc de Triomf en route to the viewpoint on Montjuïc Mirador, where you will admire sweeping views of the city and sea. Afterward, you will transfer to your awaiting ship.
In the hotel lobby at 0830 to begin our transfer to the Viking Star and we ended up standing in the longest line we would encounter on our entire 28-day trip. After an hour, we finally boarded the bus and eventually left for the included panoramic tour and drop-off at the ship. Here’s a timeline, because I was going through photos and used the time stamps to check the times!
- Left the hotel at 0940.
- Passed Miro’s Woman and Bird sculpture at 0943.
- A brief stop to see the skyline of Barcelona from in front of the National Art Museum (Montjuïc Mirador) from 1000-1020. (Museum entrance not included. Folks asked and were disappointed. Nothing is ever included on tours unless it specifically says it is.)
- A bus window view of Calatrava’s Flame from the 1982 Olympics at 1023.
- Placa de Catalunya at 1042.
A second stop, this time to walk around Parc de la Ciutadella (restroom stop for some) and to see the Arc de Triomf, constructed for the 1888 World’s Fair (1105-1140).
- A quick drive past the Columbus Monument and Port Vell around 1150.
- Finally arrived at the port at 1155, docked at Adossat Pier. (85% of cruise ships dock here.)
- In the security line at 1200. 30 minutes to go through security.
- Showed our boarding passes and passports to staff (1235) and answered Covid questions. We had done the pre-boarding passes as recommended on MVJ, the travel portal for Viking cruisers, so no need for photos.
- Safety drill upon boarding followed by buffet lunch (1245-1320)
Drinks at Pool Bar at 1330. In our room (PV1) at 1405. Our luggage was inside our room when we arrived.
All in all, it was a seamless transition from hotel to ship. 2.5 hours on a pleasant bus tour — obviously the buses have staggered arrivals so as to avoid bottlenecks at the cruise port. A two-hour transition from cruise port drop-off to us relaxing in our stateroom. And while we were waiting for our room, we enjoyed our lunch and drinks.
Shuttles go every 30 minutes from the ship to Barcelona’s World Trade Center. From there it’s a 10-minute walk to the beginning of La Ramblas. We walked La Ramblas for about 20 minutes. Enough to say we’d been there. Probably not our thing — touristy, overpriced and mediocre food, overpriced drinks, tourist gimmicks and souvenirs. Still, it’s a bucket list sort of thing when visiting Barcelona!
Back on the ship and we dressed up for dinner at the Restaurant. Hubby likes his sports coat and I like flowy and silky, so we enjoy delicious food even more when we dress for the occasion. And a monthlong trip to the Mediterranean is occasion enough for us! Your mileage may vary.
Sitting at a window table, we watched the sun drop below the horizon, and then twinkling lights lit up the hills. A rising full moon finished the evening in grand style.
