Barcelona & Lisbon

[Duggas]

Newbie requiring help please

We're booked for our first ever cruise in June this year and we're currently looking at all the different trips on offer. However, in Barcelona and Lisbon we would like to visit the Hard Rock Cafe's so I have a couple of questions on how to do it.

1. Does the ship dock close enough to the cities so we can make our own way in or would we have to do an organised trip to get there?

2. If we can do our own thing, is it safe to do so?

3. What is the best way of getting around the cities to get to the HRC's. (we'll have the full address of the cafe and a map but that doesn't always help!)

Thanks for any help you can give.

Pam

[Svein]

In both Lisbon and Barcelona the ships are docking quite close to the city center.
It shouldn't be a problem going out on your own and the cities are just as safe as any big city. However, especially Barcelona is known for its pickpockets, so be aware of that.

If you have the address and a map it should be no problem to go to HRC by your own.

Just keep in mind the ship's departure time

[IceonWater]

I been two both cities. Lisbon you can take a tour go to Sintra if you can. and give your self 2 hours of shooping near the port a bout 15 minutes from poert there isa great shooping center near a historic land mark. In Barcelona take the tour bus so that you can squeeze many sites. you can walk up town to la rambla to pLAZA CATALUNA

[nomorecosta]

just came back from a cruise that included barcelona...the docks are a good distance from the city center, but most of the ships have shuttles to the city center...we only had five or so hours (thanks to costa) but managed to grab a double decker bus tour ...right at the main plaza...about a block away from La Rambla..a main street where there is alot of open stalls n street performers...we paid about 15euros each and used the tour bus like a taxi because its a day pass and you can get on and off all day. so we just got off at or near wherever we wanted to go and spent as much time as we liked then just got on it again n went to the next spot...but yes it is a big city and you have to be careful...the street people/pickpockets r out there...we had a very good time when we were there
we did the same at most of the ports...most of the best tours are not found from the ship is our experience...even in Europe

[Auburnsiren]

I also put in a vote for the tour bus in Barcelona. We were there 3 days pre-cruise and used it a TON. It is a great value.

If you are short on time, it will at least allow you to see much of the wonderful architecture.

I looked up Hard Rock and it is on Placa de Catalunya, which the bus definitely stops by.

http://www.tmb.net/en_US/turistes/bu...usturistic.jsp