Carnival to construct second private cruise terminal at Port of Barcelona

Carnival Corporation has announced it has signed a €30 million agreement with the Port Authority of Barcelona to construct and operate its second private cruise terminal at the Port of Barcelona.

As part of the agreement, the Port Authority granted Carnival Corporation administrative concessions to operate both the new cruise terminal and a new car parking facility at Europe’s largest port. The Port of Barcelona is the fourth busiest port in the world and is used by seven of the company’s cruise line brands as a port of call and as a home port.

Carnival will now begin work on the final design process before breaking ground in 2016. The new 11,500 square metre facility is scheduled to open as early as 2018 in the Port’s Adossat wharf. When it opens it will be capable of handling the company’s new class of cruise ships arriving in 2018 and 2019.

In addition to the terminal Carnival will also construct a 300-space car parking facility which will become the first public parking facility to be located on the cruise pier.

Michel Nestour, managing director of Carnival Corporation terminal operations in Barcelona, said: “As an all-new, next-generation cruise facility, the terminal will be designed to enhance the overall cruise experience for Carnival Corporation’s guests. This will include making it easy and convenient for guests, whether they are arriving at the terminal to begin a cruise vacation, disembarking following the completion of a cruise or visiting Barcelona as one of the ports of call on a cruise. In all cases, our goal is to exceed guest expectations through every stage of the cruise experience, and this new terminal will be built to meet that goal.”

Sixte Cambra, president of the Port Authority of Barcelona, said: “We are excited about our ongoing partnership with Carnival Corporation to enhance our facilities at the Port of Barcelona and continue our momentum as one of the top cruise destinations in the world. This new agreement ensures that we will continue to meet the growing popularity of cruising to and from Barcelona, accommodate the latest in cruise ship designs and most importantly provide cruise passengers with the highest levels of quality and service.”

Giora Israel, senior vice president of global port and destination development for Carnival Corporation, added: “In the past several years Barcelona has seen a consistent surge in growth as a very popular destination for our cruise guests. And as the largest port in Europe, it continues to be a great city and port for both our guests and our cruise line brands. We are excited to expand our operations at the Port of Barcelona with our second private terminal, as it enhances our ability to provide a great experience for our guests. Based on our very positive working relationship with our partners in Barcelona, we see a truly bright future for the cruising industry in Barcelona and look forward to continuing to work with the Port and the city of Barcelona to welcome our cruise guests to one of the most beautiful, vibrant and popular cities in Europe and the Mediterranean.”

In 2014 the Port of Barcelona recorded 764 cruise calls with over 2.36 million passenger movements across six terminals. According to research by the Barcelona’s Tourist Office in 2013, cruise passengers had an economic impact of nearly €257 million to the city’s economy.

The new terminal at Barcelona will become the latest in a string of terminals to be operated by Carnival Corporation. Operational ports include Barcelona, Spain; Puerta Maya in Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Turk Cruise Center in Turks and Caicos Islands; Mahogany Bay in Roatan, Honduras; and Long Beach in California. Amber Cove in the Puerta Plata region of the Dominican Republic will open in October 2015 and will be used by several of the company’s cruise lines in addition to its fathom venture. Carnival Corporation also operates Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay, two private island destinations in the Caribbean.

(Photo credit to David Fiske)