The world’s most luxurious cruise stops in Barcelona
Regent Seven Seas Explorer Barcelona
In the South Terminal Dock World Trade Center -nothing to do with the big quantity of Adossat– cruise passengers, a private chauffeur leaves walk from ‘Regent Seven Seas Explorer‘ two tourists with powerful aspect. Smile. Not for less. He confesses that throughout his career he had never taken such a juicy tip as he gave recently an American cruise passengers of the same company: 2,500 euros after take to a party in the south of France, at the expense of their free hours. The joy of billfold is typical of luxury cruise ships that dock in Barcelona, a market segment which is rarely discussed but moves million euros in the city. They are the most searched for hotels, tour operators and customer services. The ‘Explorer’, which has docked around the city Friday, blunts in the Champions League seaworthy. Opened last July by the princes of Monaco, it has emerged as the most luxurious cruise ship in the world.
The elite vacation at sea is not measured in size or number of attractions on board, but in service and emotions. Many giant supercruises from less than a thousand euros per week and Barcelona are frequent passenger-art, modern, full of restaurants and entertainment but popular and overcrowded and hyperactivity. The glamor on board, however, results in terms of space, top gastronomy, comfort and exclusivity.
They are usually small format, although the new vessel is medium in size but with the highest ratio of space per passenger in the world (other ships carrying 56,000 tons travelers even triple) and carries a crew member for every 1.3 passengers. A deployment to sweeten the lives of their 750 guests, who usually pay 4,000 to 5,000 euros per week, except for specific offers, account Carme Bigas, commercial director of Star Class-A world cruise, representative in Spain of this and most shipping high-end.
The visit of the new ship, which has other siblings who also flock to the city, is more than just one day. If in 2013, as reported by the newspaper, the port hosted 120 scales luxury categories (companies like Regent Seven Seas, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Crystal, Cunard, Seabourn Hapag-Lloyd or …) and -a degree below- Upper Premium or Premium (Azamara, Celebrity, Holland America, Oceania, Paul Gauguin, Princess and other …), this year the figure will rise to 191 scales. They moved more than 383,000 cruise passengers, as part of the more than 2.6 million passengers expected in the Catalan capital, sources said Port of Barcelona.
76 ELITIST SCALES
In the most elite segment will be 76 stopovers and 62,000 passengers. A ‘silent’ human flow because being smaller boats do not perceive their landings in the bustle of the port, and because most tours or hire private assistance. Some perform a scale of hours, others spend the night in the port, and often begin or end route in the city, which means customers spend several nights in the city. In the case of Regent, which is the only one with an integral whole with no added charges included (premium drinks, all especializades restaurants, gratuities, taxes, various excursions, fitness classes, culinary workshops, wifi all the way …) the package may include up to three nights of overnight stays, explains Gabriella Fonzo, director of Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
What do the luxury passengers calling at Barcelona? Friday, those of the ‘Explorer’ had free tours of 3 to 7.5 hours by Gòtic routes, jewelry Gaudi, local icons or bodegas Torres or Jean Leon. But there were also private options to go with the chef of the ship Santa Caterina market and the Boqueria, and finish devouring a menu of two Michelin stars in the Àbac restaurant.
On the way back, and heading to the scale of Ibiza (Saturday) or the Italian coast have time to soak in the infinity pool that looks out over the stern (apart from the solarium), to relax in their loungers-(with hood included), watch the sunset from the Observation lounge with a drink, consult the 24 hours library and video library, take cooking classes in his 18 seasons with stove practices, contemplate 2,500 artworks on board (also Picasso and Chagall), participate in an outdoor barbecue in a casual meal at the grill by the pool, get a massage (treatments are not included), do yoga, listening to live music in the Meridian Lounge, sing karaoke or loose on the dance floor of the Explorer Lounge, see their own theater productions or without further and possibly the best, contemplate the sea from the balcony of the suite (from 28 square meters), with the plus a stocked minibar and liquor one demande.
The good life on board luxury cruise has one of its magnets on the tablecloths. Here in international version (Compass Rose), or specialized French, meat or Asian cuisine with a VIP area for those staying at higher levels. Special mention millionaires guests palatial Regent Suite of 412 square meters, about 10,000 euros a day for two people, including up to the antidote of the extra kilos (personal trainer) and transfers. If you move the cabin …
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