Barcelona Spain May 2014-021

Buenos días! I’m back from Europe after sailing on Windstar’s newest ship… Star Pride. I was invited on the inaugural cruise along with several other journalists, travel agents, executives and paid guests. Windstar paid fro my flight to Europe but I paid for my dad’s (I used way too many Delta miles).

Like smart cruise travelers we arrived into the first port (Barcelona, Spain) a day before just in case there were any significant weather or mechanical delays. Fortunately, there were not.

Windstar put us up at the Grand Marina Hotel which was the perfect hotel since we were only in town for a night and it was literally a stone’s throw from our ship. Unfortunately, my dad was really tired from the long trip so we didn’t do much. He slept, I worked (the life of a travel writer) and then we took a stroll down the famous and super toursity La Rambla boulevard. It was just a short walk from the Grand Marina Hotel. Below are some of my photos from our short stay in Spain.

FYI: My big regrets were not taking my dad to see Sagrada Familia (Tip: purchase the tickets online in advance from and you won’t stand in line at all) and seeing my American friend Tracy who runs Spanish Trails Day Tours and Events. But that just means we need to go back, right?!

Hitting the road on a 20 minute drive from airport to downtown Barcelona, Spain.
Hitting the road on a 20 minute drive from airport to downtown Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
Grand Marina Hotel
Grand Marina Hotel
Grand Marina Hotel front desk in Barcelona, Spain (they have very nice workers). Credit: Johnny Jet
Grand Marina Hotel front desk in Barcelona, Spain (they have very nice workers). Credit: Johnny Jet
Grand Marina Hotel room
Grand Marina Hotel room
Grand Marina Hotel bed
Grand Marina Hotel bed
Grand Marina Hotel bathroom
Grand Marina Hotel bathroom
Grand Marina Hotel bag with toiletries
Grand Marina Hotel bag with toiletries
Grand Marina Hotel toiletries
Grand Marina Hotel toiletries
View of our ship from hotel room
View of our ship from hotel room
Grand Marina Hotel and Windstar Star Pride
Grand Marina Hotel and Windstar Star Pride
W Hotel
W Hotel
View of Barcelona from room (with a zoom). Credit: Johnny Jet
View of Barcelona from room (with a zoom). Credit: Johnny Jet
Barcelona's Port Cable Car
Barcelona's Port Cable Car
View of Barcelona from ship
View of Barcelona from ship
View of Barcelona from ship
View of Barcelona from ship
Christopher Columbus Monument (197 feet tall) at the lower end of La Rambla
Christopher Columbus Monument (197 feet tall) at the lower end of La Rambla
Barcelona, Spain in May 2014.
Barcelona, Spain in May 2014.

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