Carnival Cruise Line to Build Barcelona Super-Terminal

Carnival Corporation has this week received approval to build a massive second terminal at the Port of Barcelona. Terminal E on the port’s Adossat Wharf will measure in at 11,500 metres squared – making it one of the largest in Europe.

With construction starting next year, the terminal is due to open in 2018. The final design process is currently being undertaken by the Carnival team, and the new terminal will be located adjacent to the current Terminal D, Palacruceros, which is also operated by the Carnival Corporation.

Seven of Carnival Corporation’s cruise brands currently use Barcelona port as a destination and home port including Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises.

Of the 725 ports visited by ships in Carnival Corporation’s fleets, Barcelona remains one of the most enduringly popular with the stunning culture and history of the city amazing guests, old and new. The six existing terminals of the Port of Barcelona were visited by 764 cruise calls in 2014 – a number which looks set to be comfortably beaten this year.

In an interview with IHS Maritime, a Barcelona Port Authority spokeswoman explained: “Adossat Wharf, where the terminal will be located, doesn’t need additional dredging and we don’t have to build new infrastructure. However, there is currently a multipurpose terminal – Port Nou – where the new Terminal E will be built and that means that in the following weeks Port Nou will move to a new location, a bit further south along Adossat Wharf, so that works for Terminal E can get started.

“We are investing €1.54 million (£1.09 million) in the parking site construction – BPA builds it, but it will be managed by Carnival. We will also carry out land development in the area, but I cannot confirm that investment yet.”

Barcelona Port Authority president, Sixte Cambra, added: “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.”

The Carnival Corporation are busy adding to their cruise destinations – opening the Amber Cove Cruise Centre in the Dominican Republic in October 2015 and adding a third pier at Puerta Maya, Cozumel over the winter.

Images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credit: Jesus Solana, dmytrok