THE TRIP We started from Buffalo, NY, and flew Delta through JFK on the outbound, and ATL on the return. We had a 5hr layover in JFK (my choice in case of weather problems). I got a couple of day passes for the Crown Room, $50pp. Well worth the price. Free liqueur, decent food, and a quiet place to wait. You will be given an incoming form that must be filled in before arrival in Spain. Spain customs/immigration will tear off a part of the form. KEEP THE REMAINDER OF THE FORM. YOU WILL NEED IT UPON YOUR DEPARTURE FROM SPAIN. We took a taxi to the Confortel Barcelona which we booked through NCL. (35Euros). This is a very modern hotel located about 2 blocks from the Metro, and about 3 metro stations from downtown Barcelona. There are nice little restaurants in the hotel area. Ask the desk clerk for directions. NCL charged us $119pp for the hotel. You can book it yourself for about $125 per night. Then you would have to make your own arrangements to get to the ship. The next day, the busboy picked up our luggage and the bus departed the hotel at 1230. Arriving at the ship about 1pm. Check in took about 30min. Our luggage showed up in our room about 2 hrs later.

Disembarkation was probably the best we have ever had. You decided when your going to depart the ship. Pick up your colored luggage tags the day before departure. When your color is called, exit the ship and your luggage will be on a luggage belt corresponding to the tag color you used. Wait for your bags, walk out to the cab and be on your way. NCL charges $40pp for transfers to the airport. The taxi cost 30 Euro's. There are 3 nonstop flights to the US. 2 on Delta, 1 on American. The first Delta goes to New York and the check in counters tend to try to get them through first. The Atlanta line can get very, very backed up. Get to the airport early unless you want to wait in line for 2 hours. As you stand in line, there is a man with a scale to check your baggage weight. If you are over, you can pull out of the line and "rearrange". No, you don't go to the back of the line. Delta was wonderful, all flights were on time, or early, and our luggage all showed up in good shape.

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