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The green light has been given for Carnival Corporation to build a €30 million new cruise terminal at the port of Barcelona to handle the company’s new class of ships.
Due to open by 2018 in the port’s Adossat Wharf, the new terminal will be one of Europe’s largest at 11,500 square metres and provide access to 300 car parking spaces.
Barcelona, Europe’s largest cruise port, is used by seven of the company’s 10 brands as both a destination and home port.
The city’s six existing terminals handled 764 cruise calls and more than 2.36 million passengers last year.
Cruise passengers had an economic impact of nearly €257 million in Barcelona in 2103 based on spending on restaurants, transport and trade in the city.
Carnival Corporation has been granted approval to begin the final design process and start construction of the new terminal in 2016.
The group’s managing director of terminal operations in Barcelona, Michel Nestour, 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.”
Sixte Cambra, president of the Port Authority of Barcelona, 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.”