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Caribbean
Sun 06 Apr 2025 - Tue 29 Apr 2025

23 nights Miami, Philipsburg, St John s, Bridgetown, Funchal, Lisbon, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Palermo, Na

Cruise Region : Caribbean
Company : MSC Cruises
Ship : MSC Seaside
Journey Start : Sun 06 Apr 2025
Journey End : Tue 29 Apr 2025
Count Nights : 23 nights

Schedule

Day Port Date Arrival Departure
1 Miami / USA Sun 06 Apr 18:00
2 Day at sea / Sea Mon 07 Apr
3 Day at sea / Sea Tue 08 Apr
4 Philipsburg / Saint Martin Wed 09 Apr 08:00 19:00
5 Saint John / Antigua and Barbuda Thu 10 Apr 07:00 16:00
6 Bridgetown / Barbados Fri 11 Apr 09:00 18:00
7 Day at sea / Sea Sat 12 Apr
8 Day at sea / Sea Sun 13 Apr
9 Day at sea / Sea Mon 14 Apr
10 Day at sea / Sea Tue 15 Apr
11 Day at sea / Sea Wed 16 Apr
12 Day at sea / Sea Thu 17 Apr
13 Madeira / Portugal Fri 18 Apr 08:00 18:00
14 Day at sea / Sea Sat 19 Apr
15 Lisbon / Portugal Sun 20 Apr 07:00 17:00
16 Day at sea / Sea Mon 21 Apr
17 Valencia / Spain Tue 22 Apr 10:00 20:00
18 Palma de Mallorca / Spain Wed 23 Apr 09:00 18:00
19 Day at sea / Sea Thu 24 Apr
20 Sicily Palermo / Italy Fri 25 Apr 08:00 18:00
21 Naples / Italy Sat 26 Apr 06:30 16:30
22 Livorno / Italy Sun 27 Apr 09:00 19:00
23 Marcel / France Mon 28 Apr 10:00 19:00
24 Barcelona / Spain Tue 29 Apr 08:00

The cruise booking conditions may vary depending on the itinerary, season, and selected package. However, the basic conditions include:

1. **Deposit and Full Payment:**
   - A deposit of 30% is required to confirm the booking.
   - Full payment is usually required 60-90 days prior to departure. For late bookings, full payment may be required immediately.

2. **Cancellation and Penalties:**
   - Cancellation penalties depend on the time remaining before departure. The closer to the departure date, the higher the penalties.

   - More than 60 days before departure: €50 per person
   - 59 to 30 days: 30% of the total price
   - 29 to 22 days: 50%
   - 21 to 15 days: 70%
   - Less than 14 days before departure: 100%

3. **Booking Changes:**
   - Passenger substitutions are subject to an additional fee of €50 per person.

4. **Insurance:**
   - It is recommended to purchase travel or medical insurance to cover potential costs in case of cancellation or changes to the booking, as well as medical expenses during the cruise.

5. **Document Requirements:**
   - All passengers must have valid passports and visas for visiting countries (if required by the destination) on the cruise itinerary. The responsibility for obtaining visas lies with the passengers.

  • Accommodation in a cabin of the selected category
  • Meals in the restaurant (buffet) on the "buffet" system, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks in the cafe and pizzeria throughout the day. Water, juices, tea, coffee from machines are available in the buffet free of charge 24 hours.
  • Meals in the main restaurant "a la carte". As a rule, all liners have two or three main restaurants with menu service. The dishes in such restaurants are more refined and varied than in the buffet. Drinks are ordered for an additional fee.
  • Entertainment on board, such as animation, master classes, aerobics, evening performances in the theatre, live music in bars, discos.
  • Access to all public areas of the liner: fitness center (gym), swimming pools, jacuzzis by the pools, water park, library, mini-clubs for children.
  • Services of educators in mini-clubs for children from 6 months to 17 years
  • Games on sports grounds, including tennis, mini-football, basketball, badminton, mini-golf and others.
  • Use of watercraft during embarkation or disembarkation in ports if the liner does not enter the port.
  • Luggage transportation at the beginning and end of the cruise.
  • Service charge, gratuity will be added at the end of the booking in the amount of 12 euros per night per guest.
  • Depending on the cabin category, you may be provided with additional services free of charge. For example, ALL INCLUSIVE drinks in bars and restaurants, cabin service with free delivery 24 hours, use of the spa center.

Important: MSC reserves the right to change the cabin to the same category or higher. However, MSC will do everything possible to avoid changing the cabin.

Additional costs:

  • insurance (medical insurance, travel cancellation insurance)
  • airfare, rail transport (transportation costs to the port of departure and from the port of arrival of the ship)
  • transfers (from the airport/train station to the sea port and back)
  • excursions
  • pre- and post-cruise hotel reservations if you want to extend your holiday on land.

Additionally paid on the liner:

  • visiting alternative bars and restaurants
  • services of spa centers, hairdressers, beauty salons
  • medical services
  • laundry, ironing
  • casino
  • slot machines, etc. depending on the specific liner.

For any purchase of goods on the liner in bars, restaurants, shops and services in the spa center, hairdresser, etc. you will be additionally charged a service fee, which will average 15% of the purchase price.

 

 

The standard cruise fare typically does not include a drink package. You may choose and add an appropriate drink package to your cruise.

Drink package rules:

- All guests sharing a cabin, including children over 3 years old, must book a drink package. For children, a MINORS PACKAGE is available.
- Seating together in the main restaurant for dinner is only possible if all guests have booked the same drink package or none at all.
- Packages are for personal use only; cruise cards cannot be shared. Only one drink can be ordered per request. If misuse of the package occurs, the cruise company reserves the right to block the package without refunding the remaining days.
- Drink packages are valid every day throughout the cruise and cannot be purchased for individual days.
- Packages are not valid in specialty bars, cafés, and restaurants, including:
  - Venchi 1878 establishments, Jean-Philippe Maury venues, MSC Virtuosa Starship Club, MSC World Europa Coffee Emporium, MSC World Europa Raj Polo Tea Room.
- Due to Saudi Arabian law, alcoholic drinks are not available while docked in Saudi Arabian ports. Alcoholic beverages will only be available once the ship leaves the port and is at sea.
- Drink packages purchased onboard will be more expensive than those bought when booking the cruise.
- Detailed lists of drink packages will be available onboard.
- Packages are valid on Sir Bani Yas and Ocean Cay islands.

Prices per person, per day:

Mediterranean; Northern Europe; UAE & Persian Gulf; Red Sea; Caribbean from Fort-de-France*

EASY PACKAGE (adults 18+)  
- Cruises 1-7 days: €43  
- Cruises 8+ days: €39  

√ a selection of classic cocktails, house spirits and mixed drinks

√ non-alcoholic cocktails

√ dedicated selection of house wines by the glass, beer, sodas, fruit juices

√ bottled mineral water

√ classic hot drink (espresso, cappuccino, coffee latte, hot tea)

 Valid: 24/7 in select onboard bars, main restaurants, and buffet (excluding specialty restaurants).

EASY PLUS PACKAGE (adults 18+)
- Cruises 1-7 days: €57  
- Cruises 8+ days: €54  
All drinks priced up to €9 or $10*

√ frozen and classic cocktails, variety of spirit brands, liquors and cordials

√ a selection of wine by the glass

√ a 10% discount on bottled wines purchased onboard

√ a wide variety of draft and bottled beers, non-alcoholic cocktails, soft drinks

√ mineral water

√ coffee drinks, hot chocolate and hot teas

The Easy Plus Package covers all the above served at our bars, buffet, main restaurant and specialty restaurants. What’s more, it also includes Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and other exclusive MSC destinations.

*€9 for European, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, Egypt, Red Sea & Saudi Arabia, and Antilles cruises; $10 for Caribbean, Northern America, South America and Asia cruises.
Valid: 24/7 in onboard bars, main restaurants, buffet, and specialty restaurants.

PREMIUM EXTRA PACKAGE (adults 18+) 
- Cruises 1-7 days: €77  
- Cruises 8+ days: €74  

All drinks priced up to €14 or $16* 
√ an extensive variety of frozen and classic cocktails, premium brand spirits, liquors and cordials

√ a varied selection of wines and champagne by the glass

√ a 25% discount on bottles of wine and champagne purchased on board

√ our entire selection of draft, craft and bottled beers, sodas, fruit juices

√ mineral water, energy drinks

√ co­ffee drinks, hot chocolate and teas

Valid: 24/7 in onboard bars, main restaurants, buffet, and specialty restaurants.

ALCOHOL-FREE PACKAGE (adults 18+)
- Cruises 1-7 days: €26  
- Cruises 8+ days: €24  

√ a wide choice of alcohol-free cocktails, sodas, energy drinks

√  mineral water, flavored water, fruit juices

√  classic coff­ee drinks and coff­ee specialties, hot chocolate, hot teas, soft-serve ice cream

Valid: 24/7 in onboard bars, main restaurants, buffet (excluding specialty restaurants).

MINORS PACKAGE (children 3-17 years)**  
- Cruises 1-7 days: €18  
- Cruises 8+ days: €17  
√ alcohol-free cocktails, sodas, energy drinks

√ mineral water, flavored water, fruit juices

√ a selection of coffee drinks, hot chocolate, hot tea and soft-serve ice cream.

Applicable for minors (age respective of the country/operation area) who are part of a group/family purchasing an adult package.
Valid: 24/7 in select onboard bars, main restaurants, and buffet (excluding specialty restaurants).

Prices and rules are similar for other regions, with minor variations in costs for South America, Asia, and the Far East.

Interior

Interior

from: 1 009€
Oceanview

Oceanview

from: 1 349€
Balcony

Balcony

from: 1 839€
Suite

Suite

from: 8 089€
Detailed cruise program
  • Day 1: 18:00

    Miami / USA

    Miami, officially the City of Miami, is the cultural, economic and financial center of South Florida. Miami is the seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida. The city covers an area of about 56.6 square miles (147 km2), between the Everglades to the west and Biscayne Bay on the east; with a 2017 estimated population of 463,347, Miami is the sixth most densely populated major city in the United States. The Miami metropolitan area is home to 6.1 million people and the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the nation. Miami's metro area is the second-most populous metropolis in the southeastern United States and fourth-largest urban area in the U.S.

    Miami is a major center, and a leader in finance, commerce, culture, media, entertainment, the arts, and international trade. The Miami Metropolitan Area is by far the largest urban economy in Florida and the 12th largest in the United States with a GDP of $344.9 billion as of 2017. In 2012, Miami was classified as an "Alpha−" level world city in the World Cities Study Group's inventory. In 2010, Miami ranked seventh in the United States and 33rd among global cities in terms of business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement. In 2008, Forbes magazine ranked Miami "America's Cleanest City", for its year-round good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets, and citywide recycling programs. According to a 2009 UBS study of 73 world cities, Miami was ranked as the richest city in the United States, and the world's seventh-richest city in terms of purchasing power. Miami is nicknamed the "Capital of Latin America" and is the largest city with a Cuban-American plurality.

    Greater Downtown Miami has one of the largest concentrations of international banks in the United States, and is home to many large national and international companies. The Civic Center is a major center for hospitals, research institutes, medical centers, and biotechnology industries. For more than two decades, the Port of Miami, known as the "Cruise Capital of the World", has been the number one cruise passenger port in the world. It accommodates some of the world's largest cruise ships and operations, and is the busiest port in both passenger traffic and cruise lines. Metropolitan Miami is also a major tourism hub in the southeastern U.S. for international visitors, ranking number two in the country after New York City.

  • Day 2:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 3:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 4: 08:00-19:00

    Philipsburg / Saint Martin

  • Day 5: 07:00-16:00

    Saint John / Antigua and Barbuda

  • Day 6: 09:00-18:00

    Bridgetown / Barbados

    Bridgetown is the capital and largest city of Barbados. Formerly The Town of Saint Michael, the Greater Bridgetown area is located within the parish of Saint Michael. Bridgetown is sometimes locally referred to as "The City", but the most common reference is simply "Town". As of 2014, its metropolitan population stands at roughly 110,000.

    The Bridgetown port, found along Carlisle Bay (at 13.106°N 59.632°W) lies on the southwestern coast of the island. Parts of the Greater Bridgetown area (as roughly defined by the Ring Road Bypass or more commonly known as the ABC Highway), sit close to the borders of the neighbouring parishes Christ Church and St. James. The Grantley Adams International Airport for Barbados, is located 16 kilometres (10 mi) southeast of Bridgetown city centre, and has daily flights to major cities in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and the Caribbean. There is no longer a local municipal government, but it is a constituency of the national Parliament. During the short-lived 1950s-1960s Federation of the British West Indian Territories, Bridgetown was one of three capital cities within the region being considered to be the Federal capital of region.

    The present-day location of the city was established by English settlers in 1628; a previous settlement under the authority of Sir William Courten was at St. James Town. Bridgetown is a major West Indies tourist destination, and the city acts as an important financial, informatics, convention centre, and cruise ship port of call in the Caribbean region. On 25 June 2011, "Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison" was added as a World Heritage Site of UNESCO.

  • Day 7:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 8:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 9:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 10:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 11:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 12:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 13: 08:00-18:00

    Madeira / Portugal

    Madeira, officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira, is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (along with the Azores). It is an archipelago situated in the north Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Portugal. Its total population was estimated in 2011 at 267,785. The capital of Madeira is Funchal, which is located on the main island's south coast.

    The archipelago is just under 400 kilometres (250 mi) north of Tenerife, Canary Islands. Bermuda and Madeira, a few time zones apart, are the only land in the Atlantic on the 32nd parallel north. It includes the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Desertas, administered together with the separate archipelago of the Savage Islands. The region has political and administrative autonomy through the Administrative Political Statue of the Autonomous Region of Madeiraprovided for in the Portuguese Constitution. The autonomous region is an integral part of the European Union as an outermost region.

  • Day 14:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 15: 07:00-17:00

    Lisbon / Portugal

    Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 505,526 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Its urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits with a population of around 2.8 million people, being the 11th-most populous urban area in the European Union. About 3 million people live in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (which represents approximately 27% of the country's population). It is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast. Lisbon lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus. The westernmost areas of its metro area form the westernmost point of Continental Europe, which is known as Cabo da Roca, located in the Sintra Mountains.

  • Day 16:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 17: 10:00-20:00

    Valencia / Spain

  • Day 18: 09:00-18:00

    Palma de Mallorca / Spain

    Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain and located in the Mediterranean. The native language, as on the rest of the Balearic Islands, is Catalan, which is co-official with Spanish.

    The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Balearic Islands have been an autonomous region of Spain since 1983. There are two small islands off the coast of Mallorca: Cabrera (southeast of Palma) and Dragonera (west of Palma). The anthem of Mallorca is "La Balanguera".

    Like the other Balearic Islands of Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, the island is an extremely popular holiday destination, particularly for tourists from Germany and the United Kingdom. The international airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport, is one of the busiest in Spain; it was used by 28.0 million passengers in 2017, increasing every year since 2012.

    The name derives from Classical Latin insula maior, "larger island". Later, in Medieval Latin, this became Maiorica, "the larger one", in comparison to Menorca, "the smaller one".

  • Day 19:

    Day at sea / Sea

  • Day 20: 08:00-18:00

    Sicily Palermo / Italy

    Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 20 regions of Italy. It is one of the five Italian autonomous regions, in Southern Italy along with surrounding minor islands, officially referred to as Regione Siciliana.

    Sicily is located in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula, from which it is separated by the narrow Strait of Messina. Its most prominent landmark is Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, and one of the most active in the world, currently 3,329 m (10,922 ft) high. The island has a typical Mediterranean climate.

    The earliest archaeological evidence of human activity on the island dates from as early as 12,000 BC. By around 750 BC, Sicily had three Phoenician and a dozen Greek colonies and, for the next 600 years, it was the site of the Sicilian Wars and the Punic Wars. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Sicily was ruled during the Early Middle Ages by the Vandals, the Ostrogoths, the Byzantine Empire, and the Emirate of Sicily. The Norman conquest of southern Italy led to the creation of the Kingdom of Sicily, which was subsequently ruled by the Hohenstaufen, the Capetian House of Anjou, Spain, and the House of Habsburg. It was finally unified under the House of Bourbon with the Kingdom of Naples as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. It became part of Italy in 1860 following the Expedition of the Thousand, a revolt led by Giuseppe Garibaldi during the Italian unification, and a plebiscite. Sicily was given special status as an autonomous region on 15th May 1946, 18 days before the Italian constitutional referendum of 1946. Albeit, much of the autonomy still remains unapplied, especially financial autonomy, because the autonomy-activating laws have been deferred to be approved by the parithetic committee (50% Italian State, 50% Regione Siciliana), since 1946.

    Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature, cuisine, and architecture. It is also home to important archaeological and ancient sites, such as the Necropolis of Pantalica, the Valley of the Temples, Erice and Selinunte.

  • Day 21: 06:30-16:30

    Naples / Italy

    Naples is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest municipality in Italyafter Rome and Milan. In 2017, around 967,069 people lived within the city's administrative limits while its province-level municipality has a population of 3,115,320 residents. Its continuously built-up metropolitan area (that stretches beyond the boundaries of the Metropolitan City of Naples) is the second or third largest metropolitan area in Italy and one of the most densely populated cities in Europe.

    First settled by Greeks in the second millennium BC, Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world. In the ninth century BC, a colony known as Parthenope or Παρθενόπη was established on the Island of Megaride, later refounded as Neápolis in the sixth century BC. The city was an important part of Magna Graecia, played a major role in the merging of Greek and Roman society and a significant cultural centre under the Romans. It served as the capital of the Duchy of Naples (661–1139), then of the Kingdom of Naples (1282–1816) and finally of the Two Sicilies until the unification of Italy in 1861.

    Between 1925 and 1936, Naples was expanded and upgraded by Benito Mussolini's government but subsequently sustained severe damage from Allied bombing during World War II, which led to extensive post-1945 reconstruction work. Naples has experienced significant economic growth in recent decades, helped by the construction of the Centro Direzionale business district and an advanced transportation network, which includes the Alta Velocità high-speed rail link to Rome and Salerno and an expanded subway network. Naples is the third-largest urban economy in Italy, after Milan and Rome. The Port of Naples is one of the most important in Europe and home of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, the NATO body that oversees North Africa, the Sahel and Middle East.

    Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a wide range of culturally and historically significant sites nearby, including the Palace of Caserta and the Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Naples is also known for its natural beauties such as Posillipo, Phlegraean Fields, Nisida, and Vesuvius.

    Neapolitan cuisine is synonymous with pizza – which originated in the city – but it also includes many lesser-known dishes; Naples has the greatest number of accredited stars from the Michelin Guide of any Italian city.

    The best-known sports team in Naples is the Serie A club S.S.C. Napoli, two-time Italian champions who play at the San Paolo Stadium in the southwest of the city, in the Fuorigrotta quarter.

  • Day 22: 09:00-19:00

    Livorno / Italy

    Livorno is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It has traditionally been known in English as Leghorn.

    The origins of Livorno are controversial, although the place was inhabited since the Neolithic Age as shown by worked bones, pieces of copper and ceramic found on the Livorno Hills in a cave between Ardenza and Montenero. The construction of the Via Aurelia coincided with the occupation of the region by the Romans, who left traces of their presence in the toponyms and ruins of towers. The natural cove called Liburna, later transformed into Livorna, before becoming Livorno, is a reference to the type of ship, the liburna, used by Roman navy. Others ancient toponyms include: Salviano (Salvius), Antignano (Ante ignem) which was the place situated before Ardenza (Ardentia) where were the beacons for the ships directed to Porto Pisano.

    The name Livorna is mentioned for the first time in 1017 as a small coastal village, the port and the remains of a Roman tower. In 1077, a tower was built by Matilda of Tuscany. The Republic of Pisa owned Livorno from 1103 and built a quadrangular Fort called Quadratura dei Pisani ("Quarter of the Pisans") to defend the port. Porto Pisano was destroyed after the crushing defeat of the Pisan fleet in the Battle of Meloria in 1284. In 1399, Pisa sold Livorno to the Visconti of Milan, in 1405 it was sold to the Republic of Genoa and on 28 August 1421 it was bought by the Republic of Florence.

    Between 1427 and 1429, a census counted 118 families in Livorno, including 423 persons. Monks, Jews, military personnel, and the homeless were not included in the census. The only remainder of medieval Livorno is a fragment of two towers and a wall, located inside the Fortezza Vecchia.

  • Day 23: 10:00-19:00

    Marcel / France

    Marseille is the second-largest city of France. The main city of the historical province of Provence, it nowadays is the prefecture of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône and region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It is located on France's south coast near the mouth of the Rhône river. The city covers an area of 241 km2 (93 sq mi) and had a population of 852,516 in 2012. Its metropolitan area, which extends over 3,173 km2 (1,225 sq mi) is the third-largest in France after Paris and Lyon, with a population of 1,831,500 as of 2010.

     Known to the ancient Greeks and Romans as Massalia, Marseille was an important European trading centre and remains the main commercial port of the French Republic. Marseille is now France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and the largest port for commerce, freight and cruise ships. The city was European Capital of Culture in 2013 and European Capital of Sport in 2017; it hosted matches at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2016. It is home to Aix-Marseille University.

  • Day 24: 08:00

    Barcelona / Spain

     Barcelona is a city in Spain. It is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people, making it the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Madrid, the Ruhr area and Milan. It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.

    Founded as a Roman city, in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona. After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon, Barcelona continued to be an important city in the Crown of Aragon as an economic and administrative centre of this Crown and the capital of the Principality of Catalonia. Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments.

    Barcelona is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. It is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe, 24th in the world (before Zürich, after Frankfurt) and a financial centre. In 2008 it was the fourth most economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with GDP amounting to €177 billion. In 2012 Barcelona had a GDP of $170 billion; and it was leading Spain in employment rate in that moment.

    In 2009 the city was ranked Europe's third and one of the world's most successful as a city brand. In the same year the city was ranked Europe's fourth best city for business and fastest improving European city, with growth improved by 17% per year, and the city has been experiencing strong and renewed growth for the past three years. Since 2011 Barcelona has been a leading smart city in Europe. Barcelona is a transport hub, with the Port of Barcelona being one of Europe's principal seaports and busiest European passenger port, an international airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, which handles over 50 million passengers per year, an extensive motorway network, and a high-speed rail line with a link to France and the rest of Europe.