Carnival Corporation & plc today released artist renderings of its second cruise terminal at the Port of Barcelona – which will be Europe's newest passenger cruise terminal when it opens in 2018. The terminal is designed to accommodate Carnival Corporation's new class of "next-generation" green cruise ships that will be fully operated by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the world's cleanest burning fossil fuel.

As part of an agreement signed in July 2015, Carnival Corporation will construct and operate the new 12,500 square meter terminal. The company is investing more than 30 million euros in the state-of-the-art terminal, which paired with its existing terminal at the port represents its largest combined terminal investment in Europe.

Designed by Catalan architecture firm Battle I Roig, the plans for the company's upcoming cruise terminal reflect today's modern architectural style with straight lines and a minimalist concept that will create a contemporary and comfortable guest environment.

"Our goal is to make travel for our guests as convenient, pleasant and easy as possible, and this new terminal is designed to meet and exceed guest expectations," said Giora Israel, senior vice president of global port and destination development for Carnival Corporation. "The local architecture firm has done great work in designing a beautiful facility that will make Europe's largest cruise port even better."

''This terminal marks the culmination of years of partnership," said Sixte Cambra, president of the Port of Barcelona Port Authority. "Since the beginning of our relationship, Carnival Corporation has shown strong success in our port and city, and 10 years after the opening of the first terminal, this has materialized in a new facility for their cruise brands. Carnival Corporation has been a loyal partner to the Port of Barcelona, bringing passengers of different nationalities and generating a strong financial impact to our local economy."

Construction on the project officially began in July 2016, and once complete it will enhance the embarkation and disembarkation process for cruise guests visiting Catalonia and its surrounding areas on one of Carnival Corporation's ships.

The new terminal, on the port's Adossat wharf, will increase Carnival Corporation's passenger capacity at the port, which is used by eight of the company's 10 global cruise line brands as both a destination and home port. Carnival Corporation is expecting to accommodate over one million passengers at the Port of Barcelona once its second cruise terminal is open in 2018.

Eight brands from Carnival Corporation – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and P&O Cruises (UK) – visit Barcelona throughout the year. Carnival Corporation guests who visit Catalonia can take advantage of a variety of excursions, such as strolling the Girona historic quarter or visiting the multi-peaked rocky range of Montserrat and its Benedictine abbey, and exploring attractions within Barcelona, such as touring Gaudi's famed Sagrada Familia Cathedral.

Beginning April 2018, the terminal facilities will host inaugural sailings of Carnival Horizon, Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship, which includes attractions such as SkyRide, IMAX Theatre and Water Works, as well as Aida Cruises' newest ship AIDAperla featuring attractions such as the Beach Club under a UV-permeable dome and an above-water skywalk. AIDAperla is one of the world's first cruise ships to feature dual-fuel engines, which, depending on availability at the port, can also be operated with virtually zero-emission liquefied natural gas (LNG).

[ 05-08-2017: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]