The cruises compared here
Barcelona's sights are mostly inland, so a boat here works differently from a river cruise in Paris or Porto. You are buying the coast, the harbour and a long view back at the city, not a parade of monuments on both banks.
We compared the two catamaran cruises Civitatis sells from the old port with the operator and tourist board pages, and set them against Las Golondrinas, the cheaper boat from the same quay.
1What the one-hour catamaran covers
The solar catamaran leaves Moll de les Drassanes, crosses Port Vell and follows the shore to the Olympic Port area before heading into open water for the skyline. On the way the listing points out the World Trade Center, the superyacht berths and whichever cruise ships are in.
That is a harbour and beach-front route. The Sagrada Família and the towers of the Eixample appear as shapes on the horizon, which is pleasant and not much more. If your mental picture is a close pass by famous buildings, adjust it before you pay.
2What you get on board, and what you do not
The boat is the Eco Slim, a 24-metre catamaran that its builder says seats 150 on a single deck with a bar. The tourist board adds bow nets and removable tables. It is a large, stable platform, which suits children and nervous sailors and disappoints anyone picturing a yacht.
The listing includes the ride and nothing else. No drink, no audio guide and no live commentary are mentioned. The upside is in the small print: free cancellation up to 24 hours before, a boat listed as wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets, and pets allowed.
3Is the sunset jazz catamaran worth double?
The Orsom sunset cruise is 90 minutes, not 60, on a sailing catamaran with cushioned open deck space and a live jazz and chill-out set. It scores 9.1 from 228 reviews, clearly higher than the daytime boat.
Two things work against it. Drinks are extra, so the real cost of the evening is above the from €28 fare. And the ticket is non-refundable, on a trip whose whole appeal depends on the sky. Book it close to the date, when you can see the forecast, and only if you would enjoy the music even under cloud.
4The cheaper alternative on the same quay
Las Golondrinas starts at from €9 and its 60-minute tour sails a very similar line: out of the commercial port and north along the coast past Barceloneta and the Olympic Port. The operator says that tour runs on a catamaran too.
The saving comes with a catch. The Civitatis ticket is non-refundable, and the starting price most likely belongs to the 40-minute option that stays inside the port, since the operator's own site charges more than that for the full hour. If you would add the audio guide and want the hour at sea, the gap to the solar catamaran shrinks to very little.
5When to skip a catamaran altogether
Skip it if you get seasick easily. Part of every route here is in open sea, outside the harbour wall, and none of the listings promises a refund for a choppy day beyond the normal cancellation rules.
Skip it as well if you have two days in Barcelona and a long list. The beach promenade from Barceloneta gives you the sea for free, and the hour is better spent inside one of the buildings you came for. With three days or more, or with children who need a break from queues, the boat earns its place.