The cruises compared here
The two boats leave from the same quay, Moll de les Drassanes, a few steps apart at the foot of the Columbus Monument. From the pavement they look like the same offer at different prices.
They differ in ways the kiosks do not advertise. Here is the comparison from the Civitatis listings, the Las Golondrinas site and Barcelona's tourist board.
1The routes are nearly the same
Las Golondrinas sells two tours. The 40-minute one stays inside the harbour: Maremagnum, the Porta d'Europa bridge, the Clock Tower, Montjuïc and its castle above the docks, and the W hotel. The 60-minute one, which the operator calls Port and Coast, leaves through the commercial port and runs north along the shore past Barceloneta beach to the Olympic Port, with the Sagrada Família and the Agbar tower on the skyline.
The solar catamaran has one route of 60 minutes. It passes through Port Vell, follows the coast to the Olympic Port area and heads out to sea before returning. Set next to the Port and Coast tour, there is no meaningful difference in what you see.
2Price and what is behind the from price
Las Golondrinas starts at from €9 on Civitatis and the solar catamaran at from €14. The Golondrinas listing covers both tour lengths, and the operator's own site asks more than €9 for the 60-minute adult ticket, so the headline figure is most likely the short tour. Check the price of the option you want before comparing.
Las Golondrinas has reduced fares for over-65s and for children aged 5 to 11. The solar catamaran has a child fare for ages 3 to 12. For a family, run both totals; the cheaper boat for two adults is not always the cheaper boat for five people.
3Commentary: only one of them offers any
Neither boat has a live guide. Las Golondrinas sells an audio guide as an extra, quoted on the listing in English at €2 per person. The operator's site says it is available in Catalan, Spanish, German, Italian, English, French, Portuguese, Arabic and Chinese, and that headphones are not supplied.
The solar catamaran lists no commentary of any kind. If you travel with someone who wants names and dates, that settles it in favour of Las Golondrinas.
4Refunds, access and pets
This is where the catamaran earns its extra euros. It can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before, while the Las Golondrinas ticket on Civitatis is non-refundable. On a coast where wind can spoil a boat trip, that flexibility has a value.
Both are listed as wheelchair accessible, with caveats. The solar catamaran listing adds accessible toilets. For Las Golondrinas, the tourist board says the historic boats are not adapted and that the catamaran used on the one-hour route has a steep ramp that needs help from the crew. Only the solar catamaran is tagged as pet-friendly.
5History against review volume
Las Golondrinas has worked the port since 1888, and its fleet still includes two traditional boats built in 1953. If riding a piece of local history appeals, note that the operator assigns the boat, and the 60-minute tour is run on a 2008 catamaran according to its site.
On Civitatis the numbers point the other way. The solar catamaran has 828 reviews at 8.3. Las Golondrinas scores higher, 8.7, but from only 48 reviews, because the listing is recent. Neither figure is a reason to avoid either boat.