Terri

Like Neil I stopped off at Barcelona on a cruise this year but had been before both on business and pleasure trips.

Apart from what has already been suggested:

Take a trip on The Funicular the views are fantastic.

Gaudi's Park, full of follies is worth a look.

Las Ramblas is 99% tourists, best way to take it in is to sit outside a Cafe and watch them all go by. The street performers are fun to watch too.

If you want to get away from wall to wall tourists visit The Latin Quarter, the buildings are amazing and whilst the churchs are not as famous as Gaudi's they are quite stunning inside and they are finished! An interesting way to view the area is on a Trixie (covered Tricycle, with a driver, you sit in the back, bit like a Rikshaw) great fun, an informative guide pedalling for you and only $12 for an hour. You can pick one up at the bottom of Las Ramblas (sea end). Best value we had on our 14 day cruise.

Hotels are a very personal thing, location, rating etc so my best advice would be check out a hotel review site like Trip Adviser.

You will have a great time it is a wonderful city.

Chris