Behind the Journey with Jill

A Week on Crystal Serenity: From Lisbon to Barcelona

Photo courtesy of Travel Weekly

Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing Crystal Serenity (accommodates 740 passengers and 655 crew members based on its updated capacity) on a wonderful week-long journey through Spain, beginning with two nights in Lisbon and ending with two nights in Barcelona. For me, this was the perfect combination of luxury cruising, exceptional dining, beautiful destinations, and time to truly enjoy the journey along the way.

I began with two pre-cruise nights in Lisbon at the beautiful Intercontinental Lisbon Hotel, giving me time to settle in and enjoy this beautiful Portuguese capital before boarding Serenity. I took a two hour TukTuk tour with a fabulous guide who picked us up from our hotel as we rode the cobblestone and hilly streets of Lisbon. A fabulous tradition in Lisbon which we experienced was a Fado Show. This is a live performance of Portugal’s traditional, soulful folk music, recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Often called the “Lisbon blues”, fado features mournful, passionate ballads about heartbreak, longing, and the sea takes place in a dimly lit restaurant Performances typically feature a singer  backed by a classical guitar and a 12-string Portuguese guitar.

From Lisbon, the cruise took me along Spain’s southern and eastern coast, with stops in Cádiz, Málaga, Cartagena, Alicante, and Castellón. Each port offered something different—from historic architecture and charming old quarters to coastal scenery, culture, shopping, and wonderful opportunities to explore Spain at a relaxed pace. I had lots of tapas, enjoyed a Flamenco show, climbed the Santa Barbara Castle in Alicante, toured Roman Amphitheaters in two cities and loved the friendly people everywhere.

Of course, one of the highlights was the experience onboard Crystal Serenity itself. Crystal is known for its elevated level of service, and I found that the attention to detail really does make a difference. The ship offers an elegant, intimate atmosphere without feeling overly formal, along with wonderful cuisine, attentive service, enriching experiences, and plenty of space to simply relax and enjoy the sea. I especially appreciated having the opportunity to unpack once while still experiencing several destinations—a wonderful advantage of cruising.

The journey concluded in Barcelona, at the truly “majestic” Hotel Majestic where I stayed for two additional nights. This was the perfect way to end the trip, allowing me to experience more of Barcelona rather than rushing straight home after disembarkation. The highlight of this city was definitely Sagrada Familia, the tallest church in the world at almost 600 feet! I joined a small group tour which showed this one-of-a-kind temple, for its origins, foundation and purpose. Five generations now have watched the Temple progress in Barcelona. Today, more than 140 years after the laying of the cornerstone, construction continues on the Basilica.

Overall, this was a wonderful way to experience both Portugal and Spain and the beautiful Mediterranean—combining the ease and elegance of Crystal with the opportunity to discover several distinctive destinations along the way. It was a journey that reminded me why I love creating travel experiences for my clients: the best trips aren’t simply about where you go, but about how you experience each destination along the way.