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Crystal Serenity calls on Cadiz, Spain

Crystal Cruises port review. Crystal Serenity calls on Cadiz, Spain. Cruise review of what we did in port on Crystal Cruises.

 

For some cruise passengers on Crystal Serenity, Cadiz, Spain represents the gateway to Seville. For others Cadiz means a fun day exploring the local sights. However if you are a member of the construction team who has been working around-the-clock to complete the installation and finishes of the Extreme Makeover spaces (a $17 million dollar redesign of Tastes, Trident, and Lido Cafe restaurants, complete overhaul of four Crystal Penthouses, install of PURE deluxe staterooms, and the installation of four living walls) then you are happy to be back in Cadiz. After all the 12-day dry dock of Crystal Serenity began in Cadiz, Spain at the Navantia Shipyard right before our itinerary.

Open for business – Lido Cafe

Guests (mostly me) have been trying to sneak a peek behind the sealed doors for days to get a glimpse of the radical transformation of the Lido Cafe.  When I got back from a tour I went up to see that the Lido Cafe was open for business. The space is very similar to Crystal Symphony but it’s clean lines and staggered action stations (not the usual linear buffet table) were gorgeous. Slate tiles and numerous accent pieces help create a light and airy feel to the space. The white-porcelain crockery from France showcased the colors of the food.

 

The day in pictures

Check out some of the shots I took from my shore excursion to the spa and old town Cadiz.

For cruise passengers with limited time, walk around Old town Cadiz and try to find the many plazas that terminate at the intersections of narrow streets.

After my morning shore excursion (read below) I took off on a self-guided walking tour of Cadiz.

My suggestion is to walk to the fountains (ask which direction you can find these), which will serve as a landmark for Cadiz’s ‘main square’  Plaza San Juan de Dios. The architecture of the council building is impressive and then walk towards the dome to discover another plaze, The Plaza de la Cathedral.

There are walking maps available and a convenient painted line on the ground that can serve as a guide. Walking maps can be found at the information booth close to the fountain on the way to the main square.

 

Shore excursion to Jerez to a Turkish Bath

I choose a Crystal Cruises organized shore excursion that featured an introduction to historic Cádiz before heading to Jerez to for a relaxing soak and massage at the Hamman Andalusi Banos Arabes Jerez. The Arabian hamman bath house was a reproduction of what would typically been offered to inhabitants. I  just wish the massage lasted more than 15-minutes. The option to upgrade the service to a longer treatment was not available.

Jerez de la Frontera Cathedral

Our group was able to do an informal walking tour around The Cathedral of San Salvador, which is a cathedral church located in Jerez de la Frontera, which is about a 45-minute motor coach ride from the port in Cadiz.