^TM

"If you could go back to the Renaissance, you would return over and over again."

Whether it is your first trip or your fifth, the lure of the Renaissance line and its destinations brings you back to the basics of upscale travel: comfort and casual luxury and entertainment, fabulous ports-of-call, tours with a heavy accent on culture, knowledgeable guides, fun, first-class food, and a leisurely atmosphere at sea that can only be described as an escape to an escape. This cruise line wants you to come back and become part of the family.

All the pieces gel: the young and international crew, the interesting variety of passengers—newly married couples, retirees and devoted travelers of all ages and professions, the experienced officers and captain, the destinations and the wonderful mix of people who make up the chemistry of a state-of-the-art ship that is sailing into the new millennium and beyond. Seabound serenity and service and onshore enlightenment with more than a touch of class. This is designed to be an experience unto itself and it’s the Renaissance style, each cruise has a theme, enjoy and hang loose. Learn and discover, make new friends, find and refresh yourself because these cruises are about you, the enlightened passenger or in this case fellow "shipmates."

During a World Airways charter flight full of enthusiastic Renaissance "veterans" and first timers flying out of JFK, NYC non-stop to Barcelona, Spain, your senses start picking up a feeling of camaraderie. You immediately get the feeling that you are engaging in something different in travel. I’ve tripped all over the globe but have rarely seen a group of people so ready to go somewhere and who speak so admirably to newcomers of their past cruise ventures to other ports of call with this line. They are the best sales people for Renaissance, the "returnees," they get the party going enroute during the flight over the Atlantic. And why not? They were on their way to Spain to start a ten-day excursion along the Iberian Coast. We all will be arriving late Saturday morning.

After checking into the exquisite European-style, Majestic Hotel in Barcelona and a quick orientation with the travel agents quartered in the hotel to pick the next two days of custom tours, people unwind and start their roamings around the Catalan capital on their own. In many ways, this is the best way to start a trip and acclimate yourself during the first tiring day of arrival, hanging loose and "walking the walk" of the city streets alone or with friends, it gives a quick jolt of understanding of where you are and, for those not used to traveling without a tour or group enmasse, a new way of seeing some of the sights they will see when the tours officially begin. It’s the first take of the scene and it is splendid.

The Renaissance line Mediterranean tour is one of the more popular excursions that the famed cruise line runs. This particular trip was the one I wanted to experience, a cruise on the ancient sea with stops including the great Spanish ports of Malaga, with side trips inland to Granada, then onto Cadiz with a cultural tour of Seville. On the way between Barcelona and Cadiz is a stop for a day trip of the "Rock," Gibraltar, home of the famed Barbary apes. The "R-2" cruise will then head for Portugal, sea-faring capital of medieval Europe.

This port of call will be the nation’s major city and capital, Lisbon. I stayed at the elegant Four Seasons, The Ritz. The tours to choose from will include one to the famed Catholic shrine at Fatima as well as a visit to the beautiful Baroque and Rococo Royal Palace at romantic Sintra, a masterpiece of architectural splendor with a jaunt along the beautiful Portuguese Riviera. There are other excursions to the medieval walled city of Obidos which takes you through the rich green landscape filled with olive trees and windmills.

But first, we experience the city of Barcelona where the world-famous cathedral is only one of the stylized buildings designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi with his trademark undulating facades that grace the arts capital of Spain. Walking tours are popular as well as visits to the hills above the city for Iberian panoramas and the famous seaside marketplaces that sell everything from local artwork to regional crafts.

There are street performers, flower markets and a chance on Sunday to see the native population strolling about and taking in the beauty of their city and enjoying what the Europeans call, "the good life." This famous section of town, the Gothic quarter features the famous promenade, "Las Ramblas." This is a very photogenic place which inspires one to record its Catalan splendors and cameras and camcorders are to be seen everywhere. The restaurants are world class and serve such local dishes as a variety of lamb specialties along with the many regional wines and Jerez sherries. The restaurant in the Majestic, "Drolma" is a gourmet treat and the hotel’s "El Bar del Majestic" is first-class.

I took a trip through the spectacular and mysterious-looking rocky Catalan countryside to the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat which is isolated high in the mountains and rests, as it hasfor centuries, quietly among the clouds. This is the home of the Romanesque carving of St. Mary of Montserrat, "La Morenita," also known as the "Black Virgin." There is also a amazing gallery of works by great artists such as Caravaggio, Degas, Monet, El Greco and of course, native sons Picasso and Dali.

To top the tour off, there is a spectacular funicular ride along the mountain landscape above the valley floor. That night, many of the people from the "R-2" attended an authentic performance of "Tablao Flamenco," the traditional dance of Spain. The show followed a delicious buffet dinner of regional cuisine at the Cordobes restaurant.

Part II: The Cruise

Back to TravelLady Magazine