Travel Bug: Mediterranean cruise crosses continents and cultures

Ark Travel Bug Marybeth Bond-Sheppard visited the Roman Theater of Cartagena during her cruise.

From Gaudí’s whimsical architecture in Barcelona and the red-and-white arches of Córdoba’s Great Mosque to the soaring Gothic cathedral of Seville and the vibrant souks of Marrakesh, our Windstar cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon fed my husband’s and my wanderlust in every way. Over 11 days aboard the intimate Star Legend, we explored two continents and four countries — Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco and Portugal — immersing ourselves in rich culture and history while celebrating a milestone anniversary.

We began our journey with a blissfully relaxing sea day, a much-needed pause after the hustle of getting to Barcelona. We buzzed around the city for two full days to take in Gaudí’s masterpieces, including the awe-inspiring Sagrada Família and his whimsical home-turned-museum. Once aboard the ship, the pace shifted. I slipped easily into vacation mode, rotating between naps, reading, grazing at the buffet and lounging by the pool. Others booked spa treatments, played dominoes or joined enriching onboard lectures.

The Star Legend, a luxury small ship with only 156 suites and a maximum of 312 guests, felt intimate and friendly. We weren’t the only ones celebrating something special. Birthdays, retirements, anniversaries — almost every table had a story. On our second night, we toasted with Dave and Jenny, a retired couple from North Carolina who were on their third Windstar cruise. As we sailed along Spain’s glittering coast, it was easy to see why they kept coming back.

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