Lisbon – October 16

Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, is a city shaped by the sea and built on seven hills overlooking the Tagus River. It’s one of Europe’s oldest capitals, predating Rome, its golden age of exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries launched voyages that changed the world. The red-roofed city rises steeply from the waterfront, dotted with castles, cathedrals, and narrow, cobbled streets where old-world charm comfortably coexists with modern life.

We arrived before sunrise—too dark to see much —but Jeff Farschman was up early and captured a beautiful shot of the Sanctuary of Christ the King silhouetted behind the 25 de Abril Bridge. You can check out more of his photos on his World Aventures Blog HERE.

The ship was cleared around 8 AM, with all aboard at 4:30 PM. We were docked at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal next to Celebrity Apex, which had arrived earlier and was staying until 6 PM. Since we were a bit farther down the quay, we had a several-hundred-yard walk to the terminal. Passengers closer to the main entrance sometimes use covered gangways directly into the building.

Inside the terminal’s lower level are spaces for immigration and customs—unused today—as well as stands selling tickets for hop-on hop-off buses and tuk tuk tours. Booking a tuk-tuk here may be less expensive than negotiating on the street.

 

Near the exit is a stand promoting the Taxi Link ride app with a large display screen and a QR code. I haven’t used it, so if you have experience with it, feel free to leave a comment. Once outside, you’ll be approached by drivers offering taxi, tuk-tuk, and tour services—worth considering only if you’ve done your homework and are comfortable negotiating.

We opted for Uber. There’s a designated pickup spot—near the entrance of the terminal, not the exit—and the car arrived in about 10 minutes. Response times in Lisbon aren’t as quick as in large U.S. cities, so plan ahead.

Retrosaria Rosa Pomar Yarn Shop

Our first stop was Retrosaria Rosa Pomar, about 15 minutes away. Lisbon’s streets are narrow, so be ready to hop out quickly when your ride ends to avoid blocking traffic.

By European standards, the shop is fairly large and well organized, with a curated selection of locally produced and specialty yarns. They’re known for Portuguese wool sourced from traditional sheep breeds, naturally dyed colors, and their own yarn lines. Sonia was working that day—friendly, knowledgeable, and fluent in English. Judy found a sparkly-threaded yarn she hadn’t seen anywhere else. We spent about 30 minutes browsing before calling another Uber.

Castle of São Jorge

The ride to Castelo de São Jorge took about 10 minutes, climbing into one of Lisbon’s hilliest districts. Our driver dropped us about a ten-minute uphill walk from the entrance.

Tickets are €15 for adults and €12.50 for seniors. There was no line when we arrived, but during busy months, you may want to buy ahead online through the official BOL ticketing site. Tickets are valid for 90 days and don’t require a fixed time.  HERE is the official website

The castle dates back to at least the 11th century during Moorish rule, though earlier fortifications stood here in Roman times. After the 1147 conquest by Afonso I, it became a royal residence and military stronghold. From its perch above the Alfama district, the castle offers panoramic views of Lisbon’s terracotta rooftops, the river, and the 25 de Abril Bridge. Within the walls, you can walk the ramparts, explore archaeological remains, visit small exhibits, and wander shaded courtyards with peacocks roaming around.

There are daily tours in English, plus a Camera Obscura periscope experience projecting a live 360° view of the city. We considered the 3 PM tour but decided against it, cutting it too close with our 4:30 all aboard. The grounds have free Wi-Fi and an audio guide link.

Be aware: the entrance and exit are in different spots, and pathways can be steep and uneven, featuring cobblestones, steps, and limited accessibility.

After exploring, we walked back to the Uber pickup area and lucked into a car just dropping someone off. We were back at the terminal by 4 PM, passed through security, browsed duty-free briefly, and made it on board by 4:20.

Sailaway & Orange Party

A sailaway gathering was held on the pool deck with the Dam Band playing, though there were no special snacks—something you see more on Grand Voyages than Legendary ones. Our scheduled 5 PM departure was delayed until 5:45 to wait for late tours.

I went to the deck 6 forward observation area to snap photos of the 25 de Abril Bridge as we headed out to sea.

The Orange Party, celebrating Holland America Line’s Dutch heritage, took place at 9 PM in the Crow’s Nest. There was a bar hop starting at 8:30, but we skipped it since our dinner runs until 8:45. By the time we arrived, the place was packed with no seating available. After about 10 minutes, we found space at the bar and eventually grabbed a corner sofa. The party was lively, and we stayed until about 11 PM—still going strong when we left.

October 17 – At Sea & Gibraltar

The big event of the day was the sail past the Rock of Gibraltar at 4:30 PM, but the morning featured Coffee Chat in the Ocean Bar.

Coffee Chat — Beverage Team Highlights

Cruise Director Jayme hosted Herbert, the Beverage Manager, and Joebelle, the Cellar Master, for a candid, engaging chat. Herbert started with HAL in 2003, washing dishes and working his way up to department head; Joebelle began as a cocktail server and climbed the ranks after teaching herself wine, sparked by a low test score and Kevin Zraly’s book. They spoke about long hours, ordering and forecasting wine months in advance, tailoring selections to itineraries, and the importance of balance onboard. Their philosophy was summed up neatly: happy crew, happy guests.

Kevin Zraly: 50 Years of Windows on the World

At 1 PM, Kevin Zraly gave a look back at the iconic restaurant atop the World Trade Center, which opened in 1976 and would mark its 50th anniversary next year. He shared stories of his start in wine, his Reader’s Digest-style approach to writing, and what made Windows on the World so special—multiple dining concepts, record-breaking revenue, cellar innovation, and the visionary influence of restaurateur Joe Baum. He reflected briefly on 9/11 and looked ahead to projects planned for 2026, including a musical, documentary film, and his 10th book.

Passing the Rock of Gibraltar

We passed Gibraltar around 4:30 PM, about eight miles to the south. It was extremely windy, but we found a good vantage point on deck 9 forward near the jogging track and got some great photos. This was my first daylight transit with solid visibility—previous crossings were always at night.

Evening Entertainment — Don Bryan

The featured entertainer on the World Stage was ventriloquist Don Bryan. His act included his signature character, Noseworthy, a tennis ball puppet, and Miss Annie, a sassy Southern belle figure. He wrapped up with an audience participant who turned into a live “puppet.” At around 83 years old, he still has incredible timing, energy, and stage presence. We thoroughly enjoyed the show.