Shortly after Cristóbal Colón entered service in 1889, she anchored at San Sebastián, Spain, where the Spanish royal family spent its summers.

[1] Cristóbal Colón embarked some 200 military and civilian guests on 25 June 1890 to watch Peral attempt two simulated attacks on the cruiser, one during daylight and the other at night.

[1] She then received orders to replace her sister ship Infanta Isabel at the Río de la Plata naval station in South America and arrived at Montevideo, Uruguay, on 14 November 1890 to begin this service.

[1] While patrolling the southwestern coast of Cuba to prevent weapons and supplies from reaching the rebels, Cristóbal Colón sank in the Cayos Colorados opposite Pinar del Río on 29 September 1895.

[1] Infanta Isabel and the unprotected cruisers Conde del Venadito and Reina Cristina came to the scene and salvaged Cristóbal Colón′s safe and torpedo tubes and some of her guns.