The top six top cruises for an unforgettable journey (all of which leave from Dubai or Abu Dhabi)
The voyage across the sea has a certain aspect that is truly amazing. Even though they are exciting, cruises are also enlightening experiences that provide you with a perspective on the many cultures, places, activities, people, etc., of the world. These are six of this year’s top UAE cruises that are still open for reservations, as mentioned below.
A seven-night cruise on the MSC Opera around the Middle East
MSC, an Italian cruise line, offers many trips from regional ports, including a seven-night voyage around the Middle East. This ship is named after opera, the most iconic form of Italian art. It was constructed in 2004 and has undergone a complete renovation with an impressive array of new features and amenities, including new cabins with balconies, increased dining and buffet areas, new play areas for kids of all ages, a new shopping area, and a new theatre, Teatro dell’Opera, which is an ultramodern reinterpretation of classical lines.
The ship sets sail from Abu Dhabi and covers five different ports of call. The MSC Opera departs from the main port of the UAE capital and initially heads to Sir Bani Yas Island in the Al Dhafra area, where visitors can find the region’s protected wildlife and marine life. From here, the ship takes you on open Arabian waters to Muscat, the capital of Oman, where there are traditional markets, museums, and other attractions.
The ship departs from Muscat for Khasab, a port city in the Omani exclave of Musandam, on the highest point in the UAE. Musandam, which has long inlets formed out of limestone and high cliffs rising out of its crystal-clear blue seas, is often referred to as the Norway of the Middle East. The MSC Opera arrives in Dubai for its final port of call, where activities and tours are available, including a trip to the gold souq, camel racing, and a tour of some of the most popular attractions in the city.
Luxury sailing from Dubai to Seychelles with Silver Sea
Silversea Cruises is one of the top ultra-luxury cruise lines in the world. In November, Silversea will set sail from Dubai, offering the luxury of six-star sailing. You’ll be cruising on Silver Spirit, which offers one of the complete cruise experiences available. The journey takes passengers on a discovery of the Middle East as they travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and then on to Doha and Bahrain. From Manama, travel to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, for a cultural experience that includes a visit to the King Abdulaziz Centre for International Culture, popularly known as Ithra, which was named one of the “World’s Top 100 Places to Visit” by Time magazine.
The tour then continues to Muscat, where you can enjoy many activities and attractions, including dolphin spotting, dhow cruises, museums, mosques, and marketplaces, before setting sail for two days at sea to reach India’s City of Dreams, Mumbai. Mumbai is home to several attractions that are just waiting to be explored, including the Gateway of India arch, the vibrant flower market, and the old Prince of Wales Museum, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. Thereafter, travellers can enjoy Silver Spirit’s eight restaurants, spa, and observation library during their overnight stop in Cochin before four days at sea.
Finally, we arrive at the Seychelles island archipelago, where you can soak up the sun, and the ship will cruise through the natural paradise of Seychelles to La Digue and Praslin islands before arriving at the final stop in Mahe on December 13.
Five nights discovering Arabia with Costa Cruises
Discover the splendour of Arabia on a five-day cruise with Costa Toscana across the Arabian Sea. The ship features 2,600 rooms, 20 decks with 11 restaurants and 19 themed bars, and its design is influenced by Italian art, culture, and landscapes. There are also shows and entertainment by renowned artists, as well as a state-of-the-art spa, a gym, and swimming pools with water slides and activities for all ages.
We start the journey from Dubai to the capital of Qatar, Doha, where passengers can experience a variety of shore activities such as a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, a sightseeing and shopping tour, or a trip to Katara Cultural Village and the historic Souq Waqif.
Then the ship arrives in Muscat after a whole day at sea. Visitors have a day to explore the capital with excursions that include 4×4 tours through Wadi Al Arbeieen, boat cruises to spot dolphins, and sightseeing tours that take in some of the city’s top attractions like the Sultan Qaboos Great Mosque and Mutrah Souq.
The ship docks at Abu Dhabi on day five, where visitors can explore Saadiyat Island and enjoy a walking tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which is lit up by the sundown’s light and shadows.
Dubai to Singapore on an Exotic Eastern Spices cruise with Oceania
Passengers are taken on a 20-day voyage that departs from Dubai via India and Sri Lanka before arriving in the historic nation of Vietnam after sailing through the dune-filled landscapes of the United Arab Emirates.
Passengers will first visit Fujairah, the only emirate on the Gulf of Oman while cruising aboard the Nautica, a Regatta-class ship featuring restaurants, swimming pools, a jogging track, and a spa centre.
Following two days at sea, passengers arrive in Mumbai, where they can tour Gharapuri Island and the seventh-century rock-cut temples of the Elephanta Caves. Two days later, Nautica will continue cruising, docking at the ports of Goa, Mangalore, and Cochin, before ending its voyage in India.
The Nautica departs from Cochin and takes you to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, where you can spend a day and take part in tours like Buddhist-led meditation and a trip to a tea estate, which marks the halfway point of the voyage.
Following three days of sailing, the ship docks for three days in Myanmar before continuing to Phuket, Thailand’s biggest island, which is home to a plethora of tropical palm trees, beaches, and marine life. The ship then set sail for its final destination, Singapore, where it will be docked on December 28.
Seven nights Arabia-intensive cruise with Azamara
Azamara provides a seven-day cruise in the region. The first day of the voyage is spent exploring Dubai, where you can find the first underwater hotel, the tallest skyscraper in the world, the largest mall in the world, and many more.
The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, is the next stop on our voyage. Witness the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a structure with 82 domes, 24-carat gold-gilded chandeliers, and the biggest hand-knotted carpet in the whole world. Visit Yas Island for the fun and thrills and see the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum city. As we stay overnight here, there is plenty of time to visit the various malls and explore this fascinating city.
The fifth day is spent at sea, sailing to Doha, Qatar. Visitors can enjoy expert chefs’ onboard cooking demos, live entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge, swimming in the pool, and spa treatments at The Sanctum. The ship will port in Doha overnight, so you can visit the Museum of Islamic Art, kayak through the Al Thakira Mangrove Forest, shop at the Mall of Qatar, and go on a desert safari. Finally, we complete our tour in Dubai, where activities for passengers include a helicopter tour of the city and a private safari excursion to a Bedouin tent in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.
A 22-day voyage from Dubai to Cape Town with Regent Seven Seas
The 22-day Regent Seven Seas cruise, which departs from Dubai and ends in Cape Town, is certainly a luxurious trip that will satisfy your wanderlust. Passengers can take advantage of the all-inclusive package, which includes shore excursions, delectable drinks, dining options, Wi-Fi, and laundry facilities. And if you want the royal treatment, spend more to stay at a hotel where you will have access to a penthouse suite and a personal butler service.
Starting from Abu Dhabi, travellers can explore Al Ain before moving on to Oman Salalah and finally docking in Seychelles for a three-day tropical getaway. Also, before departing for the French Comoros Islands, travellers on board have the opportunity to see Madagascar and then sail via the Mozambique Channel.
The ship will sail from Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, and cruise to Richard’s Bay before docking at Mossel Bay, which is halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, allowing passengers to enjoy beaches in a place that gets at least 300 days of sunlight every year.
The ship will finally dock in Cape Town, South Africa, where museums, mountains, and more are waiting to be explored.