Itinerary Change: Xmas Dubai-Dubai

[Observer]

FYI, I just received notice that the holiday SS Wind cruise Dubai-Dubai will not stop in Iran at Bandar Abbas and instead will substitute Doha, Qatar. (The website has apparently not been updated). I can imagine various reasons for this decision. In fact, it may be a prudent decision on the part of SS. Nonetheless, I had looked forward to this opportunity to visit a part of Iran -- at least briefly and superficially. Thus, this decision is, for me at least, a real disappointment.

[bellagirl]

We are on the Dec. 2 sailing from Dubai-Mumbai and we too are affected by the Iran cancellation. It has been substituted for Abu Dhabi,so it's not a total disappointment,but,like you, I was looking forward to visiting this southern port in Iran. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry,though. Hope you enjoy your cruise nonetheless! Shelly:)

[Keith1010]

Sorry to hear that this port was removed from the itinerary. We stopped there earlier this year on the Crytstal Serenity and the consensus from the passengers that this was an excellent visit for all of us.

Actually, we all felt very safe there. The tours were all well done and we felt very welcome much more so than say in Saudi Arabia.

Of course there could have been a variety of reasons for the change and if I was a betting person it was not safety related but it could have been due to political issues or some other reason.

Abu Dhabi is an interesting place to visit. Be sure to visit there new grand mosque. I can't imagine the cost to construct this. The size of it coupled with the beautiful interior and exterior is something to see. The city is also quite interesting and to me much more interesting than Dubai.

Keith

[Ainhoa]

FYI, I just received notice that the holiday SS Wind cruise Dubai-Dubai will not stop in Iran at Bandar Abbas and instead will substitute Doha, Qatar. (The website has apparently not been updated). I can imagine various reasons for this decision. In fact, it may be a prudent decision on the part of SS. Nonetheless, I had looked forward to this opportunity to visit a part of Iran -- at least briefly and superficially. Thus, this decision is, for me at least, a real disappointment.


We are also on this cruise but to date, no-one has seen fit to tell us about this change. Like you, I am very disappointed, I was really looking forward to visiting Iran and seeing for myself what the people were like. Were no reasons for the change given? Doha is a very poor substitute IMO.

[Observer]

We are also on this cruise but to date, no-one has seen fit to tell us about this change. Like you, I am very disappointed, I was really looking forward to visiting Iran and seeing for myself what the people were like. Were no reasons for the change given? Doha is a very poor substitute IMO.

I booked directly with Silversea and received the notification yesterday by email. If you booked through a travel agent, there may be a delay. (I really like not to have the travel agent mediate information from cruise lines. It's just another opportunity for miscommunication.) No reason was given for the change, but one can imagine a number of reasons. It is probably a prudent decision, albeit a regrettable one. (There was an incident a few weeks ago where a Japanese cargo ship was allegedly attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. There was minor damage.) As for Doha as a substitute: I could not agree more. However, there are not a lot of options in the Gulf. :)

[Keith1010]

It's interesting how the communication was handled. On our Crystal Cruises earlier this year, we had two ports that were removed as part of the long cruise that we were on that also included many of the Middle East Ports. The two ports were Maldives and the Seychelles Islands. The communications were specific as to why the ports were removed. Likewise, we had Morocco removed in 2007 and the communication was also specific.

I find it better to be told the reason(s) why changes are made. Otherwise, there can be a lot of speculation and many times the speculation can be wrong.

The port of Bandar Abbas itself is just a very basic city. However, we learned a great deal from our interaction with the locals and for many there were a lot of hopeful signs for the future. At the same time, some full day tours were offered that would allow passengers to see some very historical areas. And there was also an overland offered where passengers would meet up with the ship in another port. Coincidentally early on during the cruise (we were on a world cruise) we met a couple that was on for the first leg of the world cruise so they weren't going to Iran but they had been in Iran the prior Fall for something like a 15 day land based tour and thought it was the best place they had ever visited in their lifetime.

The day we had was a good teaching experience for a lot of people on our cruise.

Keith

[Observer]

I find it better to be told the reason(s) why changes are made. Otherwise, there can be a lot of speculation and many times the speculation can be wrong.

I take your point, Keith. At the same time, political concerns may dictate that a certain reticence is advisable. I do not know the reason for the decision. For all I know, the Iranians denied permission to dock. However, if SS wants to return to Iran at some future time, it might be best not to ruffle the feathers of the Iranian authorities by fully explaining the circumstances surrounding the decision.

[Keith1010]

Observer, I really can't imagine why you could not have received specifics because all it does is fuel speculation. Anway, as long as you are happy that is what is most important.

Keith

[bellagirl]

Sorry to hear that this port was removed from the itinerary. We stopped there earlier this year on the Crytstal Serenity and the consensus from the passengers that this was an excellent visit for all of us.

Actually, we all felt very safe there. The tours were all well done and we felt very welcome much more so than say in Saudi Arabia.

Of course there could have been a variety of reasons for the change and if I was a betting person it was not safety related but it could have been due to political issues or some other reason.

Abu Dhabi is an interesting place to visit. Be sure to visit there new grand mosque. I can't imagine the cost to construct this. The size of it coupled with the beautiful interior and exterior is something to see. The city is also quite interesting and to me much more interesting than Dubai.

Keith

Hi Keith-another question and comment! I'm surprised to hear you say that Abu Dhabi is more interesting than Dubai. Can you elaborate on that? What did you do and see while there? Any independent shore tours that you can recommend as opposed to SS tours? We,too, were given no reason for the cancellation and ours came through our TA,not the cruise line itself.
Thanks for your help! Shelly:)

[Keith1010]

Shelly,

Dubai is mainly focused on the tourist and on the speculation of commercial demand. The were hoping it would be the tourist wonderland. It's too early to know whether it will eventually realize its potential. I understand why they did what they did because they will run out of oil in the next ten to twenty years. But, to me there wasn't much in the way of culture there.

Abu Dhabi is the one sitting on a vast reserve of oil so they are set for a very long time. To me they have been more thoughtful in the way they have grown their city. They are not trying to be the tourist capital. Sure there are things for the tourists but to me they have more interesting balance. Now, they do have money so they are building first rate facilities from first rate state of the are hospitals to first rate concert halls and museums and this enormous mosque. My sense is there was more local culture at Abu Dhabi.

When you visit these places though you will see how we and other western europe countries have truly "fueled" their economy.

You just can't imagine the amount of money that has been poured into places such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City, and Bahrain. It would be equivalent to building New York City from scratch in 20 to 25 years.

Keith

[Keith1010]

Hi Keith-another question and comment! I'm surprised to hear you say that Abu Dhabi is more interesting than Dubai. Can you elaborate on that? What did you do and see while there? Any independent shore tours that you can recommend as opposed to SS tours? We,too, were given no reason for the cancellation and ours came through our TA,not the cruise line itself.
Thanks for your help! Shelly:)


Shelly, here are a few pictures of the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A9KYk3Drl18/THugepYrJnI/AAAAAAAAG8o/E6crykf3xvk/s1600/P1020544.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A9KYk3Drl18/THugeD3PnlI/AAAAAAAAG8g/qr0CuJDEUrg/s1600/P1020543.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A9KYk3Drl18/THugfiMoPbI/AAAAAAAAG9A/3tXTmnHLx1Y/s1600/P1020565.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A9KYk3Drl18/THugfHpMXuI/AAAAAAAAG84/qaSIihS7U3U/s1600/P1020553.jpg

Keith

[bellagirl]

Words escape me,Keith! Thanks for the pictures-they are absolutely awesome!! Can't wait to go now:D Shelly