ShaunDxb
-
Posts
21 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by ShaunDxb
-
-
On 4/8/2019 at 7:45 AM, SakeDad said:
We are looking at DIY in Muscat and just walking from the ship to the shopping area and some mosques. And we were planning on just doing the Hop On/Hop Off in Penang. But today we got an off for excursions from an online company that has a Magical Muscat/Taste of Penang dual tour. My concern is we like to meander, eat here and there, see sights and not feel rushed. For tasting different foods I don't want to be handed 3 little things, hurried to eat and move on to the next place. Also it's Ramadan in Muscat when we go so not sure how that would affect organized tours. If we are on our own we just change our plans.
If you have done these tours and also done these cities on your own I would love to hear what our best option is. We have traveled all over, are very adventurous eaters and shoppers but also want to see all the key spots in these ports.
Thanks in advance
You wont be allowed to walk from the ship to the nearest shopping areas, although all cruise lines will offer a free shuttle to the port entrance and others will offer shuttles into the nearby souqs.
If you go to the port entrance to find a taxi brace yourself for the huge number of taxi drivers that will be there waiting for you, each vying for your attention 🙂
-
1
-
-
On 4/11/2019 at 6:50 AM, Carnac767 said:
Okay, this is planning for something two years away, but I like to do my homework. We're veteran cruisers but venturing to Dubai will be something new for us. We just booked the NCL Dawn, which has a 22-day sailing from Dubai, with port calls at Abu Dhabi, Aqaba, Safaga, Ashod, Haifa, and then other Med ports we've already been to. Right now we're looking at spending time in Europe before we fly to Dubai, so we won't be totally nuclear jet lagged when we get there. Some of the initial questions for folk with experience in the areas: recommended hotels in Dubai, must-see in Dubai (where going to give ourselves a couple of days there), best tours in Abu Dhabi (we're in port 2 days), ditto for all the other ports. We also overnight in Safaga. Thanks in advance for any advice and recommendations.
In Dubai, if you're looking for something cultural/historical within the general vicinity of the cruise terminal, I would definitely recommend the Al Seef Dubai Creek area. It's a new retail/hotel development along the creek 10mins by taxi from the cruise terminal that has been designed to look like an old Arabian souq. I recommend it for the shopping (you can browse local crafts, clothes, jewelery etc but without the grittiness of the Gold Souq in Karama or the relentless hawking).
Al Seef is also directly adjacent to the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, home to the diwan (royal court) of the Ruler of Dubai and nearby to the Dubai Museum. It's a lovely little neighbourhood of around 50 20th century Arabian homes that have been fully restored and turned into coffee museums, perfume museums and boutique hotels and coffee shops. If you want to try out some Emirati cuisine the Arabian Tea House is also in this area and its famous amongst locals for its authenticity and quality.
In terms of tourist sight-seeing, you should definitely go for an abra ride on the Dubai Creek and visit the Dubai Frame (from which you can get great shots of the Old Dubai and New Dubai in either direction on a clear day - $15 entrance). Then there's the Burj Khalifa, but instead of paying $100 to go up to the viewing platform, just go for a $5 coffee at Atmosphere, a restaurant and bar just a few levels below the viewing deck, but with floor-to-ceiling windows.
If you want to do designer shopping, head to the Dubai Mall. It's the largest in the world by floor space and is home to the Dubai Aquarium, and of course the Dubai Fountains. If it's your thing, you could also go check out the indoor ski slope and snow park at the Mall of the Emirates ($100 entrance).
In Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is definitely recommended, as is the Grand Mosque, the largest in the country and one of the grandest in the world (the persian carpet in the main hall is the largest continuous carpet ever made). If you enjoy the idea of a desert safari, it's better to do it in Abu Dhabi as the city is surrounded by desert sands that are more untouched than those around Dubai so the drive out of the city is shorter. Abu Dhabi is also home to the Emirates Palace, one of the most luxurious hotels in the world (if that's your thing) and also the Presidential Palace (Qasr Al Watan) which from March opened its doors to the public for tours for the first time.
I live in Dubai so let me know if there's anything else I can help you with 🙂
-
9 hours ago, movc said:
Thanks for the info. Do you know if there is still a paid shuttle to the airport? From https://www.visitdubai.com/en/travel-planning/cruise-dubai/dubai-cruise-terminal-facilities
"Complimentary shuttle bus services to selected shopping malls across Dubai + Paid Shuttle busses to Dubai Airport and Dubai Mall"
Yes there are several options for paid shuttles to the airport, almost every tour desk in the arrivals hall at the cruise terminal will offer an airport shuttle, but they're quite pricey (around $45 pp).
There's also an airport shuttle provided by the RTA (the public bus operator) when a ship is in port. A bus departs from either the airport or cruise terminal every 20 to 30 minutes. It costs around $5 and you'll be able to spot them because they're big red busses with 'RTA' on the side.
Alternatively, there'll be a long line of Dubai Taxi vehicles as well, which will cost around $25 to the airport.
-
Yeah there's only a free shuttle to Mercato Mall and Dubai Mall now, I couldn't find the timetable for the Mercato Mall shuttle, but here's the one for Dubai Mall from Cruise Terminal 3.
.jpeg.f61eb096e5a39582be3ab584383feadc.jpeg)
-
On 10/16/2018 at 8:46 PM, breezyb45 said:
I have another question about touring in Dubai. My ship arrives in Dubai at 9:00 and I am to fly out at midnight. I do have a tour with Princess (Hop ON/Hop Off for 3 hrs) Is there something else I could do in the remaining time? I am a solo traveler and so I am very careful what I am doing. Also where can I store my luggage? Just wondering if you could help?
Kathy
Unfortunately there isn’t any left luggage facility at the cruise terminal but there is at both terminals (1 and 3) at Dubai airport
-
The seas around the Cape are only very rough between June and August, the rest of the year it’s (normally) okay with the occasional Buster (what the locals call the sudden gales that come up from the south)
-
There’s a free shuttle to Dubai Mall and Mercato Mall. I believe there’s also one to Mall of the Emirates but I’d need to double check. I’ll be at the cruise terminal tomorrow so I’ll have a look for you
-
On 4/16/2019 at 2:55 AM, Pearl64 said:
Does anyone know if the Miracle Gardens are still open? I tried to find out from their website but no luck. I am interested in knowing about the last week in April this year. Also, is this worthwhile? Thanks.
According to the park itself they’re closed from May to November each year, so it should be open for you until the end of April.
-
On 4/16/2019 at 11:17 PM, grayjay said:
Due to our flight landing in Dubai shortly before midnight, we'll be needing a hotel for the short night until we can join our cruise ship the following day. Easy accessibility from the airport ( Terminal 1) , a quiet room and a good breakfast as well as a short taxi ride to the port - we won't need more than that. We'd prefer a hotel shuttle to taking a taxi after arrival, if that is more convenient. than finding a taxi and counting out money after a long flight. But I'm not sure if the hotel shuttles will run all night.
As far as I have found out, Le Meridien Dubai seems to be nearest to the terminal, and there seem to be good hotels in Festival City: I saw Crowne Plaza Festival City, Intercontinental F.C. , Holiday Inn Festival City , all with good reviews and rates, as far as I could see.
Any recommendation for one of these four or even a different hotel?
Thank you for your answers.
I wouldn't recommend the InterContinental or any other hotel in Festival City as it'll be a longish (30 mins+) and expensive taxi ride from the hotel to the cruise terminal in the morning traffic.
There are several hotels just a few minutes from the Dubai Cruise Terminal, most of them for under US $50/60 per night. The City Max Bur Dubai is 15 mins from the airport and 10mins from the cruise terminal and has a nice bar and restaurant. I only mention it because I've stayed there, but there loads of hotels in the area as you'll see in the attached pic.
The problem with staying anywhere near the airport itself is that you'll have to fight the rush hour traffic over the bridges in the morning.
And as the others have mentioned, there is the QE2 right next to the terminal within the port itself, and she is awesome (although I'm biased in her favour!).
Most hotels in Dubai that are 3-star and above will provide you with a pick-up from the airport, some are complimentary and for others there's a charge. The City Max will provide a pick-up after midnight for AED125 per person (US $34) - but if you're prepared to wait in the taxi queue it'll be around half the price.
-
Apparently in response to the state of emergency in Tunisia, MSC have cancelled all port calls to the country until early 2016.
Malta is the alternate destination.
-
Thank you for the great information. Now I'm feeling better about being there on a Friday. We booked the Arabian Courtyard which seems to be in a good location. Looking forward to our trip.
Arabian Courtyard is in an area called Bur Dubai, known locally as Old Dubai, I personally love it, but it isn't for everyone, especially if you want to see the glimmering touristy Dubai that is usually promoted to the world.
Definitely check out Dubai Museum, which is right nearby the hotel! It gives a great insight into how the city became what it is today.
-
Totally safe and secure from my experience, been there six times in the last year. Although it seems you're not safe from terrorism anywhere these days with the recent ISIS attack in Kuwait! (http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/27/world/kuwait-mosque-attack/)
-
This probably wont affect you cos you said you're looking at spring 2016, but MSC have apparently just cancelled tunis for the coming season:
-
Cuba is awesome, I'm so glad there's a major cruise line visiting there finally (Cuba Cruises and Celestyal Crystal never appealed to me), but the renovated MSC Opera will be awesome. Hopefully other European cruise lines will follow suit, and US ones when the political/legal issues are put to bed.
-
Just came across this article looking at what Virgin Cruises might be like as a cruise line and wondered what predictions you guys have in terms of how they'll make themselves different?
-
Apparently Tunisia is being added as a port of call for more cruises, they're not cancelling, terrorist attacks or not. I'm divided on whether this is a good or bad thing, I guess its for us to decide whether to book.
.jpeg.f61eb096e5a39582be3ab584383feadc.jpeg)
Dubai question for Anne (Jayayeff)
in Africa & Middle East
Posted
Yeah it definitely is ship-specific, Port Rashid isn't closed to cruise ships, as Anne said, there were 4 in port today