Saturday 4/4/2015 Day 88 Dubai “The Golden City”

We woke up sailing into Dubai, first the skyline was minute but still impressive and within an hour the ship was making those very impressive circling and sideways manoeuvres to get into the port and berth between the Costa Serena and a Celebrity ship whose name escapes me., but good job! Warm but not too warm, promises of 25-29C today.  The port building is unbelievable – instead of makeshift buildings that look like aircraft hangars, or even marquees Dubai boasts something more luxurious than the average international airport with marble everywhere, VIP lounges, prayer rooms, currency exchanges, stores, free wi-fi and coffee shops.  This is the way to go for countries with an essential tourist industry.  It is so welcoming and comfortable.

Breakfast at 9, gym again at 10 and then a leisurely morning preparing for the excursion Dubai, The Golden City, which included ancient, old and new lifestyles and buildings, took us over the Dubai Creek in a water taxi.  We finished up in the Spice and Gold Souks. We were actually both still really tired and when, we got to the gold souk, passed on any window shopping in favour of sitting on a park bench and letting the feet recover. Nevertheless there was a lot to learn, smells to smell and museums to see, and our tour guide was very willing to let us have all the information and history we could get into a 4.5 hour trip. Who knew all about the impact of discovering oil had in the 1960’s, and how a pearl diving, fishing and farming economy could change to such a wealthy oil producing nation.  I hadn’t even considered the age of the UAE, and definitely didn’t appreciate that it began in the year that I started at Manchester University.

It was good to get back into the terminal, and to eat, Skype and sleep (and in Khachik’s case to watch a good portion of the match between MUFC and Aston Villa, thankfully won 3:1 by MUFC.  BTW he would have had room service and watched the lot with a bit of forethought!)

OK, we are done for the day.  Maybe still a little jet lagged, but happy to be on the ship and on sector 5. Back tomorrow.

Friday 3/4/2015 Day 87 - back on the Arcadia

 The Ramada in Abu Dhabi was luxurious with a rooftop pool and a gym on 18^th floor. Lovely welcome.  We both slept really well and after another hearty hotel breakfast made good use of the gym “in the zone” for 30 minutes. After 6 consecutive days of Thai yoga I have committed the stretch component to memory and have kept up with my flexibility promise, today no exception.

We could see the Arcadia in the distance at the port from the hotel dining room and the gym. It must have arrived around 8. We were picked up at 11:30 and transferred beautifully, with commentary about our surroundings all the way back to ship by midday, issued with new cruise cards, declared we’d not got any infectious diseases or been to an Ebola infected area and retrained in safety procedures in the event of the emergency signal. 

Then we chatted to other passengers some we knew and some we didn’t and it seems that the 7 days we spent in Thailand doing what made us so very happy, were not so happy for the remaining 2000 or so back on the ship or in port in Mumbai on 30th. The sea days were marred by Pirate Drills, deck closures, patrols and hailers, and what can only be described as curfews (doors locked to the decks, and instructions to keep curtains closed at night and room lights off)  This was clearly an indication of the mood around passenger safety and security.   Then it seems that Indian immigration caused chaos, massive queues and late trips off the ship. Most we spoke to (but not all, some were thrilled by the diversity) have given it the thumbs down.  So on reflection, and on the whole,  we feel that our luck was definitely in last week. 

Our port day in Abu Dhabi has been a quiet one on the ship, unpacking, launderette, eating and then another 30 minutes in the gym and the hot tub before dinner.  We’re back!  I was so tired at dinner that I went straight to bed.  Khachik went to the Beatles tribute band in the Palladium and reports that he too fell asleep, but in the theatre seats instead  ;)  the band was good though.  I slept!

When we sleep tonight we will be transported a short distance along the coast to the port of Dubai, where we plan to spent the afternoon on the golden City excursion.

That’s us for the day.  Back again tomorrow.