Persian Gulf Cruise

We depart for Dubai on a non-stop flight from Toronto.

We arrive in Dubai and transfer to our hotel. This evening is our Welcome Dinner.

Our touring in Dubai begins with the twin minarets of the Jumeirah Mosque—a magnificent example of Islamic architecture and one of Dubai’s most famous sites. We drive around the Bastakiya area with its old merchant houses and wind towers, and then visit the Shindagah Museum. An abra (water taxi) will take us across the Dubai Creek to browse the spice and gold souk (market). Lunch is included on our tour. Afternoon at leisure. This evening we enjoy a Dhow Dinner Cruise along Dubai Creek with spectacular views of the city.

Today we enjoy a full-day tour to the oasis city of Al Ain located in the Hajar Mountains. One of the oldest cities in the UAE, Al Ain was for thousands of years an important caravan stop on the ancient trade routes across Arabia. We visit the Qasr al Muwaiji Heritage Museum and the Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum—the residence of the Sheikh and his family. Lunch is included, followed by a visit to Al Hili Archaeological Park—famous for its excavations.

This morning we enjoy a tour of Sharjah, where we will discover a unique Arabian lifestyle and Islamic culture. We will visit Sharjah Fort, see the grandiose King Faisal Mosque and learn about local life through the ages at the Heritage Museum. After lunch we visit Dubai Frame. It has been described as “the biggest picture frame on the planet”. The location of the frame was carefully chosen to give the best view of old and new Dubai. Later we transfer to the pier to board our cruise ship.

At leisure to enjoy the activities on board or take an optional excursion.

Enjoy the facilities of our ship or take an optional excursion.

Relive the history of Oman’s capital by venturing among its ancient walls and visiting the colourful stalls of its bustling souks. Explore on your own or choose an optional excursion to see the impressive Grand Mosque and the Bait Al Zubair Museum.

At leisure to enjoy all the ship has to offer.

Doha is a vibrant capital with a mix of modern skyscrapers and picturesque souks. The Mosque of Phanar is a newly built Mosque, and is a fine example of Islamic architecture with the particular spiral minaret which is perfectly symmetrical from every angle. At night the Mosque is enhanced by magnificent lighting effects. Today you can also visit the nearby souks, and immerse yourself in the ambience of the Middle East.

Situated on a peninsula and surrounded by a cluster of islands, Abu Dhabi is the ultra-modern capital of the United Arab Emirates, with wide avenues separating bold skyscrapers. This capital of luxury sparkles day and night. If you take the optional city tour, you will see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque—considered the foremost architectural treasure in the UAE. You will also see the ultramodern glimmering skyscrapers, and visit Heritage Village—a reconstructed traditional oasis which will give you a glimpse of life here before oil revenues changed so much here.

We disembark our ship and proceed on a full day tour. We first see the Burj al Arab, the world-renowned 7-star luxury hotel. We then drive along Jumeirah Beach to see the incredible manmade island residence, “The Palm”, followed by a visit to the incredible Lost Chambers, where the legend of the lost mythical underwater city of Atlantis comes alive. We will also see the Dubai Marina and Souk Madinat Jumeirah before visiting the Mall of the Emirates—home to the world’s largest indoor ski slope, as well as the floating water dance show. After lunch, we ascend by high-speed elevator to the observation deck of Burj Khalifa—the tallest building in the world, for a breathtaking 360 degree view of the city, ocean and desert. Later we enjoy our Farewell Dinner, then board our direct flight to Toronto.

We arrive back in Canada.