Friday, April 19, 2024

10 Best Middle East Cruises 2024 2025 with Reviews

middle east cruise

There are quite a few days at the sea on this trip, but there is lots to keep you and the little ones occupied on board. For younger guests, there’s ’The play zone’, a supervised area offering arts and crafts, toys and computer games for children aged 2-7 years old. Eight to twelve-year-olds can enjoy ’The kids’ zone’ where they can take part in sporting activities, games and arts and crafts. The fourth day of your voyage is spent at sea, although plenty is on board to keep you entertained.

Doha, Qatar: A World Cup Destination

Explore this vibrant, cosmopolitan city surrounded by nature, wildlife, beaches, and vineyards. Visit a variety of popular attractions with our guided tour including Table Mountain, Adderley Street and the colorful Bo-Kaap area. The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa is the centrepiece of Dubai and dominates the surrounding hotels and malls. Take a trip up to the observation decks to experience phenomenal views of this enchanting city.

Cruise Ships

During our two-day stay in the UAE's largest city, I took an MSC-sponsored shore excursion to the imposing Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 829 metres, or 2,722 square feet. Its entrance is located underneath the sprawling Dubai Mall -- itself the second-largest mall in the world with over 1,200 shops, most of which are firmly in the luxury retail category. Flowy breathable maxi skirts and dresses, or lightweight trousers and shorts are ideal. Many Middle Eastern countries have more traditional dress codes and public standards for dress, and as a general rule of thumb, shoulders and knees should both be covered by your clothing, for both men and women. If you hold a full American passport, you will be granted a tourist visa free of charge upon arrival in the UAE. This will be stamped on your passport when you pass through immigration and is valid for up to 30 days.

S'ton to Middle East, S.East Asia & Singapore with Stay

THE 7 BEST 3 Day Cruises to the Middle East (Prices & Itineraries) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

THE 7 BEST 3 Day Cruises to the Middle East (Prices & Itineraries) on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 02:00:11 GMT [source]

Our guides were very good, though Farouk, our guide in Abu Dhabi shone through his warm storytelling that switched effortlessly between English and German for our mixed-language motorcoach. Three women in our group had to go to a nearby store (the entrance to the mosque is through -- you guessed it -- an underground mall) and purchase more suitable garments to wear over their clothing. Of the three, one was still denied entry, despite being in the approved garb. It's little wonder the city played host to the FIFA 2022 World Cup in December 2022.

The Arabian Gulf, which is located in Asia, experienced a fast evolution after the discovery of oil. Fishing and pearling villages developed into global centres of commerce, finance and tourism. Guests arranging their own flights must fly into Haifa International Airport (HFA) the start of this program. Explore the heart of the Holy Land by visiting many of the most hallowed religious areas, including the Old City of Jerusalem, Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, fortified Masada, and architecturally rich Caesarea. Guests arranging their own flights must fly into Istanbul International Airport (IST) the start of this program.

Related Ports

Care should be taken to avoid tight or transparent clothing by both men and women. Whilst some trips and tours are provided free of charge on most cruises. You will need to book and pay for some more specialist day trips and activities. Some cruise line companies will provide packed lunches for guests that choose certain on-shore trip options, but you should budget for drinks and snacks on shore, just in case. Another great cruising option in the Middle East is to sail between Aswan and Luxor on the Nile.

middle east cruise

Night Itinerary: The UAE & Oman on board the MSC Opera

Marella Cruises Cancels Entire Middle East and Asia Season - Cruise Hive

Marella Cruises Cancels Entire Middle East and Asia Season.

Posted: Thu, 11 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

A trip to the Middle East can be rewarding and enjoyable if you go in with your eyes open. Understand the cultural differences and rules and know that they may not agree with Western values. I had to reconcile my distaste for some of the policies of places like Saudi Arabia and realize that I'm not exactly a fan of many policies set forth in the United States, but I still travel there. At the end of the day, should you take a cruise to the Middle East? Complicating matters, the cruise transit e-Visa system developed by the Saudi government just never worked for me, using three separate browsers and two devices. That left me staring down having to pay a princely $128 USD to purchase an entry visa on-the-day.

With beaches that rival the Caribbean, Salalah’s palm-lined sands are the perfect place to pause and ponder. Or perhaps you’d prefer its Museum of the Frankincense Land, with its ancient ruins paying homage to Oman’s maritime prowess. In the Arabian Gulf, you'll find the most luxurious restaurants and the most exclusive boutiques, but there are also plenty of cheaper eateries and shopping options for smaller budgets. If you're in the mood for a vacation full of luxury and relaxation, the Arabian Gulf and North Africa are the places to be.

The next day is spent on Sir Bani Yas Island, a huge nature reserve where you can observe numerous species on the verge of extinction from the Middle East and Africa roaming freely. Upon leaving Alexandria, you return to the port of Limassol, where the cruise ends. For a better experience and to continue your booking with MSC, please update your browser by downloading the latest version below. Bordering Jordan and the East, the Dead Sea is the lowest elevation on land. Due to the sea having such a high salt concentration, you can float on its surfaces, making it a truly remarkable experience.

Whilst you can spend a fortune on a Dubai stay, there are plenty of budget-friendly, family hotels in the city. On Day 21, you can explore the Egyptian city of Safaga, famous for its therapeutic springs and coral reefs. Alternatively, you can take the chance to visit the archaeological wonder of the city of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, home to the tombs of many Egyptian pharaohs, including Tutankhamun.

Another option, which we would say should be high on your priority list, is a trip to Wadi Rum. This stunning area of unspoilt desert is famous for its rock formations, unlike elsewhere in the middle east. There might be times when teenagers want to escape the rest of the family, and for them, there is ‘The Teen Zone, which offers deck sports, discos, gaming consoles, and a whole host of other activities.

Most cruise lines also offer a special and affordable drink package for your trip. Different from an all inclusive resort, you wake up at a new port throughout your vacation rather than the same scenery. MSC does a good job of informing passengers -- mostly women -- of what sort of dress is acceptable within the mosque. Still, all female travellers in our party underwent a thorough inspection of their clothing by Emirati female employees at the entrance to the mosque. A rip-roaring journey packed with exhilirating through-the-ages adventures, the Middle East Treasures & Marvels of the Med Expedition cannot fail to set your imagination on fire. Packed with spectacular age-old landmarks and grand architecture, history comes thick and fast in the Western Med and the Adriatic.

Abu Dhabi has remained particularly strict in this respect, though they have recently relaxed rules for cruise ship passengers. Some cruises offer elegant black tie events on board, giving you the chance to really dress up! So don’t forget a suit or fancy dress if this is a part of your cruise’s itinerary. You need to be mindful of the laws and customs of the countries you visit on a Middle East Cruise.

Overnight you will travel to the picturesque desert island of Sir Bani Yas, a huge nature reserve accommodating endangered species from the Middle East and Africa. You can choose to take a safari on land, or by kayak through the lush green mangroves that stud the coastline. You might even spot a flock of flamingoes as you paddle along the coast. This MSC Middle East cruise offers full-board with excellent sports and leisure facilities and world-class entertainment for both adults and children. There are kids clubs catering for 0-17-year-olds as well as lots of other family fun to be had on board. This is a good choice for families, particularly those who wish to explore key religious and historical sites with their children.

Its cruise terminal is a glittering example of modern architecture, with soaring roofs and walls of glass windows -- not to mention fast and free Wi-Fi. A warm climate, fertile landscapes and teeming waters make for a rather delicious roll call as you sail through the Adriatic and the Western Mediterranean. Live La Dolce Vita - or sweet life - in Italy, where cafe culture reigns, and staples include fresh pasta, pizza, gelato, and lashings of olive oil and wine. Try pillowy-soft burrata cheese in Puglia, Sicilian eggplant and ricotta signature pasta alla norma, and classic Neopolitan-style Margherita pizza in its birthplace, Naples.

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