DESTINATION FOCUS
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Arabian
Anna Selby experiences a full Arabian Gulf cruise, highlighting the wonderful opportunity to visit the likes of Muscat in Oman, Abu Dhabi and Qatar
T
he Arabian Nights – full of palaces and perfumes, silks and dancing girls, gold and jewels and magic lamps. For centuries, it has conjured a picture that has captured
the imagination of those who live in colder climes. And, in the last few decades – built on the vast wealth of oil – Arabia has risen again from the sands to create anew its love of legendary luxury and excess.
So, if luxury is
”OMAN’S MODERNITY is not that of Dubai or Bahrain; the architecture SPEAKS IN THE
what we have come to expect from Arabia, what better way to start my journey than with a taster of it on board an Etihad fl ight? This six-year-old Abu Dhabi-based air- line has just won the title of World’s Best Airline and I could see why. In business class, I could lie down fl at; the seat could give me a back massage; the food was fantastic; and mood lighting changed from blue to green to pink to reduce the effects of jet lag. I was heading for OMAN, surely one of the most beguiling parts of Arabia. In the capital, Muscat, the souk sells leather, pottery, silver, hunting guns and
the silver-sheathed khajar, the national symbol. There is a tiny, gated old town but this is es- sentially a new city, built by Sultan Qaboos on the grandest of scales with wide roads, lined with manicured lawns and symmetrical rows of palm trees, cascading fountains and burnished statues of Arabian artefacts. Oman’s moder-
VERNACULAR and development is SLOW AND CAUTIOUS”
nity, though, is not that of Dubai or Bahrain. There are no steely skyscrap- ers here and the architecture speaks in the vernacular. While the country
has opened its doors a little wider to visitors in the last few years, there are no plans to follow in the footsteps of Oman’s neighbours in creating vast tourist cities. Development is slow and cautious, and the country is enviably debt free as it deals with the ongoing global economic crisis. The black gold beneath the sands may have funded this particular renaissance but prosperity is nothing new for Oman.
For an Arabian cruise that ticks all the boxes, consider MV Spirit of Ad- venture in November. This boutique voyager sails with just 352 pas- sengers from Dubai on a 14-night journey to Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait City, Kish Island and Bandar Abbas (Iran), Fujairah, Muscat, Khasab and Dubai on her Souks of the Arabian Peninsula cruise (Nov 28). It features the top cities and lesser known ports on a unique ad- venture into this beauti- ful part of the world. MV Spirit of Adven-
ture is smaller than most ships so she can reach destinations the larger ships have to sail past. Their discovery cruises also highlight the cul- tures and traditions, with knowledgeable guest speakers and a choice of inclusive tailor-made excursions at most ports. All gratuities are in- cluded, adding to the great value on offer. See all the details at
spiritofadventure.co.uk or call 0800 015 3522 to book or request a brochure.
Summer 2010 I WORLD OF CRUISING
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