See the most modern, technologically advanced attractions in the capitals of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with an enlightening day in between spent exploring the timeless desert and an authentic Bedouin village.
Day 1
Arrive at the Dubai International Airport. You will be met outside the Customs area and transferred to your hotel.
Check in time is at 3:00 pm. Although every effort will be made to have the rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed. Should your flight arrive very early in the morning you may wish to book an additional night so your room is available upon arrival.
The remainder of the day is at your leisure and all meals are on your own.
Day 2:
After breakfast at your hotel, proceed with your group on a modern Dubai city tour.
Begin with a photo stop at Jumeirah Mosque - a magnificent example of modern Islamic architecture. Another photo stop is made near the world renowned five-star hotel which is a famous landmark of the city “The Burj Al Arab”.
Next, drive through what is considered the 8th wonder of the world - The Palm Jumeirah. Enjoy the drive through Palm Island and take in the beautiful Jumeirah coastline.
Continue to Sheikh Zayed Road and arrive at the Dubai Mall which is the largest shopping mall in the world. The Dubai Mall is the region's premier shopping, lifestyle and entertainment destination. With more than 1,200 stores and a host of world-class attractions, The Dubai Mall is revolutionizing the modern shopping experience.
From here you will walk to the Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world. Head up to the 124th floor for the opportunity to view the entire city in the viewing gallery.
Free time follows so you can perhaps grab a quick bite to eat at the Dubai Mall or do a bit of shopping.
Next proceed to the Museum of The Future where you will step into the year 2071. Walk past exhibitions that straddle the past and future in a beautiful blend. Admire the gleaming 77-meter torus-shaped structure with calligraphy panels all around. The absence of columns inside makes this structure quite a feat in modern engineering. Spread across five floors are five different chapters covering themes of climate change, ecology,health, wellness, spirituality, imagination, and the future of space travel and living.
Following your museum visit, return to your hotel where the remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
Day 3:
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel enjoy and a morning at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the hotel or perhaps to do some exploring nearby. Lunch is on your own.
In the afternoon you will depart for an adventurous dune dinner safari. Experience the sheer thrill of driving up and down golden yellow sand dunes in comfortable 4-wheel drive vehicles. Drive past the Bedouin villages and stop at a camel camp to discuss the “news” of the day!
You will then enjoy some thrilling dune bashing with the experienced drivers over golden sand dunes.
Close to sunset, the group arrives at the sunset point where "time stands still". Experience the silence of the desert and watch the stunning vista of endless dunes and the magical desert sunset.
After sunset you will continue your journey deep into the desert until you reach the soft light of a Bedouin Village.
The campsite is specifically built to depict an authentic Bedouin Village with Barasti (dried palm leaves) tents. It is beautifully lit and decorated with rustic carpets and low tables with soft Arabic music in the background. Despite the rustic appeal, the campsite does have modern restroom facilities and basins with running water.
The campsite even has one area set-up with hubbly bubbly water pipes (Shisha’s) where you can relax and try a puff or two of this local favorite past time after your buffet barbeque dinner or you can watch a belly dancer as she dances to the rhythm of the music.
Following this fun filled Arabian evening you will head back to your hotel.
**Note: Guests do not drive. The dune dinner safari takes place in 4-wheel drive vehicles and the drive can be quite bumpy. This is not recommended for anyone with bad backs or if they are pregnant. We recommend having a light lunch prior to the commencement of the tour. Please wear casual clothing and bring a light sweater or jacket for the evening hours. This tour is subject to weather conditions. Seating for the dinner is on low divan cushions as per the typical Bedouin way of dining
Day 4:
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, check out and then proceed to Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates and named after a breed of gazelles by a Sheikh of the Bani Yas tribe. This magnificent city which was founded in 1761 is situated on a small peninsula surrounded by a cluster of islands.
Your tour today offers an ideal introduction to Abu Dhabi. The first stop is the magnificent Grand Mosque of Abu Dhabi. The majestic Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque is probably the most imposing religious and national landmark in Abu Dhabi to date. It is also arguably one of the most important architectural treasures of contemporary UAE society - and one of the most beautiful in the world - initiated no less by the late president HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is fondly thought of as the father of UAE.
Also pay a visit to Qasr al Watan Palace. Prepare to walk through majestic hallways, uncover centuries of Arabian knowledge, marvel at the beauty of Arabian craftsmanship, express yourself with interactive installations, and delve into the region’s rich heritage of artistic contributions.
Following an enlightening visit at the Palace, your group will visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi – the first universal museum in the Arab world. This museum brings the Louvre name to Abu Dhabi and presents both ancient and contemporary works of historic, cultural, and sociological interest from around the world. Virtually surrounded by the sea, the dozens of buildings that comprise the museum are linked by waterfront promenades and by the museum’s most arresting feature – its dome. As sunlight filters through the dome’s perforations, it creates a “rain of light” effect in the museum galleries below.
The program will end with a transfer to the Port of Abu Dhabi where you will embark the ship.
**Note: The Grand Mosque does not provide ladies a headscarf or abaya free of charge and there is no shop on sight to buy them. Ladies please come prepared with something to cover you head or entrance will unfortunately be denied. For men and women: no transparent clothing, no shorts or skirts, no sleeveless shirts, no clothing with profanity and no tight clothing (including leggings) or beachwear.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
Day 1:
Arrive at the Dubai International Airport
Meet and greet in the designed Meet and Greet area after Customs
Transfer to your hotel
3:00pm Check in time at your hotel
Remainder of the day at leisure
Meals are on your own today
Overnight at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City or similar hotel
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
Day 2:
AM Breakfast at your hotel
9:30am Depart for a modern Dubai tour including a visit to the Burj Khalifa
1:30pm Free time at Dubai Mall for lunch on your own
2:30pm Visit the Museum of Future
4:00pm Return to your hotel
Dinner is on your own
Overnight at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City or similar hotel
Day 3:
AM Breakfast at your hotel and morning at leisure
Lunch on own
3:15pm 4WD jeep tour into the desert (guests do not drive)
4:30pm Dune drive
5:30pm Arrival at camp site
6:00pm Dinner at the camp site
9:00pm Return drive to your hotel
Overnight at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City or similar hotel
Day 4:
7:30am Breakfast at your hotel and then check out
8:00am Drive to Abu Dhabi and visit the Grand Mosque, Qasr al Watan Palace and Louvre Abu Dhabi
2:00pm Transfer to Abu Dhabi port to embark the ship
Expected Weather:
Warm and Sunny
The average temperature is 26 degrees Celsius or 78-79 degrees Fahrenheit
What to Bring:
Comfortable walking shows, light loose clothing, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, camera.
Currency:
UAE Dirham
Electricity:
220 volts. We recommend bringing your own travel adaptor if you will have electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements:
All passengers travelling to the United Arab Emirates must be in possession of a passport valid for atleast 6 months from the date of entry into the United Arab Emirates. Please consult your local embassy for any Visa requirements for your nationality.
Hotel address:
InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Dubai Festival City – Dubai
00971 4 701 1111
Program Inclusions:
•3 nights at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City- Classic room
•Modern Dubai City tour including entrance ticket to Burj Khalifa (124th floor) and Museum of the Future
?Transfers
?Desert Safari (Al Sahara Experience) including BBQ dinner with soft drinks and water
?Abu Dhabi tour including entrance to Louvre and Qasr al Watan
?Luxury air-conditioned coach with English speaking tour guide
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests:
•Meals or beverages other than specified above
•Gratuities to guides, drivers and porters
•Any personal expenses
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.
