Saturday, April 20th
Allow me to tell you a little about our next destination, Dubai, as I will be busy with touring once we arrive there tomorrow at 11am. Forgive me, but I have copied some photos so you will know what I am talking about. I will hopefully get my own photos of these sites in the next couple of days.
Dubai is one of the 7 emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates and is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. The population is 2.1 million making it the most populous of the 7 emirates. Dubai is the 22nd most expensive city in the world and most expensive city in the Middle East. Historically, its economy is built on the oil industry, now its main revenues are derived from tourism, real estate, and financial services. Now skyscrapers and high rise buildings dominate the city's skyline. . Amazingly, only 17% of the people here are Emirati. Most of the rest of the people were brought in from Southeast Asian countries to work for them in hotel services, construction, and other menial jobs. Dubai was under the protection of the United Kingdom from 1892 to 1971, when the United Arab Emirates was formed. Oil was discovered here in 1966 and is projected to be exhausted within the next 20 years. Dubai provided refueling bases to the allied forces during the Gulf War. We are expecting the temperature to be in the mid 90's and humidity around 50% for our visit here. Dubai has over 70 malls including the world's largest, Dubai Mall. It is known as being "the shopping capital of the Middle East". Hopefully, Rebecca will not read this until after we leave on Monday. There is a snow skiing center in the new Mall of the Emirates so you can ski year round for about $60 for a two hour pass.
Pictured below is Burj Khalifa, (Khalifa Tower) which is the tallest building in the world at 2722 feet high. Construction on it was completed in 2010.
Pictured above is the Burj al Arab (Tower of the Arabs). It's construction was completed in 1999 and bills itself as the world's only 7-star hotel. It was constructed to appear like the sail of a Dhow, a type of Arabian sailing vessel. It is built on a man-made island 900 feet off shore. Very expensive hotel with Royal Suite going for $28,000 per night. Our tour will be making a photo stop here tomorrow. You cannot go to the hotel itself unless you have a hotel or dinner reservation there.
Now for what is happening today. It is now 1230pm and Captain on noon report said it was 81 degrees outside today with a very hazy, sunny day. A naval patrol ship just past us heading opposite direction about two miles out on port side. I found out last night that, although it has not been announced, we do have some ex-Israeli commandos on board. We had a team of 4 when going around Africa in 2010 on our world cruise. We have finished our workout and now waiting for our chicken caesar salads from room service for lunch.
Last night we had a wonderful dinner with Goren, Food & Beverage Manager. He had also invited Anna, the head of housekeeping to join the table. The spouses of the other two couples were sick so staying in their suites. We both had prime rib that was probably the best I have ever had. After dinner we sat on the front row for the wonderful production show. This is third time we have seen this show since Beijing but love the dancers and singers.
Dinner last night: L to R--Kalman, Anna, me, Carol, Goren, & Rebecca.
Crina, Asst F&B mgr, and Anna, head of housekeeping
Dennis, one of our favorite waiters.
This evening is another "block party" in our hallway outside our door. Will meet our new neighbors on this hall. I just opened the balcony door to go out and take a photo of a military helicopter flying over the ship and our smoke detector went off due to the high humidity coming in the room. I called and asked the bridge to reset it. We had reservations this evening at the steakhouse, Prime 7. Our friends, Joe & Allison, (who are now in a suite directly below us) called and asked us to join them and Katja, the head of the ship's tour department, for dinner in Sette Mari. I initially said no due to Prime 7 reservations but called them back and accepted. At noon I got our Prime 7 cancelled and a new one made for 22nd.
Swells not as bad this afternoon so not a bad ride again. At about 4am tomorrow we will be passing through the Strait of Hormuz (red arrow). 20% of the world's oil supply passes through here making it a highly important strategic location for international trade. Iran, lately, has been threatening shipping through it. Because it is so narrow and there are a lot of ships passing through it, the is a "Traffic Separation Scheme". There is a 2 mile wide lane for in coming traffic and a 2 mile lane for outgoing traffic. We will be in the Persian Gulf until next Wednesday evening visiting Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.
https://goo.gl/photos/DbbHcT86d9MwZiRD6
Dubai is one of the 7 emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates and is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. The population is 2.1 million making it the most populous of the 7 emirates. Dubai is the 22nd most expensive city in the world and most expensive city in the Middle East. Historically, its economy is built on the oil industry, now its main revenues are derived from tourism, real estate, and financial services. Now skyscrapers and high rise buildings dominate the city's skyline. . Amazingly, only 17% of the people here are Emirati. Most of the rest of the people were brought in from Southeast Asian countries to work for them in hotel services, construction, and other menial jobs. Dubai was under the protection of the United Kingdom from 1892 to 1971, when the United Arab Emirates was formed. Oil was discovered here in 1966 and is projected to be exhausted within the next 20 years. Dubai provided refueling bases to the allied forces during the Gulf War. We are expecting the temperature to be in the mid 90's and humidity around 50% for our visit here. Dubai has over 70 malls including the world's largest, Dubai Mall. It is known as being "the shopping capital of the Middle East". Hopefully, Rebecca will not read this until after we leave on Monday. There is a snow skiing center in the new Mall of the Emirates so you can ski year round for about $60 for a two hour pass.
Pictured below is Burj Khalifa, (Khalifa Tower) which is the tallest building in the world at 2722 feet high. Construction on it was completed in 2010.
Pictured above is the Burj al Arab (Tower of the Arabs). It's construction was completed in 1999 and bills itself as the world's only 7-star hotel. It was constructed to appear like the sail of a Dhow, a type of Arabian sailing vessel. It is built on a man-made island 900 feet off shore. Very expensive hotel with Royal Suite going for $28,000 per night. Our tour will be making a photo stop here tomorrow. You cannot go to the hotel itself unless you have a hotel or dinner reservation there.
Now for what is happening today. It is now 1230pm and Captain on noon report said it was 81 degrees outside today with a very hazy, sunny day. A naval patrol ship just past us heading opposite direction about two miles out on port side. I found out last night that, although it has not been announced, we do have some ex-Israeli commandos on board. We had a team of 4 when going around Africa in 2010 on our world cruise. We have finished our workout and now waiting for our chicken caesar salads from room service for lunch.
Last night we had a wonderful dinner with Goren, Food & Beverage Manager. He had also invited Anna, the head of housekeeping to join the table. The spouses of the other two couples were sick so staying in their suites. We both had prime rib that was probably the best I have ever had. After dinner we sat on the front row for the wonderful production show. This is third time we have seen this show since Beijing but love the dancers and singers.
Food & Beverage manager, Goren, with Rebecca
This evening is another "block party" in our hallway outside our door. Will meet our new neighbors on this hall. I just opened the balcony door to go out and take a photo of a military helicopter flying over the ship and our smoke detector went off due to the high humidity coming in the room. I called and asked the bridge to reset it. We had reservations this evening at the steakhouse, Prime 7. Our friends, Joe & Allison, (who are now in a suite directly below us) called and asked us to join them and Katja, the head of the ship's tour department, for dinner in Sette Mari. I initially said no due to Prime 7 reservations but called them back and accepted. At noon I got our Prime 7 cancelled and a new one made for 22nd.
Swells not as bad this afternoon so not a bad ride again. At about 4am tomorrow we will be passing through the Strait of Hormuz (red arrow). 20% of the world's oil supply passes through here making it a highly important strategic location for international trade. Iran, lately, has been threatening shipping through it. Because it is so narrow and there are a lot of ships passing through it, the is a "Traffic Separation Scheme". There is a 2 mile wide lane for in coming traffic and a 2 mile lane for outgoing traffic. We will be in the Persian Gulf until next Wednesday evening visiting Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.
https://goo.gl/photos/DbbHcT86d9MwZiRD6
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