Desert Cruise from Abu Dhabi to Muscat

Passengers are welcome to board beginning at 10:00 a.m. The crew welcomes you and help you get comfortably settled into your cabins. Enjoy lunch on board. Abu Dhabi, known for generations as the “Father of the Gazelle,” sprang from the sands on the shores of the Persian Gulf. This ever-changing city is able to continue expanding thanks to the construction of monumental, human-made islands. Between the skyscrapers, large avenues, and cozy homes, Abu Dhabi’s cityscape is sure to captivate visitors.

EXCURSION: Panoramic tour of Abu Dhabi (in the afternoon)

Discover this unique city while driving along the beautiful panoramic route from the Corniche all the way to the viewpoint of Breakwater Island. Stop for a photo-op at one of the most impressive hotels and conference centers ever constructed: the magnificent Emirates Palace. Enjoy a welcome cocktail, have dinner and spend the night on board.

EXCURSION: The Louvre Abu Dhabi museum (in the morning)

The recently opened Louvre Abu Dhabi museum is an architectural landmark in itself. Built on an island between the sea and the sand, the museum’s dimensions are colossal and include 260,000 square feet of exhibits (24,000 m2). It was conceived to be a place where dialog between civilizations, cultures, and religions can be cultivated and promoted. It is the top universal museum in the Arab world and was conceived and designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. After your tour, return to the port by way of the Al Bateen district.
Enjoy lunch on board.

EXCURSION: The Presidential Palace and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (in the afternoon)

Visit the Presidential Palace (Qasr Al Watan, or “Palace of the Nation”), which recently opened its doors to the public at the initiative of the Emir of Abu Dhabi, thus allowing visitors to discover the traditions and values of his country. The palace houses a library containing 50,000 works and exhibit rooms where the many gifts offered to the country are put on display. Stroll through the gardens of this majestic palace. Next, visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (named after the immensely revered “Father of the Nation”), a veritable work of art with its 10,000 columns, chandeliers plated in 24-karat gold, and the capacity to hold 40,000 people. Have dinner and spend the night on board. Spend the night cruising to Dubai.

A small pearl-fishing village 150 years ago, Dubai’s exponential growth started in the early 2000s when the government decided to make it the world’s top tourist destination. Pharaonic projects were undertaken with the construction of Palm Island and the ever-higher, ever-more-luxurious towers, including the Burj Khalifa. From that point on, it was a race to the extreme. Dubai is the trendiest city of the decade.

EXCURSION: The Burj Khalifa Tower and Palm Island (in the morning)

Embark on an excursion that is ahead of its time, where the limitless creative spirit and imagination of humankind raised the highest tower in the world out of the sand and sea on stunning Palm Island. This island is built to resemble the outline of a palm tree. It was created from scratch and is home to many splendid villas and sumptuous hotel complexes. Next, well ascend to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the highest human-made structure ever built (2,716.5 feet/828 meters). Enjoy a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Persian Gulf from its observation deck.

EXCURSION: Take a tour of Dubai (in the afternoon)

Here, you can let your wildest dreams take flight while walking in the footsteps of the past. Visit the city’s oldest building: the Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1787 and later converted into a museum. Discover the traditional, urban, and rural lifestyles in the Emirate of Dubai. It is a veritable kaleidoscope, giving you a glimpse of the many facets of the country over the past centuries. Next, stroll through traditional markets, or “souks,” selling everything from aromatic spices to gold. The lively atmosphere of the souk is the perfect setting to discover and interact with the local population.
Have dinner and spend the night on board. Spend the night cruising to Khasab.

Deep in the craggy fjords, Khasab occupies a strategic position in the Strait of Ormuz. The Musandam Peninsula is an enclave of the Sultanate of Oman on the lands of the United Arab Emirates. Isolated and preserved, this village—where everyone knows everyone—is dominated by its fort that seems to stand guard between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The “Norway of Arabia” attracts visitors for the surreal beauty of its landscape and for its marine life: dolphins, stingrays, and turtles, to name but a few.

EXCURSION: Khasab and the surrounding area (in the morning)

Join a visit to Khasab Fort, built by the Portuguese in the 17th century to protect their trading activities in the highly-coveted area. Continue your discovery as you navigate along the coastal route to Bukha. Stop in the small, traditional village of Mukhi, known for its old, cubic houses clinging to the steep mountain. This craggy region offers visitors spectacular views of the landscape.

OR EXCURSION: Cruise on a dhow (in the morning)

Climb aboard a dhow, the ancestral sailing vessel of this region, used in centuries past to transport merchandise, passengers, and even slaves. Today, these elegant wooden ships with triangular sails navigate the fjords of the Musandam Peninsula. On turquoise waters, the dhow sails in search of the most beautiful landscapes and the steepest, most stunning cliffs. You can enjoy a swim in one of the inlets where the waters are calm and refreshing. The afternoon is spent cruising to Muscat. Have dinner and spend the night on board.

Spend the morning cruising to Muscat. Between 9,800-foot high mountains (3,000 meters) and the shores of the Gulf of Oman, Muscat has continued to expand along the coast over the years. It is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. Contrary to its neighbors, there are no flamboyant skyscrapers here to block the view—only cozy small buildings, historic monuments, defensive forts, and a sumptuous, monumental mosque. Muscat seduces visitors with its authentic cachet and its hospitable locals. Enjoy lunch on board.

EXCURSION: Take a tour of Muscat (in the afternoon)

Take the coastal route, winding under the watchful eye of the Al Jalali, Al Mirani, and Muttrah forts. Stop for a photo-op at the very camera-friendly Al Alam Palace, the ceremonial residence of Sultan Qaboos of Oman. Continue the city tour with a visit to the Royal Opera House Muscat, inaugurated in 2011 and able to seat 1,100 spectators, and the new, colossal parliament building. Enjoy some time on your own by discovering the souk of Muttrah. In this maze of narrow streets and alleyways stretching along the Corniche, the stalls offer a variety of goods: spices, souvenirs, trinkets, gold jewelry, and much more. Have dinner and spend the night on board.

EXCURSION: Nizwa, along the route of Oman’s fortresses (full-day excursion)

Well before Muscat, Nizwa was the country’s capital city. Located in the heart of a mountainous region, at the crossroads of old caravan routes, Nizwa is a veritable oasis. Enjoy sumptuous panoramic views from the wall-walk of its magnificent fortress. The nearby souk will give you an opportunity to purchase a few souvenirs. Enjoy lunch. Cross a region with high mountains and terrace cultivation (the Jebel Akhdar). Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the village of Al Hamra, where the past is still alive. The small houses made of mud, pebbles, and palm beams have an irresistible charm and are in the process of being restored. Visit a typical home and meet with the local population for coffee and a bite of a few dates. Have dinner and spend the night on board. Spend the night cruising to Sur.

Off the beaten path of the usual tourist circuits, Sur is the gateway to the Wahiba Sands. Sur's natural, remarkable setting includes a large bay, immaculately white seaside houses with sculpted wooden balconies, and dhow construction workshops. The city is unique and surprising because it seems to have been frozen in time for several decades.

EXCURSION: From a desert to the wadi (full-day excursion)

Our four-wheel-drive vehicles will take you on an exciting excursion to discover a rare curiosity: the wadis —vast, natural stretches of water shaded by palm, date, and mango trees. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear, freshwater of the Wadi Bani Khaled. It’s like heaven on earth. Head to the Wahiba Sands desert. The contrast is striking. The route becomes straight and linear, a few dromedaries wander onto the asphalt and the sand whirlwinds with the passage of each car. Soon, arrive on the stretches of golden sand. Enjoy lunch in one of the desert camps. The expedition continues on the sand tracks, at the foot of the rippling dunes—some of which measure as high as three hundred feet. At the end of the day, the spectacle is breathtaking when the crests of the dunes shimmer with iridescence in the sunlight. Have dinner and spend the night on board. Spend the night cruising to Muscat.

EXCURSION: A typical day in Muscat (in the morning)

Early in the morning, things are already bustling at the Muttrah Fish Market. Chiseled-faced fishermen negotiate the price for their daily catch. After, visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Inaugurated in 2001, it can welcome up to 20,000 worshipers. A veritable work of art in itself, the mosque radiates throughout the entire city. The jewel in its crown is a monumental Persian prayer carpet measuring about 45,000 square feet (4,263 m2). This handmade masterpiece took four years to complete and weighs 21 tons. Join a visit to the Bait Al Zubair private museum, housed in a stately white residence built in the typical Omani architectural style. This ethnographic museum is home to one of the most beautiful collections demonstrating the lifestyle of the family of Sheikh Al Zubair: sabers, firearms, traditional women’s costumes, jewels, musical instruments, objects used in daily life, and more. Enjoy lunch on board.

EXCURSION: Coastal cruise on a dhow (in the afternoon)

Climb aboard a dhow—a traditional sailing vessel and the pride of Omani mariners. Made of wood, the dhow was used to travel from region to region and from country to country. Today, dhows are a visitor’s delight, allowing them to admire the rocky coastline and long sandy beaches against the backdrop of the high mountains. Have dinner and spend the night on board.

Enjoy one last breakfast on board before disembarking.