For everything there is a season. Unless you’re on a cruise ship, because then you can just follow the sun all year round.
The beauty of running a cruise business is that you can move the big boats to where the demand is. And while some destinations are popular year-round, some are seasonal.
Among the latter is the Middle East and South Asia, specifically the Gulf ports of Dubai, Muscat and Abu Dhabi where it’s too hot during summer.
The winter season is now underway, and ships from at least 14 different cruise brands will be plying the waters of the Gulf and the Indian Ocean between now and April, 2017.
Costa, Royal Caribbean, Aida (German-speaking only) and MSC will have ships based in Dubai and other companies will be sailing in and out.
A typical 7-day itinerary will give you a few days in Dubai and one each in Oman and Abu Dhabi, plus a stop at Khasab on Oman’s “Arabian Fjords” or Sir Bani Yas island off Abu Dhabi emirate in the UAE.
Prices vary depending on the ship’s star-ratings and availability, and there are bargains to be had. Given that a night in a hotel in Dubai can cost several hundreds of dollars, the all-inclusive packages offered by cruise ships are great value for people who want to travel to this thriving city and beyond.
