October 2021

 

Where once there was only desert, now extends one of the most modern cities in the world; Dubai.  The tallest buildings in the world and seven-star hotels coexist with the ancient souks and touches of traditional Arabic architecture in the palaces buildings.

 

A shore excursion on your MSC Emirates and Oman cruise is your chance to discover Bur Dubai, at the heart of the metropolis of Dubai, on the south side of the breezy Creek. It’s the oldest part of Dubai and it offers a fascinating insight into the city’s roots.  This is where you’ll find many of the place’s most interesting Arabian heritage houses, clustered in the beautiful old Iranian quarter of Bastakiya and the waterfront Shindagha district, as well as the excellent Dubai Museum and the atmospheric Textile Souk.

 

You could also choose a day our to the bustling district of Deira: the centre of Dubai’s traditional commercial activity, much of it still in the area’s vibrant array of souks, including the famous gold and spice markets. South of the old city centre is where the city morphs into modernity with Sheikh Zayed Road, home to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building and protagonist of the impressive skyline that we’ve all come to know.

 

But that’s not all that’s in store for you on your week’s cruise. Abu Dhabi and Dubai will surprise you with their daring, futuristic architecture, and Sir Bani Yas island will enchant you with a dream private beach experience or a safari like no other between the mangroves, the desert and the protected bay areas.

 

You’ll also have the chance to discover the Gulf of Oman and its spectacular coral reef, which the MSC Foundation itself is working to protect and restore, Khor Fakkan and Khasaband in Muscat where you can get a taste of the enchanted atmospheres of the one thousand and one nights.

 

One thing’s for sure; the best way to get the most of this incredible region in a short time is with an MSC Cruise, and there’s no better time than this winter when Dubai will host the jaw-dropping Dubai EXPO 2020 from October until the end of March 2022.