Dubai Luxury

Arrive in Dubai to meet your transfers to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel for a 2-night pre-cruise stay. Includes 2 nights with daily breakfast. Set on the shores of the Arabian Gulf and built in a startling shape that mirrors a breaking wave, this resort-hotel boasts a world-class luxury Marina, PADI Dive Centre, and more than a mile of private pristine beaches as well as over 20 international restaurants, cafés, and bars. The resort is perfect for a family vacation with exceptional levels of service. All guests enjoy free access to Wild Wadi Water Park and Sinbad’s Kids Club. All 598 rooms and suites have spectacular panoramic ocean views – and Beit Al Bahar is a collection of 19 super secluded villas that provide the ultimate holiday hideaway.

After breakfast meet your driver for a City of Merchants - City Tour. Friendly and safe, with English-speaking population, Dubai is an unforgettable experience that will both delight and amaze you. Enjoy the evening on your own to enjoy dinner at one of Dubai's world renowned restaurants.

Transfer to the cruise terminal to embark the Silver Wind. Enjoy a relaxing evening on board exploring your distinctive ship.

Silver Wind offers its guest the ultimate in intimate Italian Cruising – six-star service, fewer guests, more space and the ability to slip into exotic ports off the beaten path. It is as elegant as a grand hotel, as gracious as a long-time friends’ home. Each all ocean-view suite provides a sumptuous retreat. Each public space is intimate yet inviting. It’s a warm feeling of home upon the seas of the earth.

Aboard Silver Wind you will find a most accommodating place to view our world. Whether it’s delicious onboard diversions, world-class cuisine, memorable dining venues or staying connected from anywhere, Silversea’s impeccable standards apply to every detail of your voyage.

Just a few decades ago, Abu Dhabi, the island capital of the United Arab Emirates, was a small fishing village with houses made of mud-brick and palm fronds. Today, as a result of revenue from oil, Abu Dhabi is one of the world's richest cities, with wide, tree-lined boulevards, lush green parks, gushing fountains and imposing skyscrapers. Somewhat of a dichotomy, Abu Dhabi is a combination of ultra-modern sophistication and Arab mystique, with friendly and hospitable people offering a warm welcome to visitors.

Abu Dhabi's history originated in the 18th century, when, according to legend, a group of tribesmen pursuing a gazelle came upon a freshwater well which they named Abu Dhabi, or "Father of the Gazelle”. In the 19th century, the first fort was built over this well by a sheikh of the Al-Nahyan dynasty. The fort's name is Al Husn Palace, also known as Old or White Fort, and it is one of the few buildings in Abu Dhabi that is more than 25 years old. Its whitewashed walls are eye-catching amid the backdrop of today's skyscrapers. Presently, it is home to the Cultural Foundation and serves as a documents centre.

Abu Dhabi had little significance until the discovery of vast oil reserves in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In the years following, the city's economy and infrastructure developed rapidly and changed Abu Dhabi beyond recognition. Despite the breathtaking rate of development, the people of the Emirate remain conservative and attach great value to keeping with traditions. There are more than 400 mosques in Abu Dhabi and the muezzin's call to prayer forms a rhythmic pattern to life in the city.

Apart from its modern cityscape, Abu Dhabi’s most striking feature is its lushness. The municipality has spent a fortune and hired an army of labourers to turn this desert city into a green oasis.

Shopping
Abu Dhabi's central souq area stretches from Hamdan Street almost to the Corniche. The new souq provides air-conditioned comfort, sheltering a vast network of shop-lined walkways under one roof. Best buys include gold jewellery, watches, perfumes and electronics. Typical local products include embroidered linens, Bedouin silver jewellery and the traditional coffee pot. Most shops are open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. but may be closed on Fridays. The local currency is the dirham.

Fujairah is one of the seven Emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is the country’s only Emirate on the scenic East coast. With a stunning setting against a backdrop of the rugged Hajar Mountains, Fujairah is a place of contrasts, attracting a growing number of visitors in search of a less visited destination.

Thanks to its strategic location at the crossroads between East and West, Fujairah has experienced considerable development in recent years. Today, the Emirate enjoys a bustling economy due to its natural resources, strong industrial and commercial base, as well as a thriving sea port and free trade zone. International investments are responsible for new luxury hotels and associated tourism facilities. Careful planning ensures the preservation and protection of the town’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Despite these new developments along the picturesque coastline, the tradition and tranquillity that have characterized Fujairah in times gone by, remain largely unchanged and its infrastructure is still somewhat limited.

Shopping
Pottery and rugs may be of interest. Electronics and cameras are considered good buys. Main shopping areas are the Dana Plaza, three miles (about five kilometres) from the port, and the Fujairah Trade Centre, six miles (10 km) away. Stores are generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday to Thursday. Bargaining is normal in the souqs and most small shops; larger establishments and department stores have fixed prices. The local currency is the dirham. U.S. dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted.

Cuisine
Restaurants in the town centre offer a variety of ethnic menus, ranging from Indian to Chinese, Iranian, Lebanese and Arabic cuisine. Hotel restaurants, like the Fujairah Hilton, feature international cuisine.

Surrounded by striking mountains on one side and soft sandy shores along its coast, Muscat was already a thriving port in ancient times. As the capital of modern Oman, parts of the city still retain their medieval appearance, with two old Portuguese forts, Jalali and Mirani, flanking the rocky cove around which the city is built. During the 14th and 15th centuries, Muscat was an important outpost for the powerful kings of Hormuz. It was this role that prompted the Portuguese to claim Muscat in the 16th century. Following Oman’s re-conquest in 1650, the Portuguese era in the Gulf ended.

Since the mid-18th century, members of the Al-Busaidy dynasty have been the rulers of Oman. From the time of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said's accession to the throne in 1970, the Sultanate has gone from an underdeveloped country to a modern state with imposing government buildings, hospitals, new roads, and a university and sports complex. Muscat’s picturesque old buildings still co-exist with modern commercial and residential quarters, giving the city an ambiance all its own. The seaside palace of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, offers a spectacular sight, as it stands between steep rocky hills.

Greater Muscat covers a huge area divided into three sections: the old port area, the main trading and residential area and the modern Central Banking District. Sumptuous villas and deluxe hotels are part of an ongoing building boom. Strong development in tourism has given Oman a new role as an intriguing, fascinating and safe destination.

Oman is full of treasures - from historic fortresses, castles and traditional buildings to captivating landscapes and gracious people. Its advent into the modern age has managed to blend age-old mystique with a taste of the 21st century.

Shopping
The Muttrah Souq is one of the most famous markets in the Sultanate of Oman. Its narrow, twisted alleys are clustered with tiny shops. Busy both in the mornings and evenings, the souq closes down between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Shops are filled with brass utensils, decorative fabrics, pottery, Omani daggers and other traditional souvenirs. The fragrance of frankincense and spices adds an exciting flavour to the commercial activity. The local currency is the rial. Most vendors accept US dollars.

Cuisine
Muscat offers a staggering diversity of cuisines - from French to Indian, Italian, Japanese and Mexican, to name just a few. Elaborate buffet meals can be found at five-star hotels.

All Day:

Bahrain is rich in history and ancient civilizations have recently been discovered by archaeologists. Recent finds show Bahrain was the site of the lost civilization of Dilmun, often referred to as the fabled Garden of Eden and described as "paradise" in the Epic of Gilgamesh. No Visit to Bahrain would be completed without a trip to the soukh, with its profusion of colors, sounds, and aromas. Other attractions include: ornate Siyadi House; al-Khamis Mosque; Bahrain Fort; Barbar Temple; the 'Museum of Pearl Diving'; the House of the Qur'an, Bait Al Qur'an; the 16th century Arad Fort; Shaikh Isa's house; the flourishing mystic Tree of Life; Oil Well No.1; the Mountain of Smoke; the remarkable 15.5-mile King Fahad Causeway; Al-Jasra House; and Salman bin Ahmed Al fateh Fort. Activities include horse-back riding, golf, and diving.

Please be aware that the infrastructure in this traditional and conservative place is still very basic. Moderate dress is required for your shore side visit (no revealing tops, shorts, or beach wear).

Set between Europe and Asia, on the southern shores of the Arabian Gulf, Dubai is the jewel in the crown of the United Arab Emirates. The second largest of the seven Emirates, (the others are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujaira, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain), Dubai is an oasis in the sweeping deserts. A city of alluring contrasts, Dubai is a cosmopolitan society with a global lifestyle and a culture rooted in, and secured by, age-old Islamic traditions.

It is this unique personality of the city that draws in visitors, whether for business or for pleasure, from the four corners of the earth by land, sea and air. In fact, the Dubai International Airport, a vital link for business, commerce and tourism, is considered the busiest airport in the Middle East. Its state-of-the-art facilities sees daily departures and arrivals from all over the world.

Enjoy your final day in this mesmerizing city before embarking on your flight home.