What you need to know when going on a cruise with Celestyal Journey to be satisfied with your holiday, if it is important for you in detail from the very beginning about our wonderful journey around the Persian Gulf countries, lasting 7 nights + 3 nights in Dubai separately from the cruise.
After one station from Airport Terminal 1, we arrived at Deira City Centr. station, where a huge shopping centre awaited us, we had of course planned our route in advance and the shops we wanted to visit, first and foremost: Brands For Less, and, of course, a coffee from the road, in Starbucks, the taste of which, by the way, did not make the expected impression at all, in contrast to its price of 20 dirhams. Beyond any doubt, Dubai’s shopping centres, like Dubai itself, are perfection in all manifestations of art, craftsmanship, rules and marketing professionalism. Time in Deira City Mall flew by unnoticed: we became poorer by several hundred dirhams, but richer by one suitcase and several things, without which we can’t imagine how we lived before (according to Marinka and in this matter I trust her unconditionally). The following is quite important: at the airport, on departure, you have the opportunity to return 5% in money (I recommend), or on the card, in the presence of certified cheques from shops, for a certain amount (not less than … ask in the shop itself), so we returned 53 dirhams – on the road are not lying. It was time to go to Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal A, from there, this time, we had to go on our wonderful cruise around the Gulf, with a call in the Indian Ocean in the Omani fjords.
So, from the metro station Deira City Centre, we went to the metro station Sobha, went to the side of Dubai Marina and from there we took a taxi for 20 dirhams to the port of departure. The full journey from the airport by taxi would have cost at least 120-150 AED, but it cost us about 30 AED and the time of boarding the liner allowed us to ride in the most modern unmanned metro in the world, enjoying the stunning urban views of Sun City.
Boarding the ship took about 30 minutes of our time. Compliments from the Celestyal Journey crew: half a paper cup of juice (my fingers itched to write “yuppie”, I didn’t bother) but, as they say, “what’s rich”. Our cabin was cosy, clean, fresh, wide and spacious, but it took us a long time to figure out the air conditioner device: it was too cold and warm air started to come in not at once. Perhaps the biggest negative was the bottles of water on the table for money and, please note, not small, no one came up with the idea to explain to the guests that they will be able to take water in their own containers while eating in the buffet restaurant. There were about two hours left till dinner… Advice for diabetics when checking in on Celestyal Journey: to have water, necessary carbohydrate reserve, at least for the first 2-3 hours.
We would like to note at once the excellent work of our housekeeper Afifi on all questions related to our stay in our cabin and solving all issues, including drinking water. The second unpleasant moment at check-in was just the fact that the stock of honey (diabetics will understand) was in the second suitcase, which, as it turned out, was not brought to our cabin due to the fact that its handle was broken at the airport (we didn’t find out in which airport, and it doesn’t matter), and the administration was preparing a paper with explanations, without prior notification of the whereabouts of our things at the moment – an inconsiderate and very unpleasant situation, which could have ended very tragically, if yours truly had not turned out to be an experienced person in the search for fast carbohydrates.
For dinner, in the main restaurant, on the 7th deck, it is most reasonable to go 18.30, otherwise, you risk to get only in the next wave, which will start in two hours, or immediately go to the 11th deck, on the buffet. By the way, you can smoke only on the 10th deck. In the main restaurant your table will be served by two waiters: one for drinks and one for menu. Wine: white, red, pink, beer, water can be ordered unlimitedly, cold appetisers, hot dishes and desserts should be ordered at once, relying on your preferences and ability to eat them. Well, and, if it is not enough, you can go up to the 11th deck.
Our cruise on the promotional offer cost 778 for two people, including tips to the staff, a package of soft drinks, and light alcoholic (beer, wine) during meals, from 778 – 150 gift from the company on any of the proposed excursions. We paid 56 extra and chose the Dubai excursion. What of the places visited I would leave out of the tour: the coffee and dagger museums, one of the observation decks, leaving more time to visit the spice and gold market. Be sure to take sandwiches and fruit from breakfast with you on the excursion, water will be offered to you in the bus, although we also took water with us, as experienced tourists.
The next day was waiting for us in El Hasab, in the Sultanate of Oman. From the tips: try to go ashore before everyone else, make a gang of 10 brave, take a motorboat for 200 quid for all, on the shore (payment after the excursion, so do not wet your quid in shorts). During the excursion the captain will offer you drinks, snacks and fruit, water, just in case, take it with you and, in general, when visiting countries with such climate, always rely on yourself and take water with you – not once my advice will save your life, if not you, then someone near you.
Without exaggeration I can say that the boat trip in the fjords of the Strait of Hormuz was one of the most vivid impressions of our cruise and stay in other countries of the region. Unforgettable everything: the colour of the vast cosmic sky, the slightly brackish-sweet taste of the still cool morning air, the unreal alien views, the witnesses of former adventures, of the times of dashing pirates – the surrounding Khajar rocks, on which, like cats on our lawns, the temperature of the bottomless azure ocean framed in a frame of mountain canyons, the colour of onyx, from which one did not want to leave, the silver backs of dolphins diving at arm’s length, simply beyond any competitive discussions.
The next day of our stop was the island of Sir Bani Yas, belonging to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Taking advantage of the comfortable sea temperature and sunny weather, we just sunbathed, well, and I dived and enjoyed swimming without interruption. Many cruisers went on an organised safari excursion around the island. Sir Bani Yas Island is another typical example of an “Arabian miracle”. Once empty, devoid of water and vegetation, this inhospitable piece of land fell in love with Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan (the first president of the UAE), who decided to green it up and turn it into a national reserve. In a relatively short time, 8 million trees (including fruit trees!) were planted on the island and 15,000 animals and birds found shelter on the island, which became full masters of its territory of 87 square kilometres. And people are welcome to stay at any of the three Anantara hotels (which, to put it bluntly, are not cheap). Therefore, perhaps, you should not neglect the opportunity and happy chance of travelling on a cruise, to see live giraffes, and, perhaps, and cheetahs, having turned up with a chance on the island, it costs 65 per adult person, and the time is about 1.5-2 hours. By the way, arriving to the island in the afternoon is not the best idea in the schedule of Celestyal Journey, which we can’t influence in any way. Astsyarozhnaya, zzvery zachynyantsatsya, nastupnyy prypynak: Abu Dhabi!
Of course, there is something to visit and to look at in Abu Dhabi. But this time, we were seeing off our friend Alexey, who had boarded our ship four days earlier to give us a completely unexpected surprise and to please us immensely with his presence, at least for this short time. His unexpected appearance at our cabin was fantastic, I’ll tell you – only Alexey can appear like that – not everyone is so lucky to have friends and their desire to turn ordinary days into long memorable festivals.
What I would like to say about Dubai Chocolate, my dear friends, I just can’t pass by this topic. Apart from the fact that I take my hat off to my esteemed fellow marketers and that its flavour is somewhat overrated, probably nothing. Just, someday, once, being in one of the Belarusan cities, buy Minsk grillage and a bar of General’s chocolate, as they say, feel the difference. And certainly, I wouldn’t pay 20-30$ more for glazed pasta from kunafa, nevertheless: the gestalt is closed.
Well, let’s continue. On the first day of spring – my birthday – we were welcomed by the magnificent in all its colours of spring flowers, washed from three sides by azure waters of the Persian Gulf, Qatar, in the person of its bright white pearl, the capital Doha. Doha is not about one hour in a $20 taxi in the centre, and not even about one day – this country is worth devoting at least a week to in your travels – a magical, mysterious, modern and, as it seemed to me, not in a hurry to go anywhere,thanks to the FIFA World Cup, as well as weather conditions that allow you to come here for sunbathing all year round, and most importantly, our cold, and more often freezing winter, they have the most comfortable conditions for us – Belarusians.
For the most impressive views of the city and the Persian Gulf we took a taxi to the local embankment. The Doha Corniche stretches seven kilometres along the coastline and is shaped like a crescent, giving you different views from different points. It’s a great location for skyscraper photos or a leisurely stroll. It’s always buzzing with life: locals love to stroll by the water, events are held on public holidays, and after dark, holidaymakers fill the seaside nightclubs and restaurants, which are open during the day. Right on the seafront there is a famous sculpture in the form of a shell with a pearl, from which the water flows, near which, of course, we took pictures. In the centre of the city on the edge of the waterfront is one of the most beautiful buildings in Qatar. Its exterior is compared to a desert rose: the façade seems to be made of dozens of petals. This architectural masterpiece with an area of 40 thousand metres was designed by the famous French specialist Jean Nouvel.
In the evening, in the cabin we were waited for, in fact, an unexpected and pleasant surprise from our housekeeper and his team, and in the restaurant a cake with take-out and dancing with song and tambourine. It looked off-duty, felt warm and was nice.
On the 2nd of March we arrived in Bahrain, where at the port we were greeted by strong gusty winds but sunny weather, with about 20 degrees Celsius. Our journey was gently coming to an end, we had heard unflattering rumours about the sights and attractions of Bahrain, so we opted to visit only the local port as part of a self-guided and very rewarding duty-free excursion. Taking into account that the next day we were arriving to Dubai, where through Booking.com and Alyona (sister of our dear friend Alexey) we had booked a room in Holiday Inn Express Dubai Jumeirah 3* hotel for the next three nights with breakfasts and dinners (but it will be a separate review), close to La Maire beach.
I guess it’s time to summarise, summing up the final results of our holiday on Celestyal Journey and giving the liner’s crew and hosts a fair assessment, I’ll be honest: not only the first two points played their role, although they set the tone of my review, and it, you noticed, a special warmth, unlike objectivity, was not distinguished, but also other trifles, about which you will read in my last review of the cruise with MSC Opera – these two liners are approximately in the same category of price, comfort, displacement. I can’t give them both 5 stars – it wouldn’t be fair to Opera – Celestial didn’t make it, it didn’t make it. Try, maybe next season will change my opinion about you.
