December 1 - 4, 2009 – Most voyages to exotic destinations require at least one long air flight to get there, and this trip was no exception. Luckily we were able to secure a non-stop flight from the Washington area to Dubai. The flight was a little more than 12 hours, and when you can get your head adjusted and prepared for this in advance it was quite doable. We passed the time alternating between sleeping as much as possible, staying well hydrated, eating in moderation, enjoying the in-flight entertainment options as well as reading up on the upcoming destinations.

We arrived in Dubai in the early evening and were cleared through the customs and immigration process without any delays. Since we landed on ‘Arab Emirates National Day’, we were also greeted by some of the local people with free samples of some of their local products, and their flags and other decorations were festooned everywhere. National Day celebrates the anniversary of seven smaller Persian Gulf countries joining together to form the ‘United Arab Emirates’. However, the real ‘jolt’ of seeing Dubai in person for the first time is as you drive from the airport to your hotel. It is approximately a 20 to 30 minute drive to most of the popular hotel areas. During this ride you will see an amazing array of skyscrapers and freeways, with some of the most interesting and modern architecture and bright lighting that you have ever seen. Some of the areas are so futuristic that you almost expect the ‘Jetsons’ to come flying around the corner. Another way to describe the amazing scene is ‘Las Vegas on steroids, but without the gambling, but with some excellent beaches’. There is not just one city center, but multiple city centers. Each city center tries to outdo the other ones, and most areas are anchored by numerous 5-star (or better) hotels and the largest and most ornate shopping malls in the world. Another fact which makes Dubai so fascinating is that all of this hyper-development has occurred mostly in the last 20 years or less. It is a very dry desert country, that even up until the 1960s and 70s was mostly a small fishing village and minor trading port. Temperatures in the summer can reach 100 degrees or more Fahrenheit, so visiting in the Spring, Fall and Winter months is preferable. During our stay the temperatures in the high 70’s, and getting a little bit cooler at night were perfect.

All of the major hotel chains are represented here as well as many you’ve probably never heard of. To slow our pace down from our normal hectic lifestyle to vacation mode, we chose to spend our first two nights in Dubai at one of their ‘over the top’ beach resorts. We chose one of the Jumeriah properties designed to replicate an idealized Arabian Village, complete with multiple restaurants, canals with Abra boats, and even its own Souk and the largest swimming pool in the Middle East. The intricate décor of the hotel and attention to detail made you think you were staying in an elaborate movie set. Another advantage of staying at this hotel was that it was located next to the famous ‘Burj Al Arab’ hotel, the 7-star hotel that resembles a large glass sailboat, anchored on its own private island. Having great views of this world famous landmark right from our balcony and while eating breakfast, etc. was a definite highlight.

While our hotel village was so all-inclusive that we could have been well fed and entertained for at least a week without leaving, we did decide to take a desert safari one evening. We were picked up at our hotel in the late afternoon by a driver in a 4-wheel drive vehicle such as a Toyota Landcruiser. We then drove about a half hour out of Dubai city into the desert area where our driver rendezvoused with similar vehicles. Each driver then let some of the air out of all of the tires for the tires to be able to become more flat for the next section of our tour which was driving over the dunes. We then enjoyed about 20 minutes of ‘dune bashing’ – where the driver’s drive the vehicles up and down the dunes at fairly high rates of speed in order to thrill the occupants and garner both screams and laughter. It is an exhiliarating ride, but with the experienced drivers, reinforced roof vehicles, wearing seat belts and holding onto the grab bars, it is a safe one too.  This desert drive then leads to a ‘desert camp’ where an evening of unusual events was about to unfold. First, a herd of camels was available for photographing and camel rides. Another diversion was that complimentary henna tattoos were offered. Located in another corner of the encampment was a comfortable seating area with shisha water pipes for a bit of relaxation. The dining event featured local-styled low tables covered with bright patterned fabrics and with cushions on the ground for seating and oriental carpets underfoot. (Other than these dining areas, walking was on sand which was rather difficult at times.) These were set up in a circular format around a low stage area. Dinner was served buffet style and featured barbecued chicken, beef and lamb, hearth baked flat breads, and a wide variety of vegetables and salads. And at the end of dinner a belly dancer was the featured entertainer. She kept the crowd’s interest with her dance movements and audience participation. All in all it was a fun evening, and topped off by another view of the amazing cityscapes of Dubai at night.

After this brief introduction to Dubai, we prepared to board the Silversea ‘Silver Wind’, our home for the next 17 days. We were eagerly anticipating this exotic cruise, and yet also looked forward to returning to Dubai for a couple more days at the end of our journey.  The Port of Dubai, currently under renovation and reconstruction, does not have much to offer at the moment in the way of amenities or aesthetics, but it does appear to be gaining popularity with many of the world’s major cruise lines. The air access into Dubai is fairly good, and it offers an excellent gateway into the many sights to see in the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa regions. As cruising gains in popularity, repeat passengers become more eager and interested in visiting new and exciting destinations, and Dubai is a perfect place to start.