This winter I will board the cruise ship MSC Musica. I am going to sail for a few days through the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat: here I come!
The journey begins in the capital of the United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi. This city is about a 7 hour flight from Amsterdam. I fly with an Etihad Airways, one of the best known and most luxurious airlines in the world. Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi and flies all over the world from there. The service on board and on the ground is slightly more luxurious than with other airlines. Yet you pay for your ticket about the same as with KLM, for example. And you really don’t have to fly business class for that, you will also be spoiled in economy class.
After a nice flight I arrive at Abu Dhabi International Airport. From the air I have already seen the enormous city. Abu Dhabi is one of the largest cities in the region. More than a million people live there, but most of the inhabitants are expats. Abu Dhabi is located on the Persian Gulf: the place where my cruise starts.
MSC Musica
I take a taxi to the port, where my ship, the MSC Musica, is already moored. The gleaming white ship is much bigger than I expected. It is almost 300 meters long and 60 meters high. Being on board is more than a thousand crew. And that is badly needed, I soon hear, because the entire ship is fully booked. It carries more than 2500 passengers. Still, everything goes smoothly and soon I can check in. My room is on the 12the floor. It is a spacious balcony cabin and therefore with a sea view. That gives a wonderful feeling of freedom. I don’t have much time to enjoy my room, because in a few hours we will leave. And before that I want to explore the city.
From the harbor I take a taxi to the center of the city. On the way I see that Abu Dhabi is exactly what I had envisioned: I see endless skyscrapers, expensive hotels, shiny sports cars on the highway. Everything shines and shines here. It is clear that Abu Dhabi is doing its utmost to keep up with its biggest competitor Dubai. I walk along Corniche Road for a while in the warm sun. In winter it is about 25 degrees in this region. From this well-known boulevard I can see the beaches and the clear sea. I pass luxury hotels and eventually also the Sheikh Zayed Mosque: an absolute must-see when you are in Abu Dhabi.
Day at sea
The ship sets sail that same evening. The next day we are at sea all day. We are on our way to Khor al Fakkan, an unknown coastal city. To get there we have to sail for more than 24 hours. Enough time to explore the ship. To be fair, this MSC ship is a bit kitsch. The Musica seems to be mainly aimed at older people. Everything gleams and shines, the elevator doors are gold and mirrors hang everywhere. During my walk on the ship I pass a screaming theater with a glitter staircase and a casino. It’s not really the taste of the average Dutchman.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get out of all the twinkling. There is something fun for everyone to do on the ship. Children can play football or crazy golf on the upper deck. Those who feel like a drink can choose from 16 different bars. And all those cafes have a different theme. Would you rather be active? Then you can go to the gym at the back of the ship with beautiful sea views. In this place you completely forget that you are working out.
I want to relax and go to the pool. Not for a moment do I feel like I’m traveling. Lying on my lounger in the sun it feels like a holiday. I end my day with a wonderful Balinese massage in the Spa. Because tonight I’m having dinner with the captain and of course I have to be well prepared for that!
Dinner
That evening I eat in one of Musica’s two main restaurants: Le Maxim’s. A tasteful room with a warm atmosphere. The entire ship has an Italian style, which is also reflected in this interior and on the dinner menu, which features delicious pastas and risottos. The table gentleman, the captain, is also Italian.
The captain tells us that the ship was built ten years ago. The Musica was christened on June 29, 2006. That happened with a big show in Venice. Since then it has sailed all over the world, with Panama City as its home port. Especially families, many Italians and South Americans, book a trip on the ship. And of course there are also large groups of elderly people who try to see something of the world in this way.
When dinner is over, the party starts in the theater. The music and entertainment team are mainly aimed at the slightly older travelers. Fortunately, there is also a disco at the top of the ship where there is a nice party for the younger cruise guests.
Khor al Fakkan
That night we sailed into the Gulf of Oman and the next morning we arrive in Khor al Fakkan. Because there is not much to see in this city, I booked a trip to the desert. With a four-wheel drive I drive into the large sandy plain together with a guide. The area is still flat for the first half hour. We drive past groups of camels and small villages. But then the great sand mountains loom before us. The scenery is wonderful. There is no one to be seen and therefore the sand is still untouched. Only the wind has left waves. We tear through the huge gold-colored hills and that gets pretty hard at times.
Do you want to explore Khor Fakkan in a different way? That is of course also possible. You can dive and snorkel in the Gulf of Oman. Or you go out into nature in search of archaeological remains of former settlements.
Next stops: Muscat and Dubai
My next stop is the capital of Oman; Muscat. One of the largest but also quietest cities in the Emirates. You can visit beautiful mosques here. Here you will also find the imposing opera house and the Bait Al Falaj Fort. Fortunately, you get enough time to see the city before you sail on to the next spot.
After Oman, the ship sails back to Dubai, the city that everyone has heard of. Of course we also moor there. You can book city excursions through MSC, but of course you can also make your own plan. In Dubai you will find the tallest buildings in the world, the most beautiful beaches and a beautiful desert.
Cruising: he best of both worlds
At the end of the day it is wonderful to go back to the comfortable ship and relax on my balcony with a sea view. Although I never thought I would enjoy cruising, I had a great time. Cruising is actually the best of both worlds: you rest while the ship takes you to the next destination. Because you sail at night, you have time during the day to get to know a new city. That way you can have a holiday and still see something of the world.
