“D” is for the Do’s and Don’t of Visiting Dubai-Our Middle East Adventure

Our cruise came to an end in the city of Dubai.  As we left the ship, we were happy to have completed two of the five legs along the 2023 Island Princess World Cruise. After 55 days on board, this was actually the halfway point of the 110 day cruise and nearly double the length of time we had originally planned on being on board.

It was before 7am as our ship pulled into the port.  The day began with a spectacular orange sunrise.  Normally a red sky in the morning would be a warning for rain or stormy weather ahead, but Dubai sits in the middle of the Arabian Desert. With an annual rainfall of just 4 inches a year, there was little chance of seeing any moisture on this day.  The sunrise was more likely being affected from the permanent haze caused by the blowing sands.

As we sailed past the “Atlantis Dubai”, an all inclusive resort and waterpark reflecting the “Lost City of Atlantis”, it quickly became apparent that we had arrived in a country of opulence.  It is difficult to imagine that this city started as little more than a fishing village.  It has now grown to be the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates Republic (UAE).

Most would assume that Dubai’s wealth was the result of oil.  In fact oil and gas only account for about 2% of all exports!  Real estate and construction are the largest contributors to the economic growth of the country. When 85% of the population is made from expats, it is easy to see why this is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

Truth be told, I was a little nervous about visiting this city.  This is a country with deep traditions and customs, many of which are quite different from our Western way of life.  Mostly my concerns stemmed from my own ignorance about what to expect.  A little research solved that problem.  Perhaps by sharing our observations, we can help to dispel any concerns about visiting this amazing location.

1. The majority of the population is Muslim.  This is a deeply rooted religion with different rules than those of Christianity.  The most important “do” is to respect this.  Part of being a world traveler is to immerse yourself in new cultures.  Each new location presents an opportunity to learn, embrace it.

2. Muslims pause to pray 5 times a day. Prayers are before dawn (Fajr), afternoon (Dhuhr), late afternoon (Asr), after sunset (Maghrib) and evening (Isha).  There are loud speakers throughout the city which call worshippers to prayer at regular intervals throughout the day. Don’t be alarmed when you hear the calls. Unlike in Christianity Holy day is Friday.  This means many businesses offer limited hours on Fridays, if they open at all.  Do plan accordingly.

3. Do take public transportation or use a taxi.  We rented a car to explore the city and stressed ourselves out completely.  Traffic on the seven lane highways is fast and a bit difficult.  Our GPS had trouble distinguishing from when we were on a highway verses a frontage road, meaning we were often off course, which cost us precious time.  Since we were only in the city for a little over 24 hours, we couldn’t spare any.  The city is beautiful and there is much to see.  Traffic is so busy you will not want to take your eyes off the road which means you will miss some of these spectacular sights.  Take a taxi or take the Metro.  If you choose to ride the train, it will be busy during rush hour.  There are a few cars for women only.  if you are male, don’t ride in these female only cars or you will be fined.  Speaking of fines, do not eat or drink on the Metro, it is prohibited.

4. Dubai is spread out with several distinct districts.  Some are more difficult to access without transportation.  Do know the district your hotel and/or desired activities are in.

5.  With the exception of smoking cessation gum, you will not find gum for sale in Dubai so do bring your own if you need it. Don’t spit or throw your gum on the sidewalk, both are punishable crimes.

6. You are going to be hot, so do dress accordingly.  Dubai is warm year around.  The most comfortable time to visit is during “winter” months of December, January and February.  You can still expect temperatures to be in the high 70’s (25C).  At the opposite end of this spectrum it is up to 113F (45C) during the summer months!   Light, loose clothing will keep you comfortable. Speaking about clothing, do remember you are a guest in these lands.  Different from the western world it is expected that men and women both dress modestly to observe Islamic traditions,  Knees and shoulders should be covered by both sexes.  Don’t forget your sunscreen!

7. Do exchange some money.  When using cash, only local currency (Emirati durham) will be accepted.

8. The best don’t is don’t worry about your safety (within reason of course).  Dubai has an incredibly low crime rate.

9. Do not miss visiting the popular tourist spots!  Be sure to see the Burj Khalifa,  The tallest building in the world is an architectural wonder.  The views from the 124th floor are slightly nauseating and completely awe inspiring. Do expect the lines to be long.  If time is limited most of the tourist hot spots offer a “skip the line pass”.  As an added bonus, the Burj is attached to the Dubai Mall which is another one of the must see locations in Dubai.  We also suggest a visit to the Gold and Spice Souks, Old Dubai and the Miracle Gardens (which we completed all in one day).

10. Alan and I are very affectionate with each other,  There is rarely a time when we aren’t holding hands.  Public displays of affection are frowned upon in Dubai.  In fact, if you are not married, even holding hands is frowned upon. It was a tough don’t for Alan and I to remember.   Along these same lines, unmarried couples should not plan on staying in the same hotel room.  Doing so, could lead to fines and/or deportation.

11. As a traveler it is fun to photograph different cultures.  People can be so different but do be polite and ask permission before taking someones photo.  Alternately you could take photos of other things and just happen yo capture the environment.

12. Don’t take pictures of Government Buildings.  As we were cruising down the above waterway, there was a cool bridge just before our boat turned around to return us to our starting point.  Shortly after taking this picture there were also numerous signs warning no photography beyond a certain point. I am not sure what lay beyond that bridge but if the Emirates might consider your photo an issue of national security, you really don’t want to be in trouble with the law in foreign lands. Do follow the rules, punishments may be strict for seemingly minor (and perhaps innocent) infractions.

13.  Speaking about laws, Alcohol is available in most hotels, licensed restaurants and clubs. One thing is certain, the U.A,E does not tolerate public inebriation. Do not ever drink and drive, the legal limit is zero.

14.  Finally, do not try to carry prohibited items.  It is especially important to remember that you packed a pen knife in your carry on luggage before you pass through security at the airport.   Failing to do so might bring a search of your bags and a very serious security agent to your side!  Thankfully I wasn’t carted off to any back rooms.  Do expect that you will be questioned and asked to surrender your “weapons”, if you forget.

Dubai is one of the most liberal countries in the Middle East.  With the large expat community there is a tolerance for most differences.  With these few simple guidelines you should have enough familiarity to feel comfortable in this amazing country.

“I” is For Island Princess-A Cruise Ship Review

One of the most important things about cruising is choosing the right ship for your personal needs.  From amenities to cabins, itineraries and passenger capacity, knowing what your ship offers can have a big impact on how you enjoy your vacation.

Every cruise line has a brand.  Some are party boats, others offer upscale luxury.  Some ships specialize in their food, others focus on entertainment. Some cruises cater to families, others to retirees. Princess is an American-British company, owned by Carnival Corporation, which is the second largest agency by net revenue.  Carnival owns 10 different sub agencies, Princess is one of them.  They are an experienced cruise line and cater to a middle to upper income crowd.

Princess is a classic line, offering an Old English/European feel.  I have consistently found the brand to be slightly elevated and catering to an older clientele. There is less emphasis on poolside parties and more on educational lectures and cultural experiences.   With this cruise line we can expect nice staterooms, decent food, great entertainment and amazing itineraries.

It is important to define what you are seeking before shopping for a cruise.  If you are looking for a party boat, Princess is likely not your brand (however Carnival does offer several other companies which would meet your needs).  While there are enough poolside activities and bars to keep the ship interesting, the focus tends to be on providing an upscale resort-like experience.

Princess offers 16 ships ranging from 2,000 passengers up to 3660, so there are a nice variety of size options. Island Princess was one of the first.  She is a relatively small vessel.  In general, smaller ships are able to navigate to more destinations but larger ships may offer additional amenities and activities.

When we chose to embark on the Island Princess, it was the itinerary, size and price which attracted us the most.

Princess ships sail to over 700 ports. The Island Princess is one of the smaller ships in the Princess fleet. With a capacity of 2200 passengers it is a very intimate ship.   She has a twin sister called the Coral Princess.

Island Princess is narrower than many other cruise ships and her small size allows her to explore the fjords of Norway and Alaska (which is how we discovered the cruise line).  She is also able to dock at smaller ports.  Of late Island Princess has been doing mostly world tours.  Of interest might be that she is one of the few cruise ships which can sail through the old Panama Canal locks, larger ships must use the new ones.

Perhaps one drawback to the smaller ship would be that passengers should expect to feel more wave action, so if you are prone to seasickness, the Island Princess may be less appealing than one of the newer (larger) ships in the fleet.

Having been built in 2003, Island Princess is one of the oldest ships in the Princess line.  She was completely remodeled in 2017 and put back into service with a brand new itinerary. Our Pacific Island Adventure is one leg of a 111 day around the world cruise.  This feature in itself is unique, since Princess allows passengers to purchase various segments along the itinerary, if they are unable to commit to the entire trip.

World cruises can mean a lot of days at sea.  From bow to stern, Princess put a lot of effort into creating a luxurious environment.  The European flare is represented in the Italian styled Piazza located at the center of the ship and the beautiful Sabatinni restaurant.   Polished brass and rich wood work brings an Old World style to many of the bars and lounges including the Wheelhouse Bar and a New Orleans styled Bayou Steakhouse.

The entire ship is always a hub of activity, but with a nice variety of spaces, it is able to be as active or as serene as you need. By day there are a variety of shops and plenty of lounges and gathering places for activities such as trivia challenges and guest lecturers.  There are numerous options of where to eat including the above mentioned restaurants, two main dining rooms, a grill, a pizzeria and a buffet.  We might pass the time with a wine tasting, pub lunches and/or afternoon tea.  When we need a quieter pace we could choose to visit the adults only sanctuary at the top of the ship, a well appointed library or indulge in pampering in a small spa. We might lounge by one of several (freshwater) pools situated both indoor and out, or we might decide to walk around the promenade deck or exercise in the fitness center.

By night Princess continues to entertain with a variety of Broadway style shows, magicians, comedians, piano bars, jazz bands, a casino and more.  Unique to the Princess brand is the Champagne Waterfall, offered on one of the formal evenings.  This is yet another nod to the elevated luxury we find aboard this ship.  We also find people dress up more on these evenings than they do on other cruise lines.   When we seek quieter activities, we might choose to snuggle under provided blankets, while eating popcorn or cookies and milk and taking in a Movie Under the Stars.   This is one of our favorite ways to unwind when we are on the seas.

After all of this activity we are often ready to retreat to our stateroom.  The entire Princess line offers some of the most comfortable mattresses and linens of any cruise line.

We always book a balcony cabin.  For us, this little piece of heaven offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of the ship.  Being able to step out into fresh air and watch icebergs, sunrises/sunsets, whales and scenery from the privacy of our balcony offers the unique luxury that we equate with cruising.   We often order room service and enjoy a private picnic from this space.

Other people may not be that bothered about their stateroom, especially if they are only using it to sleep.  Interior cabins can offer deep discounts and Ocean view cabins may offer a similar views without the fresh air.  We have been spoiled by our balconies and this is now one feature our ships must always have.

One of my few complaints about the Island Princess is that she has some of the smallest showers ever, but you will always find good water pressure and hot water on demand, so it is (almost) something which can be overlooked.

This is our fourth cruise with this company (and its former company, P &O).  My favorite things about cruising with Princess are the consistency across the ships, the all inclusive options and the amazing itineraries. Being a little older, I also appreciate that the ships cater to (mostly) adults.

The Island Princess may be old, by ship standards, but she is well equipped to navigate the world and provide an outstanding and immersive adventure.   In the coming days we will continue to explore in depth, some of what this stately Princess has to offer.

ABC Adventures-At Sea-An Overview of Ways to Spend Your Time During Sea Days

The Island Princess set sail from Los Angeles, California for a 111 day, around the world tour on Thursday January 19, 2023.  Alan and I would be completing over 50 days of the journey as we traveled from Los Angeles to Dubai..   More than half of our days days would be at sea so we decided to create an ABC list of ways to spend our time.

There is never a reason to be bored while at sea! Below you can find our list of things to do and places to explore.  Some are specific to the Island Princess but many are adaptable to any cruise ship. Highlighted items link to additional stories and further adventures of our time while on board.

A-Art/Art tour/Atrium (see also Centrum)/Auction/Afternoon Tea/A la cart/Around the Ship/Aperitif/al fresco dining/Arts & Crafts/Accupuncture/Amuleto/Alfredo’s Pizzaria

B-Balcony/Bars/Bayou Café and Steakhouse/Buffet/Basketball/Beauty salon/Bordeaux Dining Room (Open for lunch on sea days and has open seating for dinner)/Breakfast in bed or on the balcony/Bridge tour/Backstage tour/Bingo/Board games/Boutiques/Blackjack/Ballroom Dance/Broadway show/Balloon drop/ Burgers/Bible study/Boat building challenge/Bridge Tournament/Basketball/Board Games/Bean Bag Toss

C-Classes/Cocktails/Comedian/Coffee/Cappachino/Crew/CruiseDirector/ Chocolate/Casino/Captain/Chapel/Crooners Lounge/Champagne/Cocktails/Cooking Demonstration/Cards/Celebrate School/choir/Champagne waterfall/Calypso Cove (shop)/Classical music/Churchill Lounge (cigar/smoking lounge)/Card games/Cabin/Cabin Steward/Centrum (see also Atrium)/Can You Survive (see also games)/Cross the Line Celebration/Center Court/Carpet Bowl Challenge/Chinese Herbal Remedies/Card Making Class/Concerts/card games

D-Drink/Dance/Dance classes/Dining/Delight/ Duty Free shopping/Drink of the day/Dance parties/dock/Dress For Dinner/Discovery at Sea/Destination lectures

E-Eat/Entertainment/Espresso/Exercise/Explorers Lounge/Equator/e-course/Essence (shop)/Effy (shop)/Evening parties/Explore/Egg drop challenge/Excursion Desk

F-Food carving/Facts/Fitness Center/Flowers/flash mobs/friends/Formal Night/Facet’s (shop)/Facials

G-Games (Can You Survive/High Seas Heist) /Game Shows/Grill/Golf course/galley tour/Games Under the Stars/Guest Services/Good Spirits at Sea

H-Horizon Court/Hot tub/history/Hypnotist/High Seas Heist (see also games)/Hula lessons & dancing/Hawaiian enrichment classes

I-Ice cream/Ice sculptures/International Dateline/Internet café/Iced coffee/Italian Trattotoria/Island Princess

J-Jazz/Jog/Joy/Jeopardy show/Jewelry/Journal/Jewelry Making Class

K-Kissing/karaoke

L-Lectures/Library/Lifeboats/La Patisserie/Learn something new/Lotus Health and Fitness/Lotus Spa/Lotus Salon/Lido Bar/Lido Pool/Live Music/Latte’/Lounges/Line Dance/Language Class/Lei making class/Live Music/Lotto/Lottery/Laundry

M-Movies under the stars/Music/Magic Show/Magician/Muster/Mini golf/Martini Demonstration/Murder Mystery/Meridian Bay (shop)/Marriage Game/Massage/moon/Musician/Musical Tributes

N-Newsletter/nap/Nautical/Nighttime

O-Open Ocean, On deck

P-Pizzaria or pizza/Pool/Provence Dining Room/Patisserie/Pastries/Pictures/Princess Patter (newsletter)/poker/Photography/Photos/Photo Gallery/pub/promenade/port talks/Princess/Play/poker/Princess Theater/Princess Plaza/Piazza/Princess Casino/Ping Pong

Q-Quiet/Quiz

R-Read/Room Service/relax/rest/roulette/reception/receipt/Room service/Rough seas/rejuvenate

S-Shops/Shopping/Spa/Swim/Sunbathe/Sunsets/Sunrises/Stargaze/Stateroom/ Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria/Ship/Swimming pool/ Shows/ Sundaes/ Stargaze/shuffleboard/staircase/Ship/Ship tour/slot machines/Scavenger Hunt/Sanctuary/Scattergories/Sanctuary Pool/Splash Pool/Salon/Spin class/Smoothies/Steakhouse/Shore Excursion Desk/Swirl’s Ice Cream Bar/Good Spirits/Stateroom

T-The Sanctuary/Tennis court/The Grill/table tennis/towel art/trivia/tea/tour/table tennis/Theater/tapas/Teen Lounge/Tai Chi

U-Ultimate Balcony Dining/Universe Lounge/Ukulele lessons

V-Video Games/Vow renewal/Vocalist

W-Write/Wine/Wine tasting/Wheelhouse Bar/Wake show/Walk a mile/wake/Wine/wine tasting/Wake/Wedding Chapel/Weight Loss Seminar/Watercolor Painting/Watch the world go by

X-Xbox

Y-Yoga/Youth Center

Z-Zzz’s/Zen/Zumba

“S” is For Stateroom-Island Princess Ship Overview

Choosing a cabin can be one of the most important decisions you might make while on a cruise.  Some will argue that you only sleep in them, so location and size don’t matter.  I disagree.

In our years of cruising we have experienced everything from an interior cabin to a mini suite and we have had an opportunity to tour others.

We tend to favor balcony rooms.  There is nothing quite like watching a sunrise or sunset from your own sacred space.

While sailing through very scenic locations such as the fjords of Norway or Alaska we have found our own private haven on our balcony. There are no crowds to fight and no obstructions to our photography.

When we tire of people, we simply pull up a chair on our balcony and retreat for bit of respite from the crowds and activities.

When the Pandemic hit, many passengers were quarantined to their staterooms.  Those who had interior rooms went stir crazy.  Those with balconies were at least able to get outside for some fresh air.

In 2017, the Island Princess underwent a complete refurbishment.  Televisions, carpet, furniture, linens, drapes, beds and all the amenities were upgraded and given a fresh new look.

The soft palette of mushroom, beige and taupe encourages relaxation as do the amazing Sleepeezee beds found in the suites and Matermoll brand mattresses found in all other rooms.  (These are made exclusively for Princess) The 100% Egyptian cotton bed linens and European inspired duvet are a divine luxury to slip into at the end of a long day.

While somewhat smaller than other cruise lines, Princess cruises offer beautiful staterooms.  All cabins are equipped with satellite tv’s, a hair drier, a desk/vanity area and a refrigerator,

On the Island Princess there were 11 suites, 53 balcony rooms, 43 oceanview rooms and 10 inside cabins added during the renovations.  This made the original cabins just slightly smaller,  bringing the total to 1,107 cabins. Twenty of these are wheelchair accessible.

Interior rooms are favored by those who spend little time in their room.  They are the least expensive on most cruises.  Inside rooms on the Island Princess  are 156-165 square feet.

Ocean view cabins range in size from 162-200 square feet.  These are available on deck 5 through 9.  If you are considering an Ocean view room, there is a bank of  cabins on the Fiesta Deck that are worth seeking out. Cabins F502 through F526 have the largest windows of any of the ocean view rooms. Equally important, the bathrooms are a newer design that includes a larger shower than the ship’s balcony cabins have. The TV is affixed to the wall in front of the bed, instead of in the corner as in the balcony cabins. And there are newer hair dryers, which is one item that wasn’t upgraded in many of the rooms, during the renovation .

Balcony rooms range from 210 square feet to 235 square feet. They also have 35-72 square feet of additional outdoor space, which is some of the largest in the industry.   Each balcony comes equipped with 2 chairs and a table.  Balcony cabins are available on decks 7-12 and 14.

In our balcony room, the large tv’s are a nice upgrade from the tiny versions usually offered on many other cruise lines.

There are also mini suites and suites available which range from 280-over 500 square feet respectively.  These both come with upgraded amenities and luxuries not found in the other cabins.  After getting a great deal on the second leg of our trip, we would upgrade to a mini suite on the second leg of our journey.

One thing that all rooms offer is a massive amount of closet and storage space.  The closet in our balcony room was over 5 feet!   The walk in area is across from the bathroom and a wall divides it from the bedroom.  In this area there is also a closet which holds the life vests and room safe.  Additional shelves located below offer ample space for folded clothing. We found these areas ample enough to store all of our items, even on a 55 day cruise.

There are additional storage cubbies and drawers in the nightstands and in the desk area.  The beds are slightly elevated which allows empty suitcases to be stored underneath, making the room easy to organize.  Passengers are often surprised to learn that the walls and ceilings are magnetic. Strong magnetic hooks and binders can offer extensive options for hanging clothelines, photos and more.

Perhaps one thing which is still lacking is enough outlets, there are still only two and they are inconveniently placed near the desk.  The hair drier occupies one of them and plugs often don’t work easily in the second outlet. This inconvenience if easily rectified by bringing along an extension cord or power strip.  Just make sure there is no surge protector on them, or they will be confiscated.  Fire is a real concern on cruise ships. Depending on the cabin you choose, there may be an additional outlet located behind the t.v. and possibly one used by housekeeping, located near the floor by the door or behind the bed.

The Island Princess has very small bathrooms.  I remember a comedian on our very first cruise, he suggested soaping the walls and spinning to use the tiny showers.  This is a pretty accurate description.  The water pressure and heat just about compensate for the size.  Mini suites have a bathtub/shower combo which is a bit more comfortable.  There are three shelves located alongside the vanity for storing supplies.  The large shelf under the sink provides ample room for toiletry bags and larger items.  There is a single shaving outlet in each bathroom.

A few things to consider when choosing your stateroom:

A forward location will feel more wave action, mid is the most stable and aft may experience more engine noise.  Study your deck map to see if you are located near elevators, laundry or teen centers.  Is the buffet or bar situated overhead?  You may hear rolling carts and music respectively.  Any of these locations can be noisy and may disrupt your tranquility.  In general the higher decks may also feel more swaying.  If you are prone to seasickness or motion problems it is best to get an ocean view or balcony room.

If you are choosing a room with a balcony or window consider which side will have the most scenery as you cruise.  For some it may be important to see the sun rise or set.

All in all, we really enjoy being in our balcony stateroom B519, starboard side, midship on the Baja Deck.

For the second half of the trip we will move to a mini suite on the port side, aft and one deck lower on the Caribe Deck.  I will add photos once we relocate.