The company has scheduled its first season in the Middle East starting in December 2018 with the ship Horizon.
Article from CruisesNews magazine
The “Dubai and Legends of Arabia” route begins with an overnight stay in Dubai, followed by stops in Khasab, Muscat, Al Fujairah, and Abu Dhabi. Five destinations in two different countries, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, visiting some of the most iconic locations in the Middle East.
The proposed activities range from hopping on a jeep for an adventure in Khasab, greeting the clouds atop a Dubai skyscraper, enjoying tea in a Muscat palace, or diving in the crystal-clear waters of Fujairah.
This itinerary undoubtedly takes us to a place where endless deserts, impressive mosques, and ancient traditions coexist in perfect harmony with cosmopolitan luxury and modernity.
The Burj Khalifa, at 828 m tall, is the tallest structure in the world.
True to its commitment to the Spanish market, Pullmantur Cruises allows you to enjoy an exotic destination with a Spanish-speaking crew, awarded nine times with the Excellence award for best crew, and of course, with its all-inclusive package, so you don't have to worry about the cost of drinks.
Horizon
is a mid-sized ship with all the amenities for a comfortable and enjoyable trip. The central pool area features, in addition to the usual sun loungers, plush rattan sofas and large lanterns that lend it an elegant, island feel.
Several dozen cardiovascular exercise machines allow us to burn excess calories in a small gym, or recover from more intense excursions with a massage in the adjacent Spa del Mar. As for the cuisine, the collaboration with Michelin-starred Spanish chef Paco Roncero has resulted in a varied and evocative menu featuring reinterpreted Spanish classics and more daring creations. The Atlántico Restaurant is a renovated space with a refined and welcoming atmosphere, ideal for refueling, as nights on Pullmantur cruises can be long, starting with the casino, the show in the theater, and continuing until the early hours of the morning at the Luz de Luna nightclub.
The Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi will leave us speechless with its 82 vaults and 4 minarets 107 m high.
The most demanding passengers will find in The Waves service the details to make their cruise an even more intense experience: superior category suites with personalized attention, priority access, private club, solarium, free WiFi and premium drinks among other privileges.
The route:
The first weekly departure will take place on Saturday, December 8, and the last will be on March 2, 2019. The cruise is sold with flights and transfers included or at the passenger's expense.
Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, and the cruise begins with an overnight stay in port, allowing ample time to explore it. Over the past 30 years, Dubai's skyline has been transformed with more than 200 internationally designed towers, the most striking of which is the Burj Khalifa. At 828 meters tall, it is the tallest structure ever recorded. Those familiar with the Eiffel Tower can appreciate its size, as the Burj Khalifa stands at only 324 meters, considerably less than half its height. Here, you can also visit the famous Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island shaped like a palm tree, brimming with luxury hotels and residences, the monumental Dubai Fountain, the largest in the world, or even the Wild Wadi Waterpark.
Khasab is a particularly special stop, as most of us are unfamiliar with this region. The first thing that surprises you are the "fjords of Arabia", impressive landscapes where the sea enters the land that we can navigate in a dhow, the typical boat, and where with some luck, we can see dolphins jumping very close.
We can choose to snorkel and explore the seabed ourselves, or take a jeep to the top of Jebel Harim to admire the breathtaking views.
Muscat is the oldest city on the Persian Gulf and the most populous in Oman, boasting countless cultural and architectural treasures, such as the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Al Alam Palace, the residence of the current Sultan of Oman. We can take a scenic excursion by dhow or 4x4, or something more relaxing like enjoying afternoon tea at Al Bustan Palace, one of Oman's most luxurious hotels.
The area also offers more worldly entertainment, such as the Ferrari World theme park, Wild Wadi water parks and Yas Waterworld.
Fujairah is the main port of the United Arab Emirates, and a visit to the Royal Fort, an impressive 16th-century structure belonging to the Sheikh Hamas al-Sharki family, is a must. But Fujairah offers many opportunities for active excursions, from 4x4 tours to snorkeling, diving, and kayaking, or something more immersive like visiting a local family and experiencing their lifestyle, hospitality, and customs.
We will be able to sail the “Fjords of Arabia” in a dhow, the typical boats of the region, and see dolphins or go snorkeling.
Before returning to Dubai, we'll have a day at sea, and our final stop will be Abu Dhabi, another impressive modern metropolis where towering skyscrapers stand side-by-side with traditional buildings. It's a curious T-shaped island, where the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque will leave us speechless. Completed in 2007, it's the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and is open to visitors of all faiths.
It has 82 vaults and four minarets, each 107 meters tall. If we prefer more worldly entertainment, we can visit Ferrari World, where thrills await, or Yas Waterworld.
Positioning Cruises
On November 11, the positioning cruise will depart from Piraeus (Athens), lasting 17 days and stopping in Alexandria (Egypt), Port Said (Egypt), sailing through the Suez Canal, Aqaba (Jordan), Salalah (Oman), Muscat (Oman), Al Fujairah (USA) and Dubai (USA).
The return Mediterranean cruise will depart from Dubai on March 9th, last 16 days, and include stops in Khasab, Muscat, and Salalah (Oman), Aqaba (Jordan), a passage through the Suez Canal, and a final stop in Piraeus (Athens).
The ship chosen for the route is the Horizon, a mid-sized vessel with all the amenities for a comfortable and enjoyable trip.
The excellent weather in the United Arab Emirates, even in the heart of winter, and the exotic nature of the destination are powerful attractions for this Pullmantur route. The repositioning cruise departs from Athens on November 11th, and weekly cruises begin in Dubai on December 8th, continuing until March 9th, when the return Mediterranean cruise departs, ending in Athens.
