Seven days of heaven all started with . . .
The airline
There's no better way to begin a holiday than flying Upper class. If you think the price is out of your reach then call the airline, you may be surprised - and if you are celebrating a special occasion it may well be worth your while.
Virgin Atlantic has a dedicated upper class clubhouse at Heathrow. It has its own spa where you can have a dip, or you can have that pre-flight haircut. Some people sit at the grand bar while others will have a meal at a restaurant. It is a fantastic experience and the best way ever to start a holiday. Waiters hover to serve you with drink and, in contrast, you can even enjoy a massage.
The beauty of upper class is it allows you speedy access through security, you get on the plane first and expect luggage off the craft at the other end pronto. Upper class also allows you to make a quick exit through passport control at the return end of your journey.
On the plane there is a choice of menu and drinks, your base converts to a bed, just slip on your complimentary pyjamas and snooze away until woken for a light breakfast close to landing. Quite honestly if there is a better way to travel I haven't heard of it.
The ship
The Royal Caribbean owned Brilliance of the Seas proved a fantastic experience. Its accommodation is top class, entertainment superb. Song and dance in the theatre could be a modern day musical or three tenors. The daily news sheet has a long list of events for people to pursue from casino lessons to dancing, settle down to watch one of the latest movies in the cinema, play football or pamper yourself in the spa. The possibilities are endless. On sea days the sunbeds filled quickly but there were many nooks and crannies to find a spot to chill. The warm Arabian air allowed for midnight parties on deck, or if you wanted something more special you could try an intimate meal at the specialist restaurant, Chops Grille.
We enjoyed a classic meal of Fillet Mignon with pepper sauce, garlic potatoes and vegetables either side of portobello mushrooms and
passionfruit mousse. It was meal to remember, the quality was outstanding. Meals on board are included in the package but Chops and Portofina, fine Italian dining, attract a service charge but are well worth it. Brilliance of the Seas is owned by Royal Caribbean and while it is an American ship. US citizens mainly do not see the middle east as a holiday destination, leaving the Brits to it.
The destinations:
Fujairah is often the first stop on the seven day middle eastern cruise for many ships.
Some companies had crisis-ridden Bahrain on their itinerary but chose to ditch it because there was poor feedback.
And you may wonder why some have stuck with this destination.
It is the only Emirate not located on the Arabian Gulf, it faces the Indian Ocean bordered by the Hajar Mountains.
And mountains are what there are, loads of them to look at and not much else. When you leave the ship, people head down town to Lu Lu's supermarket and usually find themselves back on the ship within two hours. It's much ado about nothing.
We decided to take a cab from the port to the Sandy Beach resort at Al Aqah. You will find that taxis will reluctantly take you there but will point out you may not be able to get back. The answer? You pay the driver waiting time of around £10 an hour and he will snooze in the car park or chat with his mates while you soak up the rays in this excellent resort. Admission is £12 per person including sunbed, parasol and facilities, but haggle. We did and got a bogof.
Incidentally, we passed through another Emirate on our 50 mile return journey, an enclave of Sharjah, and then part of the Sultanate of Oman. Oh don't forget to tell the driver to stop at the oldest mosque in the UAE, at Khorfakkan on the way back.
Muscat, Oman
A lot of cruise companies give you two days in Oman, and Royal Caribbean was no different. On day one we opted to take the ship's tour, which can be more expensive than doing things individually, but sometimes having things organised for you is the best way to see more.
First off we headed for Sultan Qaboos' Grand Mosque, where the main prayer hall accommodates 20,000 worshippers with the focal point the eye catching grand chandelier, with Swarovski crystals, weighing eight tonnes.
Back on the bus we headed for the Muttrah souk in the old town. Here be prepared to barter for an array goods, sadly, many of them the same. Dig your heels in. You will always get a deal, but think carefully before starting the bidding, the shopkeepers in one of Arabia's most authentic souks are wise old owls.
Take a break from the wheeling and dealing and walk along the corniche, and if you time it right, you will hear the deafening call to prayer echo across the city.
Ten minutes further on is one of the Sultan's many palaces, with towering columns in blue and gold. It is a spectacular sight and you can get quite close to the entrance. There are several museums to see which chronicle the history of Oman and we popped in at Bait Al Zubair, set in a traditional house. The next day we stopped to take stock and rest, even a cruise can be too frantic. We headed out to the beach, and one of the secluded bays south of the palace, surrounded by volcanic mountains. . . .and the sun shone. You can take excursions into the desert, the Wahiba Sands to a Nomadic desert camp, but make sure you are in solid health as it can be enduring.
Abu Dhabi
Returning on the ship towards Dubai via the straits of Hormuz, sandwiched between Iran and Oman and back to the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, was our next stop.
Here we were collected by the Big Bus which took us on an extensive hop-on hop-off tour of the city. We took in the beautiful corniche lined with mangroves and palm trees, the famous £1.5bn Emirates Palace Hotel where, a day later, Wasps played Harlequins in a unique rugby union occasion. Abu Dhabi enjoys its fair share of major sports events.
But the daddy of all sights is the Grand Mosque, which can house 40,000 people at prayer time, kneeling on the world's largest hand made carpet. Here women have to dress as muslims wearing the abaya or will not be allowed anywhere near the entrance. It is an extraordinary feat of engineering with 57 white marble domes and is an awesome sight. Check visiting times as guests are ushered away before prayers.
Finally, we stopped off at the Marina Mall, and included in the bus ticket is a trip up the Sky tower, which gave us views over the marina and corniche. Lunch is reasonably priced here and the portions more than ample. The bus tour took two hours and covered various souks on its two hour journey. It's good to decide where you might want to get off in advance or it is an awful long way round if you miss a stop as it operates only one way. You can also take a service to Yas Island for the F1 motor sports track and visitor centre.
The weather
In January, warm sunshine throughout with temperatures around 25c, pleasant evenings but some may feel the need for a light coat. It rained once, while at sea, a rarity. This is the most pleasant time of year to visit the Emirates and Oman where in summer temperatures reach 40c
This holiday was booked, and paid for, through www.virgin-holidays.com If you have a question about the destinations . . . email editor@lsnmedia.co.uk and we will answer it if we can.
