Monday, 6 September 2010
A right royal Arabian cruise
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 at 08:17, Criselda E. Diala, Dubai
A 30-something cruise neophyte stood agape before the 610-foot splendour of the Silver Whisper in the unassuming surroundings of a Dubai cruise terminal. She was ill-prepared both for the scale of the vessel and the extent of the onboard opulence.
Yes that neophyte was me, and I spent five days and four nights with Silversea Cruises' world-beating crew wondering how they managed to cram the facilities of a small town into what I could not help describing as "a really big boat".
As soon as your feet touch the gangplank, you are instantly transformed into a VIP. There is simply no such thing as an "ordinary" guest on the Silver Whisper.
Obliging hands gently ply your luggage from you and that is the last labour you will know until your stay is at an end. Service is concierge-class from start to finish – your own butler, your own chambermaid and an assorted cast of dutifully deferential attendants tending to your every whim.
When Silversea launched its all-suite cruise venture in 1994 with Silver Cloud, industry critics dismissed luxury cruising as too niche for the endeavour to stay afloat. Sixteen years and five vessels later, Silversea continues to steam ahead making port in over 400 destinations in 80 countries across seven continents.
Each liner boasts one- and two-bedroom mini-palaces. While my "basic" suite in the Silver Whisper weighed in at a hefty 287 square feet, a particular two-bedroom offering I viewed was considerably larger than my 900-square-foot apartment in Dubai.
My temporary pamper pad also came with a walk-in wardrobe, a marbled bathroom with a full-sized bath tub, a separate shower, and a twin bed that I am reasonably sure gave me a deep-tissue massage while I slept. But the best part was the starboard-facing balcony, which afforded me a Gulf view even when in port.
My 10-deck leviathan was replete with all the trimmings a VIP could wish for: pool, Jacuzzi, high-end boutique and fully stocked gym. Daily fitness classes are on hand for those who feel they are relaxing too much, while a dedicated spa provides an extra touch of “TLsea”. For a more intimate ambience, your dedicated butler will arrange an aromatherapy bath in your suite prepared from a wide choice of oil and essences to suit your mood.
As a culinary aficionado, I cheerfully explored the many morsels on offer, spread across four five-star eateries whose menus run the gamut from Asian delicacies to Mediterranean banquets. Taking advantage of “all-inclusive” is in my DNA, so I was not above visiting more than one venue in an evening.
And if you are just too drained from all the lying about, 24-hour in-suite service will deliver the gourmet experience to you – that is, if you can summon the energy to lift the phone.
From the skyscraping glamour of Dubai, the Silver Whisper first made port in the tranquil oasis of Abu Dhabi. Just to check my legs were still working I walked the entire length of the gangplank… and got on a bus on which we were whisked away on a dune safari, followed by a tour of a falconry compound. Mid-afternoon saw us gawping at the unforgettable Grand Mosque and the majestic Emirates Palace.
Guests on this particular voyage formed an intriguing dramatis personae. Hailing from homes scattered across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, they showed a healthy interest in the UAE’s rise to regional prominence.
For the more adventurous cruisers, Fujairah offered offshore activities such as dhow trips (for those who felt they were not spending enough time on boats), swimming and snorkeling near Snoopy Island. Those yearning for something a little drier indulged in an off-road bounce to Dibba and the Hajar Mountains for a taste of the wild Arabian outback.
In Muscat, our last stop before flying back to Dubai, we joined a tour to the Sultan Qaboose Grand Mosque and the privately-owned Bait Al Zubair Museum where we were introduced to a collection of Omani artifacts including rare coins, stamps and other archeological trinkets.
Another Silversea vessel, the Silver Wind, will complete the line-up of Middle East voyages for 2010 when it docks in Dubai on November 25 to conduct another seven-day tour of the Gulf before setting off from Dubai to Mumbai (India).
For an all-inclusive fare starting at $4,238 (Dh15,596), each guest is also given a complimentary air credit worth $1,000 that can be used to purchase a roundtrip economy-class air ticket.
Ideally, cruise bookings have to be finalised at least three months prior to sailing. Silversea’s website (www.silversea.com) provides information about the rest of the voyages scheduled this year, including special offers on various destinations. The site also features the newly released 2011 Voyages Brochure that gives potential guests a preview of nearly 200 forthcoming voyages to hundreds of destinations worldwide.
Yes that neophyte was me, and I spent five days and four nights with Silversea Cruises' world-beating crew wondering how they managed to cram the facilities of a small town into what I could not help describing as "a really big boat".
As soon as your feet touch the gangplank, you are instantly transformed into a VIP. There is simply no such thing as an "ordinary" guest on the Silver Whisper.
Obliging hands gently ply your luggage from you and that is the last labour you will know until your stay is at an end. Service is concierge-class from start to finish – your own butler, your own chambermaid and an assorted cast of dutifully deferential attendants tending to your every whim.
When Silversea launched its all-suite cruise venture in 1994 with Silver Cloud, industry critics dismissed luxury cruising as too niche for the endeavour to stay afloat. Sixteen years and five vessels later, Silversea continues to steam ahead making port in over 400 destinations in 80 countries across seven continents.
Each liner boasts one- and two-bedroom mini-palaces. While my "basic" suite in the Silver Whisper weighed in at a hefty 287 square feet, a particular two-bedroom offering I viewed was considerably larger than my 900-square-foot apartment in Dubai.
My temporary pamper pad also came with a walk-in wardrobe, a marbled bathroom with a full-sized bath tub, a separate shower, and a twin bed that I am reasonably sure gave me a deep-tissue massage while I slept. But the best part was the starboard-facing balcony, which afforded me a Gulf view even when in port.
My 10-deck leviathan was replete with all the trimmings a VIP could wish for: pool, Jacuzzi, high-end boutique and fully stocked gym. Daily fitness classes are on hand for those who feel they are relaxing too much, while a dedicated spa provides an extra touch of “TLsea”. For a more intimate ambience, your dedicated butler will arrange an aromatherapy bath in your suite prepared from a wide choice of oil and essences to suit your mood.
As a culinary aficionado, I cheerfully explored the many morsels on offer, spread across four five-star eateries whose menus run the gamut from Asian delicacies to Mediterranean banquets. Taking advantage of “all-inclusive” is in my DNA, so I was not above visiting more than one venue in an evening.
And if you are just too drained from all the lying about, 24-hour in-suite service will deliver the gourmet experience to you – that is, if you can summon the energy to lift the phone.
More than just a floating resort
Silversea dares to presume that you might want a break from all this pampering. Silver Shore Land Adventures was created for just this purpose.From the skyscraping glamour of Dubai, the Silver Whisper first made port in the tranquil oasis of Abu Dhabi. Just to check my legs were still working I walked the entire length of the gangplank… and got on a bus on which we were whisked away on a dune safari, followed by a tour of a falconry compound. Mid-afternoon saw us gawping at the unforgettable Grand Mosque and the majestic Emirates Palace.
Guests on this particular voyage formed an intriguing dramatis personae. Hailing from homes scattered across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, they showed a healthy interest in the UAE’s rise to regional prominence.
For the more adventurous cruisers, Fujairah offered offshore activities such as dhow trips (for those who felt they were not spending enough time on boats), swimming and snorkeling near Snoopy Island. Those yearning for something a little drier indulged in an off-road bounce to Dibba and the Hajar Mountains for a taste of the wild Arabian outback.
In Muscat, our last stop before flying back to Dubai, we joined a tour to the Sultan Qaboose Grand Mosque and the privately-owned Bait Al Zubair Museum where we were introduced to a collection of Omani artifacts including rare coins, stamps and other archeological trinkets.
Planning your own cruise vacation
Silversea plies the Gulf waters regularly during the year. In 2010 the cruise operator scheduled three seven-day Middle East voyages from Dubai – the first two were on board the Silver Whisper, which sailed on March 30 and April 6 with calls to Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Muscat (Oman), Bandar Abbas (Iran) and Khasab (Oman) before returning to Dubai en route to Athens (Greece).Another Silversea vessel, the Silver Wind, will complete the line-up of Middle East voyages for 2010 when it docks in Dubai on November 25 to conduct another seven-day tour of the Gulf before setting off from Dubai to Mumbai (India).
For an all-inclusive fare starting at $4,238 (Dh15,596), each guest is also given a complimentary air credit worth $1,000 that can be used to purchase a roundtrip economy-class air ticket.
Ideally, cruise bookings have to be finalised at least three months prior to sailing. Silversea’s website (www.silversea.com) provides information about the rest of the voyages scheduled this year, including special offers on various destinations. The site also features the newly released 2011 Voyages Brochure that gives potential guests a preview of nearly 200 forthcoming voyages to hundreds of destinations worldwide.
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