Oman Travel Guides

Our port today while visiting Oman was a little place called Khasab. Having researched things a bit before we left home, it seemed that the town itself didn't have an awful lot of "touristy" things to do - but what it did have was a very close proximity to fjord-like waterways, and crystal clear azure waters framed by jutting,  majestic cliffs.

We had chosen a tour on a traditional dhow boat, where you take off your shoes on entry and lounge in comfort on carpets and cushions. Our two young Omani sailors took us through spectacular scenery before they slowed the dhow and started looking over the side. They powered it up again and started whistling loudly, pointing to some grey, fast-moving creatures beside us on both sides...dolphins! At least ten of them in total, from parents to youngsters, all swimming effortlessly beside us and leaping out every so often. They must have kept us company for almost ten minutes, so plenty of pictures were snapped trying to capture them on camera. This was THE best moment of a fabulous holiday, no contest.

Traditional Dhow in Khasab, Oman

We stopped further on to let everyone have the chance to have a swim and snorkel, with towels and after-swim refreshments provided. On our way back, our Flipper friends returned for a brief encore.
Show-offs!

Handy tip - take your swimming gear if you go on this trip! But there's a bit of walking/getting on and off boats, so is not recommended for any one with limited mobility.

Today was around 35 degrees, and to sunbathe up on deck was to get rather hot! The tans are progressing well though, and it's hard to believe that it's only February. If winter sun and seeing some unusual places are what floats your boat, literally, holiday-wise, it doesn't get better than a cruise from Dubai. Everyone we have spoken to here has been very happy with the whole experience.

Another gala dinner tonight, so the glad rags were on again. As previous MSC customers, we were invited to the Captain's cocktail party just before dinner, where he made a short speech and introduced some of the crew. A lovely gesture.

Dinner was fun as well, with flaming baked Alaskas being paraded around by the waiters. All the staff on board, from the cabin steward to the lovely Made, our table waiter, have been so good and attentive throughout, and it's obvious how hard they work. A credit to the cruise line.

Tonight we had a drink at the disco at the top of the ship as a nightcap. We only recognised one song, sadly... whether that is a reflection of the DJ's lack of skills, or of our age, though, is up for debate!

Muscat is a destination that we were really looking forward to, and happily, it didn't disappoint.

We had pre-booked the Mystical Muscat tour with MSC back in the UK, so were up early to get on board the bus and head off with an English-speaking guide. Oman's capital is completely different to the main cities we'd seen in the UAE, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi - no high rise building is allowed, and the houses, offices, hotels etc are mainly white. It's a place that's very pleasing on the eye.

Our first stop on the tour was the Grand Mosque, built over 6 years and completed in 2001. At first glance, though it is fabulously grand, perhaps it's not quite as visually - stunning as Abu Dhabi's. Step inside (especially the men's side!) and it's a different matter. The chandeliers are spectacular, the carpets took 600 women 3 years to complete by hand...you really can see the devotion that has gone into every aspect of the mosque. 5 minarets represent the 5 holy vows that every devout Muslim makes to reinforce his faith. The focus from every Omani person we met there was to help us understand their faith and it was a very interesting and calming experience, rounded off with Omani coffee, water and dates. Our guide was keen to emphasise that women and men in Oman have equal rights and we were served by both men and women here, as well as being offered a booklet on Islam and the Koran to give us a greater insight into it.

Our next stop couldn't have been more of a contrast - the Muttrah Souk in the old part of Muscat, near the port where we were berthed.  This was full-on, with shops selling an array of different goods. It was our first real shopping experience since Dubai and couldn't have been further from its upscale malls. Bartering was all part of the experience.
Handy tip - never take their first price, and be prepared for the shopkeepers to set the edge of your potential scarf purchase on fire to prove it's cashmere!
4 scarves and many rials later, we trooped back on the bus for stop number 3 - the Bait Al Zubair Museum, a small townhouse which helps inform visitors about Omani traditions.

And finally, we spent some time outside the Sultan's Palace, flanked on either side by the Miran and Jalali Forts, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. All in all, this was the perfect tour to get an insight into Oman, a place that we new little about before the cruise. A half day was just right, giving us time to have lunch and catch some rays in the afternoon too. Dinner was a fun affair, with the waiters playing a practical joke on one of our fellow diners which was hilarious - but I won't spoil it for you by describing it, in case you're on an MSC cruise anytime soon!

We finished the night at the pool bar, where a White Party was being held, with the ship's dancers giving it their all. While we only stayed for one drink, there were lots of fellow guests who were definitely up for a party - and possibly some rather sore heads in prospect next morning...