In part one of our story about cruising the Arabian Peninsula on Azamara Journey, we showed you our cabin, talked about our overnight onboard in Dubai, and described our adventures in the two Omani cities of Khasab and Muscat.
From Muscat, we sailed for Bahrain. However before docking at this tiny island nation in the Persian Gulf, day six of the cruise was a day at sea.
A Relaxing Day at Sea
We originally looked at spending a day at sea with some disappointment. It felt like a waste to not be soaking up a new location and exploring a previously unseen city. In reality though, we quite enjoyed it!
We slept in for as long as we could and had a leisurely breakfast at Azamara Journey’s Discoveries Restaurant. It was nice to enjoy our table by a window with a view across the Persian Gulf, and have the full table service experience.
On deck 10 there is a jogging track which overlooks the swimming pool on the deck below. We took the opportunity to walk off our breakfast over a few laps in the glorious sunshine. Hubby also spent some time in the gym.
Relaxation was on the itinerary for the afternoon. We enjoyed a drink in the Living Room lounge, before a delicious steak dinner in Prime C, the ship’s second specialty restaurant. It was nice to have a more leisurely day and have the time to experience more of life onboard the ship.
Al Manama, Bahrain’s Capital
After breakfast on our balcony, we headed out on the “Bahrain Grand Tour” shore excursion.
First stop was the AlFateh Grand Mosque. Today the mosque was holding a Quran reciting competition. Our guide told us that Muslims learn the Quran by heart, and that the Mosque was running a competition to test the participants’ knowledge.
The impressive Bahrain Fort was the next location on the ‘Grand Tour’. We had plenty of time to wander on our own after an introductory tour and information from our local guide. Modern ‘fly sculptures’ out the front provided an interesting modern contrast to the hundreds of year’s old stone fort.
The remainder of the excursion was spent at the Museum of Bahraini Art and Culture, visiting the 26 kilometre King Fahd Causeway which joins Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and a final stop at a camel farm.
Our choice for dinner that night was the Discoveries Restaurant for a delicious Italian themed meal. Vitello Tonnato, accompanied by a glass of rosé was our entrée. A very delicious serve of Osso Bucco Ravioli was our main course selection, with a glass of Chianti Classico. We ended the night with a cocktail and a show in Journey’s Cabaret Lounge.
Qatar’s City of Doha
We were awake early this morning so we watched the ship dock in Doha as the dawn light slowly extended across the city. The view of the ultra modern city from our balcony through some sea haze was quite impressive! Being berthed in alignment with the airport runway provided an added bonus of watching flights taking off overhead.
The Katara Cultural Village was the first stop on the shore recursion we had selected for Doha. The haze had lifted and we were greeted with sunny blue skies. We explored this very scenic district, including a beautiful mosque, a roman style amphitheatre and a number of impressive art installations.
The Pearl-Qatar was our next stop. Reclaimed land has been shaped like an oyster to pay homage to Qatar’s pearl harvesting past. Upmarket shops and restaurants line a very photogenic marina.
However the highlight of the day for us was Souk Waqif. It is a large souk, in a very appealing traditional design. There are open air pedestrian only streets, as well as undercover laneways. Traditional coffee shops bustling with locals provided a great vibe.
Our guide first showed us the Falcon area of the souk. Twenty or so falcons for sale, and we came across a little old man hand sewing leather falcon hoods in a fantastic range of colours. We wanted to buy one as a souvenir. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t have any local currency, and credit cards weren’t accepted. An opportunity gone begging.
Our last stop on the shore excursion was the Museum of Islamic Art. The location of the museum is fantastic. It is situated over the water, and reached via an inviting palm-lined pedestrian bridge.
The building itself is worth visiting, just to see the outside alone. Windows on the top of the impressive structure are positioned to give the appearance of the eyes of a full burka wearing woman.
The museum is a blend of ultra modern and traditional features, such as the beautiful traditionally shaped fountain embedded within the gleaming ground floor atrium. The museum’s collection is worth a visit, and the view from the external terraces is not to be missed. Across the water, you can admire Doha’s modern cityscape, made up of a jungle of glass highrise buildings.
We had no idea what to expect from Doha, and maybe this was a good thing, as we came away feeling like we’d like to return one day to explore further. We’d like to spend more time in the souk and museum.
Following an hour or so in the gym, dinner was the Italian themed ‘Chef’s Table’. The Chef’s Table was one experience that wasn’t included in our cruise fare, we paid an additional $85 USD each. There were 10 passengers ready for a multicourse, intimate dinner, guided by the chef responsible for the menu.
The elevated wooden feature table was set up beautifully. Each dish was accompanied by a glass of paired wine. We were treated to Vitello Tonnato, seafood soup, beef fillet and cheek, a four cheese platter and tiramisu.
Only two ports remain on our Arabian Peninsula cruise. Our final instalment covers an overnight stop in Abu Dhabi and our return to Dubai. If you missed part one of this cruise, check it out here.