Voyager Barca Dubai May 2012

A 79-day adventure by Rulocal Read more

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Trip start
February 29, 2012
Voyager Barca Dubai May 2012 Rulocal
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Day 1
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 197 ft
England Garswood 53.494074, -2.66406653°29’39” N 2°39’51” W
We're getting really posh
February 29, 2012 in England ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Update on cruise.....Sheila's sister Jean is joining us on the trip, so we've decided to go all posh and treat ourselves to a Grand Suite on board ship.
It's going to be a lot better than trying to squeeze us all in to a standard cabin for three, also we got what I think is quite a good deal.
It's costing just over £1600 pp and that includes a Grand Suite, all transfers, hotel and direct flights to Barcelona and from Dubai and the flights from Dubai are on Emirate's so that will be good.Read more
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Day 7
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
⛅ 7 °C
Altitude: 197 ft
England Garswood 53.494074, -2.66406653°29’39” N 2°39’51” W
Things get better
March 6, 2012 in England ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
Our travel agent Louise, has just emailed me asking what day we want to go on the half day tour of Dubai...I didn't even know there was a tour included in the trip, but there is.
This is definitely a great deal she's got us......Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
⛅ 8 °C
Altitude: 197 ft
England Garswood 53.494074, -2.66406653°29’39” N 2°39’51” W
It's getting closer
March 7, 2012 in England ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
Received the cruise documentation today, I've ordered the luggage tags. When they arrive the cruise will seem that much closer..... god it's riveting stuff this isn't it .....LOL
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Day 41
Monday, April 9, 2012
🌧 8 °C
Altitude: 197 ft
England Garswood 53.494074, -2.66406653°29’39” N 2°39’51” W
Friends
April 9, 2012 in England ⋅ 🌧 8 °C
Another great thing about this cruise is, there are friends from previous cruises also going to be on board.
There's Willies & Cathye, from Texas who we met on the Jewel of the seas a few years ago, also Ken & Margurite from Scotland, who we've cruised with twice before they were on our last cruise in fact and finally there is Maz & Sue who we met on a Christmas cruise the year before last.
They live in Wigan not far from us and also have a place in Dubai, so there will be plenty of brain picking going on...LOL.
All in all this should be a great cruise and as usual I'll be keeping this blog going throughout the cruise.Read more
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Day 63
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Spain Sant Beltrà 41.363709, 2.17863941°21’49” N 2°10’43” E
First Night
May 1, 2012 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
God I feel rough!!
In the bar last night (free bar I must add), Willies and Cathaye from Texas, where there, we'd first met them 3 years ago on The Jewel of the Seas on a Baltic cruise, it was really lovely to see them again.
Maz and Sue joined the company and we also met a load of new people, mainly Americans with a few Canadians thrown into the mix, a nice night was had by all.
The ship is lovely, very similar to the Independence but also very different in many ways, if that makes any sense....lol
Anyway this is the first sea day so I'm just going to kick back and relax.... Speak later.Read more
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Day 65
Thursday, May 3, 2012 UTC
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Western Mediterranean 40.42331, 4.90745440°25’24” N 4°54’27” E
It's the Beatles
May 3, 2012, Western Mediterranean ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
The Beatles tribute band, Beatles Celebration are on board, we know the boss Karl and he got the lads to do an impromptu show for everyone in the Diamond lounge.
It was brilliant and the place was rocking.
Going to see them on the theatre tonight, so that should be good.
Btw I think I'll have an alcohol free night tonight....feeling rough again this morning.Read more
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Day 67
Saturday, May 5, 2012 UTC
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Eastern Mediterranean 35.110935, 15.35699735°6’39” N 15°21’25” E
Capt Jack Sparrow
May 5, 2012, Eastern Mediterranean ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Ok, the title may be a tad misleading, but we are going to have a "pirate" drill just before we enter the Gulf of Aden.
"Operation safe haven" is the code name and if any boats come near us we've all got to huddle in the corridors outside our cabins while the captain will sail the ship in a zig zag fashion, apparently the big boys at RCCL Miami think that is the best way to scare the pirates off.
Some of my American friends have what I think is a better idea, it basically involves some big guns and target practice....I'll leave the rest to your imagination...LOL

On a more serious note we apparently will be sailing in convoy with some military ships for our safe passage past Somalia, ( this can't be good for Somalian tourism) ....LOL
Anyway I'll let you know how the pirate drill goes.Read more
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Day 68
Sunday, May 6, 2012
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 52 ft
Egypt Ḩadīqat al Khālidīn 31.202818, 29.90203931°12’10” N 29°54’7” E
Alexandria, Egypt
May 6, 2012 in Egypt ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
I love the diamond lounge, and not just for the free drinks, but for the people you meet.
Last night I was chatting to Egbert an ex German Airforce piolet and Arthur a Scottish ex North Sea fisherman.
Really interesting people
Btw we are docked at the Egyptian port of Alexandria, we stopped here overnight and we leave for Suez at 3pm.
So I think Jean and I will get off for a look at the town, which I believe is filthy.
If it's any thing like Cairo which is just about the dirtiest place I've seen, we won't be staying long......Read more
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Day 69
Monday, May 7, 2012 at 3:00 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 16 ft
Egypt Muntazah as Silsilah 31.208315, 29.90534931°12’30” N 29°54’19” E
My God! It's worse
May 7, 2012 in Egypt ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Alexandria has taken over from Cairo as the dirtiest place I've seen.
In it's defence though Egypt has had a revolution and the infrastructure has collapsed quite a bit, so rubbish collection etc is virtually non - existent.
Another thing, the taxi drivers are just about the pushiest I've seen anywhere in the world, the almost try and drag you into their cabs, anyone on their own, especially women would be quite afraid.
Once you get past them though if you turn down the side streets the people are very friendly. We had lots of them saying hello and waiving.
Children were coming up to us asking our names and not one person tried to sell us anything or ask for money, which made a pleasant change, in fact one little girl offered to share her ice cream with me.
So all in all despite being a grubby and dirty town, the Egyptian people we met were lovely.
We are just transiting the Suez canal at this moment and it's quite impressive and totally different to the Panama canal.Read more
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Day 70
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Jordan Ḩayy al Madīnah al Awsaţ 29.528508, 34.99840729°31’43” N 34°59’54” E
Aqaba
May 8, 2012 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
I got on the shuttle to Aqaba with Jean (Sheila stayed on board as usual) we were planning to have a look around the town.
We'd decided against going to Petra as the price was over the top and it was a long trip.
So a visit to see Aqaba was what we had decided on, anyway as soon as we got off the shuttle I realised I'd been here before.
All these places we visit seem to merge in to one...lol.
Aqaba was a big contrast to Alexandria, it was very clean with lots of shops, cafes and hotels, some of which were beautiful and expensive looking, with guards on the entrance gates etc.
We only stopped in town for about an hour as the heat was amazing it was in the high 90s farenheight.

Last night in the diamond lounge was good, the company must number over twenty people and no one sits in the same place each night so you get to speak to different people each night.
Last night Egbert the German pilot and Mazen my Jordanian friend, sorted out the Middle East problem and the world economy....
We've decided that if all the governments of the world meet in the diamond lounge on any RCCL ship and have a few free drinks, all the worlds problems could be sorted out...lol thats the theory anyway.Read more
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Day 71
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 7:00 AM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 33 ft
Egypt Wâdi Abu Shallâti 26.776283, 33.93678426°46’35” N 33°56’12” E
Safaga
May 9, 2012 in Egypt ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Forget the title, I can't tell you anything about Safaga except it's an industrial port with nothing at all to see...
The cruise lines all dock here just so they can sell their tours to Luxor etc.
Sharm el Sheik would be a much better option especially for the people who don't want to do tours....
That's the daily moan over...lol. except to say I'm never drinking again, hmmm!!
Where have I heard that before...LOL
We now have 6 days at sea, which I'm looking forward to, I love sea days, to me the travelling is just as important as the destination...
Having said that this destination is Dubai, and I'm really looking forward to that.
Sue, who lives there tells me I'll be gobsmacked when I see it....can't wait.Read more
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Day 71
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 6:00 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Red Sea 26.101188, 34.68383826°6’4” N 34°41’2” E
Pirate drill
May 9, 2012, Red Sea ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
We did our emergency pirate drill yesterday morning and if any pirates do get on board they will have easy pickings.
The drill consisted of the captain announcing "Operation Safe Haven" over the tannoy and then all passengers who were out of their cabins had to congregate in the centre of the ship, those passengers in inside cabins were to stay in the cabin and those who were in outside cabins had to go into the corridor and we all had to wait for the announcement for the end of the drill, that was the whole emergency drill.
I think the idea was that the pirates would be able to find us all very easily.
Thus not getting pissed off having to search for us..good thinking RCCL..Lol
I did suggest the diamond passengers would be safer in the diamond lounge, as I'm certain the pirates wouldn't have gold cards to get in there...strangely no one agreed!!
On a more serious note we are taking more security equipment and personnel on board today.
So obviously they are taking the threat quite seriously... I'll keep you informed....Read more
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Day 72
Thursday, May 10, 2012
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Red Sea 13.786089, 42.63795613°47’10” N 42°38’17” E
Drinking in the dark!
May 10, 2012, Red Sea ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Bruce Springsteen sang about dancing in the dark.
I wish he'd written Drinking in the dark.
Because that was what we had to do last night in the Viking Crown lounge, the captain said it was so the pirates could not see us, but with all the other lights on the ship that could be seen and all the other ships in the area with lights blazing, I think it was a waste of time.
Nobody could see each other, in fact there was a meet the captain and his officers next door in the 19th hole bar for suite guests well we went and that was another waste of time as it seemed even darker in there.
While I'm in moaning mode, I'll mention the complete refit the ship seems to be having during this cruise, decks are being replaced carpets are being fitted the ship resembles a building site at times.
We did receive an email before we sailed telling us that 2 shops on the Royal Promenade would be closed for refurbishment but nothing about all this other work.
I'm afraid Adam (Goldstein RCCL CEO) will be getting quite a few emails from passengers on this cruise, obviously me included....you will be kept informed...lol....Read more
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Day 73
Friday, May 11, 2012 UTC
⛅ 23 °C
Gulf of Aden 12.930972, 48.52662812°55’51” N 48°31’36” E
What, no pirates?
May 11, 2012, Gulf of Aden ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Well we've left the Red Sea far behind and are through the Gulf of Aden and still no pirates....it's either the military escort we have or leaving the lights out in the Viking Crown lounge that's doing the trick.
I know which one my money is on...LOL.
But we are still informed that it will be romantic lighting once again upstairs tonight, romantic ! It's to bloody dark to see anyone to be romantic with, unless maybe if you are bi-sexual then it wouldn't matter who you found in the dark.....!!
Anyway the weather is still fantastic and we're all looking forward to Dubai....Read more
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Day 74
Saturday, May 12, 2012 UTC
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Arabian Sea 17.623081, 58.38134717°37’23” N 58°22’53” E
The heat ! The damned heat!
May 12, 2012, Arabian Sea ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
That'll teach me, thought I'd grab some sun while I was waiting for the girls to come up to the solarium yesterday morning....Big mistake !
I ended up dehydrated and getting a bit of sunstroke, so I can't tell you anything about last night as I went to bed at 7pm and have just crawled out of the sweat sodden pit at 5am.
I must admit I feel a bit better, we'll see how the day goes....God knows what I'm going to do in Dubai, as it's even hotter there.......Read more
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Day 75
Sunday, May 13, 2012
☀️ 40 °C
Altitude: Sea level
United Arab Emirates Ash Shindaghah 25.284755, 55.27565125°17’5” N 55°16’32” E
Port Rashid Dubai
May 13, 2012 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 40 °C
Well here we are on the last day of the cruise.
It's been a nice one, except for a few hiccups, which, I'm coming to expect with RCCL.
Standards seem to be slipping every trip we take, not with everything or everyone, just little things where they don't go that extra yard.
I don't let it spoil my trips but, there will be a "letter to Adam" after the trip to go with the email I've already sent. I won't be the only one writing judging by the comments I've heard and conversations I've had.
Anyway, still got 4 days in Dubai to look forward to.
From what people are saying it's an amazing place.....can't wait.....Read more
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Day 77
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
☀️ 41 °C
Altitude: 43 ft
United Arab Emirates Mintaqat as Sūq 25.262501, 55.29590325°15’45” N 55°17’45” E
Dubai is bloody hot!!
May 15, 2012 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 41 °C
The title says it all....lol
Not quite it's also quite brilliant.
We are staying in Bur Dubai, the old part of town right by the creek.
The hotel is great lovely clean and friendly.
We did all the touristy stuff, except Sheila missed going up the Birj Khalifa because she was ill.
She missed a brilliant experience.
We all agreed that we'd love to go back sometime...Read more
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Day 79
Thursday, May 17, 2012
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 187 ft
England Manchester Airport 53.358803, -2.2727353°21’32” N 2°16’22” W
Manchester Airport
May 17, 2012 in England ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
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Trip end
May 17, 2012