Jayayeff

17 minutes ago, sddsddean said:

..., but when we came in through Dubai, no one asked us anything about medicines we were carrying, so don't worry too much!

 

Simon

Simon,

Neither have I and I’ve lost count of the number of times my handbag and carry-on have been through those scanners between Immigration and baggage reclaim!   They know what they’re looking for and it’s not the likes of you or I travelling with our ‘normal’ medications... If you’ve ever seen any of the National Geographic TV’s Ultimate Airport - Dubai programmes you get a good idea of who and what they are looking for and how they go about it....

Anne...

1 hour ago, EssG said:

Just wanting to confirm that entering Dubai with Diabetic medication,  Epipen for shellfish Allergy and Prescription Anti Acid medication (Sucralphate) does not require a dr's letter as long as they are in their original boxes? 

 

Thanks

 

That’s correct but also carry your prescription with you as well as the medication in their original boxes or containers...

Anne

12 hours ago, BCFamily said:

Hi Anne,

 

We will be arriving in Dubai at 6pm March 15th, then will need to get to Abu Dhabi from the airport. Would it be better to arrange for a car service before leaving Canada or find a taxi once we get out of the terminal? Any suggestions for car services would be much appreciated. One more question, I have read that it will be about 300 to 400 AED for a taxi, would it be best to carry AED cash if we take a taxi or can we use our credit card?

 

Thank you for any info you can give us.

 

Lynn

You could do either but booking a private car in advance would obviously be more pricey than taking a taxi.   You can get a taxi direct from the airport terminal as the taxi rank is actually linked to the terminal so you do not have to go outside to wait for one.. The only car services I use other than RTA taxis are Uber and/or Careem (both apps and both very similar in price) when I need to book a ride for a certain time as they are very reliable and have 'nicer' cars and more experienced drivers.  You are correct the taxi fare from Dubai Airport to Abu Dhabi would be Dhs.350-400 however, I don't know if they take credit cards as I always use cash.  There are ATM's and money exchange facilities in the Arrivals terminal if you need them...

Anne..

11 hours ago, Magar said:

Anne, a new question, perhaps you know....I have heard that some of the malls offer a free shuttle from cruise port to their mall.  I am thinking of using this option if it is available for our day in port at Dubai.  We will have already been in Dubai on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, then board a cruise ship on Monday in Abu Dhabi, which comes back to Dubai on Tuesday for its first stop. So we should be slightly familiar with getting around, and could maybe start from a mall on that Tuesday.  Any thoughts?

I really don’t know about individual malls offering shuttles between the cruise terminal and the malls.  I know many of the cruise lines offer a shuttle service, either complimentary or at a charge, usually to Dubai Mall.... There are always RTA taxis at the cruise terminal when ships are in port so if there aren’t any shuttles you could just get a taxi to either Bur Juman or Dubai Mall as both are on the Metro line..

Anne..

13 hours ago, Northbay said:

Hi Anne, another question, if you don’t mind.

I’m planning on booking afternoon tea at either Burj Al Arab or Burj Khalifa.  Which one would you recommend, if you have been to both?  And would around sunset time be best for both?

Our hotel is pretty high up,   and we do also plan on taking a trip to the top of BK on a clear day.

My one concern is if there is a sandstorm or too cloudy to enjoy the views.

Any recommendation on tea at either would be most appreciated.

thanks,

Liz

Liz,

I have only been to the Burj Al Arab afternoon tea, which was a treat for a friend celebrating a milestone birthday during a visit to Dubai.  That was during November so we were there for the sunset however, it depends on the time year whether you would still be there, or if tea would be over by the time the sun sets (if it is then you could always stay for cocktails as it's the same venue).   The Atmosphere restaurant (Burj Khalifa) is at a much higher level than the Burj Al Arab, and as it is closer to the city then you get a much broader view of the city than you do from the Burj Al Arab.  I believe they are both similar prices so just go with whichever one appeals to you the most.

Unfortunately, a dusty or hazy day as opposed to a clear view day is just the luck of the draw - I've been up the Burj Khalifa on both and whilst it does make a difference to the viewing experience, weather is weather!!!

Anne...

50 minutes ago, sddsddean said:

I think if you are looking for ‘charm’ you will probably have to go to one of the hotels nearer to the Corniche. They are more ‘touristy’ and thus more expensive. The HI was perfectly adequate, but didn’t have any charm!

 

Simon

Simon is correct, if you prefer to be 'downtown' as opposed to the out of town locations like Yas Island or Qaryat al Bari (out by the Maqta Bridge on the way to the airport) then the Corniche area with open sea views, etc. probably has more 'charm'...

Anne..

8 hours ago, MAXII said:

Hi:

I really am unsure as to whether or not I can bring into Abu Dhabi Imodium or Pepto Bismal so I thought I would just wait and see if I can buy them or similar when we arrive. 

 

I see there is a Mediclinic Pharmacy Airport Road which is near the Hilton Capital Grand Hotel.

 

Is this Mediclinic a pharmacy similar to that we have in North America?  I'm wondering if it is like a CVS or Shoppers Drug Mart type of thing where you can buy over the counter medications, sun lotions etc. etc.?  

 

Thanks.

Both of those are over the counter medications so you can either bring them with you or buy them locally when you get here, although I've never noticed the Pepto Bismal brand in the pharmacy here similar alternatives are available locally...  There are only restrictions on carrying certain prescription only medications and/or controlled substances into the country with you...

Anne..

1 hour ago, JBare said:

We were on a cruise from Abu Dhabi last year on the Millenium.  Do not worry, money changers were in the ports and were efficiently organised/approved and offered reasonable rates. It was quick and easy, I exchanged £ in Mumbai for rupees and back when leaving Goa. I only needed money for train tickets and snacks.  I would not recommend getting rupees before hand as you are correct that its not allowed.

 

http://www.goatourism.gov.in/currency

 

here's an extract from the above website

 

" It is not permitted to take Indian currency out of India nor purchase the Rupee overseas. If you are arriving from a foreign country, you should change some of your currency into Rupees at the airport or at the nearest branch of State Bank of India where you are offered the best rates of exchange.

Money Exchange services are also available at most major hotels & resorts and private money changers in the area. Most reputed banks such as HDFC, ICICI etc also have ATMs that accept Master and Visa Card to withdraw cash. "

 

Well, you learn something new every day.  I didn’t know visitors weren’t allowed to take rupees into India with them. I, and dozens of people I know, have taken cash with us when travelling there for business or pleasure and have never been asked whether we had rupees with us or not!!!   

Anne...

11 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

I would have no worries about luggage at a flight connection, as long as it is booked as a through ticket (which the examples are).  You check in the bags at either Basel or Zurich and collect them at BCN.  No difference at all.

That wasn't my concern - it was the higher possibility of them going astray on the connecting flights.  In all my years of living and working overseas, and my leisure travel, the only times my bags haven't made it to my final destination with me have been when they had an inter-Europe flight connection to make...

Anne..

On 1/19/2019 at 1:34 PM, rafinmd said:

I am on a river cruise ending in Basel November 3 and continuing on an ocean cruise out of Barcelona November 5.  Crystal is offering transfers to Basel airport.  The choices I am looking at are Basel to BCN via either LHR (90 minute connection on BA) or LIS (70 minute connection on TAP).  My third option would be a transfer to Zurich (probably would need to be private with my luggage) where I could get a non-stop.

I might do coach out of Zurich but would definitely want to have Business if there is a connection involved.

 

Suggestions?

 

Thanks

 

Roy

If it were me I’d do the transfer to Zurich and take the direct flight to Barcelona, especially if I had luggage with me.  It’s only an hour or little over an hour by road or by train from Basel to Zurich airport then you have no worries about being in transit in any other airports... 

Anne...

13 minutes ago, champagne lover said:

Thanks for your reply Anne - yes we are leaving from Abu Dhabi, will be there for 2 days before the cruise so could change money there but we were told we couldn't take rupees into India.

I have never heard that it was not allowed to take rupees with you and as you can imagine a lot of people travel from here over to India.  Like you I arrived by cruise ship and I don’t recall anyone ever asking if I had any local currency with me.  I did exactly as I suggested to you - went to one of the money exchanges in my local mall bought rupees there, took them with me and what I had leftover I exchanged with one of the staff in my office when I got back... 

Anne...

On 1/18/2019 at 6:09 PM, champagne lover said:

We are going to India in a few weeks with celebrity, 4 different ports. Have just realised we can't bring rupees with us. What have others done? Our first port is Cochin - can we change sterling (or dollars) there? Any help would be welcome.

Are you on one of the Celebrity cruises that starts in Abu Dhabi??  If so then why not exchange some sterling (or dollars) into rupees at one of the many money exchanges there before you sail across to India.  Rupees are ready available in any of them and you don’t need to use ATM’s in India when you get there...  I did an Indian coastal cruise last year and took rupees in cash with me...

Anne..

On 1/18/2019 at 9:06 PM, Magar said:

Anne, a new question, just in case you have some insight....about Abu Dhabi......now I'm looking for a hotel there, probably in the downtown area.  Do you have any experience there?

 

I did book the Dubai Millennium Plaza that you suggested, and even discovered they have a laundry facility on premises.  That will be nice so we can wash our clothes after two weeks in India on land.!

The only hotel I have stayed in downtown recently was Le Royal Meridien which is just back from the Corniche at the port end of the Corniche Road.  The hotel has been fully renovated over the past couple of years and the rooms and bathrooms are both spacious and well appointed - I was more than happy with the hotel and the rates were very reasonable too... However, there are lots to choose from along the full length of the Corniche Road so I would suggest checking out Tripadvisor for more recent reviews...

Anne...

33 minutes ago, Sloppy Sue said:

We are sailing on the Splendida in a few weeks. Has anyone done the Big Bus Hop on/off tour in Abu Dhabi? Is there a pickup location near the cruise terminal? 

 

Thanks! 

Have you checked their website?  I’m not familiar with the HoHo routes in Abu Dhabi but I do know that here in Dubai they operate a link route (I think it is the Green route) whenever there are ships at the cruise terminals.  This route then connects with the main city routes that start/end at Dubai Mall.  They may do something similar in Abu Dhabi, especially now that more cruise ships call at the port there...

Anne

6 hours ago, SwankPooch said:

Hello Anne,

 

Is the Opera building within walking distance from Burj Khalifa?  If not, any other places worth visiting other than the Opera building in the vicinity?

 

Thanks again for your valuable information.

 

Sheila

They are yes.  I took this a few weeks ago from the terrace of the Thiptara Thai restaurant at the Palace Hotel Downtown.   Dubai Opera is the building on the very left and the Burj Khalifa to the right with the Dubai Fountains lake in the foreground..

Anne

15 hours ago, SwankPooch said:

Thanks so much for your response, Anne.  

I am actually looking for the HOHO bus closest to Wadi Wadi Water park and Burj Al Arab.  If Burj offers a group tour of the city, then I don't have to deal with the HOHO bus.

You live in a premier location with a fountain view. Congratulations!  I will look into Thiptara.

My research on the web indicates that Emirates Hotel is located inside Burj Khalifa, with various restaurants offer a fountain view.

I intend to have a general tour of the city on one day, spend another day in Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall.  What is your recommendation for the third day?  I will embark on the fourth day on a Middle East Cruise.

Thanks again.

Sheila

 

Sheila,

Both the City Sightseeing and Big Bus have the Wild Wadi/Jumeirah Beach Hotel/Burj Al Arab on their route...

I don’t live in the Downtown area, but I do drive by it every day and visit outlets there fairly often!  You are correct the hotel that is within the Burj Khalifa is the Armani Hotel, the Palace Hotel Downtown is across the Dubai Fountains lake from the Burj Khalifa itself...  You might like to consider dinner at the Dubai Opera which has a restaurant within it that overlooks the lake and is open to anyone not just those attending performances.  The Opera building itself is beautiful and has outdoor terraces with great nightime views of the Burj Khalifa...  For the third day I would recommend the area down by Dubai Creek - personally I much prefer Old Dubai to New Dubai but I understand why visitors want to see all the glitzy ‘new’ parts of the city that feature so heavily in all promotional material for the city.  

Will you be staying at the Burj Al Arab during your stay???   I know they have a fleet of private cars and drivers but I really don’t know what daily yours they may have available for guests.  It’s somewhere I have been inside very occasionally since it opened....

Anne...

1 hour ago, SwankPooch said:

Hello Anne,

I will be traveling solo to Dubai for 4 nights prior to embarkation.  I am thinking of using HOHO for a day and then take taxi to specific sightseeing places.  Notice that there are 2 kinds of HOHO, Big Bus and City Sightseeing. Would you please tell me which one is closest to Burj Al Arab?

As for viewing the fountain show in the evening, which restaurant would you recommend for a spectacular view?  Does the dining in Emirates Hotel offer a view?

Thanks!

both of them go by the Burj Al Arab although the actual pick-up and drop-off point could be slightly different as there are a few 'points of interest' very close together there - The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Burj Al Arab Hotel, Wild Wadi Water Park, Souk Al Madinat... Their routes are actually very similar with both of their City and Beach routes starting/ending at the Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa).

I'm not sure which hotel you mean when you say Emirates Hotel - are you referring to the Emirates Palace Downtown?  If so then the only restaurant that I know of that has an open view of the Dubai Fountains is the Thai restaurant Thiptara which actually sits partially out into the lake.

You are probably better doing a TripAdvisor or Google search for restaurants with a view - the two I used to take guests to for a fountain view have both closed or changed hands in the past year and as I live here and can see the fountains any time, paying to dine with a view of the fountains is not a priority for me!!!

Anne...

12 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Very good point! If I might ask, where can you see that detail of information? All it says on our confirmation as well as when we look at our cruise itinerary using my Crystal account is Hong Kong.

I saw your similar post on the Crystal board.  If it is too early for you to have received your cruise documents where it should stated then send an email to Onboard Guest Services at Crystal and ask them for the terminal details... I don’t have the email address to hand but if you ask on the main Crystal board I’m sure someone will post it for you...

Anne..

2 hours ago, sddsddean said:

Like I said, unless you have got tons of luggage, just grab a RTA taxi. Should be no more than 300AED, about 80 minute trip.

 

Simon

Either that or an Uber if you have the app on your phone.  The Uber may work out a little more than the RTA taxi but it's usually a nice comfortable Lexus saloon car that picks you up - I use them regularly when I don't want to use my own car for social use.. 

Anne..

4 hours ago, babjlb said:

My family (teenage son and daughter and husband) will be taking a cruise in March on MSC that starts in Dubai and has ports of call in  Abu Dhabi, Sri Bani Yas Island, Bahrain and Doha, Qatar.  I have seen posts that refer to very conservative dress requirements (everything covered but face and hands with loose clothing for women) for the Mosque in Abu Dhabi but little detail for our other stops.  Would very much appreciate any guidance on dress required for other stops both for visiting specific sites as well as just in public. Thank you in advance!

 

Jennie

The only places with strict dress codes would be mosques and that is long trousers for men (not shorts) and a tee shirt with sleeves (no vests or tank tops).  Women can either hire an abbaya (at the Sh. Zayed Grand Mosque) to cover the clothes they are wearing or they can just wear full length trousers/maxi skirt and a long sleeved top/blouse which would also be fine.  Head covering can be just a lightweight scarf loosely wrapped around your head and neck area.....  No-one is allowed to wear shoes inside a mosque so having a pair of socks in your bag would be handy.  Anywhere else, visitors are just asked to dress respectfully when out in public places - tailored/knee length shorts or trousers and tee shirts/polo shorts for men not short shorts (running style) with vests/tank tops etc.  Similar for ladies, knee length shorts/crops/capris or a knee length or longer skirt or dress, again with tee shirt/blouse etc. with at least short sleeves rather than sleeveless or with spaghetti straps.  You will see all sorts I'm sure but this is an Islamic country so just being respectful of their more conservative dress codes is all that is required.    I live here but I don't have one wardrobe of clothes for here and one for when I'm travelling, I wear the same clothes here as I do when I'm outside the country...

Anne..

9 hours ago, Magar said:

Oh, disappointing!  So, just to be clear, we were intrigued by the part about staying in an authentic house/B&B, interacting a bit with local innkeeper sort of idea,  as opposed to a modern hotel....We do want to be efficient with our few days, however....Is the transportation an issue? It seems the area is near the green line metro.  I looked for B&B or guesthouse in the Bastakiya area and got off on a VRBO/Airbnb tangent with modern apartments for rent.  Do you know of any other suggestions, or should I go back to a traditional hotel?  We will check in on a Friday, out on Monday, so time is limited.  Thank you for being open with your thoughts.  I appreciate your local input. 

 

I would still recommend the Bur Dubai side of the Creek to the Deira side however, I can't think of any unique B&B type options but then again I've never looked for any!!  Leave it with me and I'll do some digging and get back to you if I come up with anything...  Have you given any thought to staying on the QE2 during your Dubai pre cruise stay - that's different!!  It recently 'opened' as a static hotel and is berthed in Port Rashid (same location as the cruise terminal) which is very close to the Bastakiya area, and whilst it isn't very close to a Metro station, it's only a short taxi ride to either the Heritage Village, the Museum or the whole Bastakiya/Creekside historical area.. They often have special offers available on the website..

Anne..

6 hours ago, Magar said:

Thanks to both Anne and ssdd….I nearly booked the Millennium Plaza as it looked fine....then I happened on a link to some guest houses....so I'm back!  There are three different guest houses, all three apparently in the Historic District..one is close to Metro Ghubaiba, one near La Ras Metro, one close to the Abra Dock.  We love the idea of old, authentic, historic...any thoughts before I move towards one of these?

Personally, I would not recommend staying in those locations.  It's an area known as Deira and whilst it is one of the older parts of the city, apart from the original gold souq and the spice souq being over that side of the Creek, I wouldn't call it 'historical'.  I would only recommend Deira side if you were staying in one of the major hotels that are located along Baniyas Street along the side of the Creek.  The more historical part of the city is the Bastakiya area across the Creek from Deira where many of the original windtower houses which have now been restored are, along with the Dubai Museum and the Heritage Village... 

Anne..











































 

7 hours ago, raspberry ridge said:

We will not arrive in Abu Dhabi until after 11 PM the night before our cruise.I expect by the time we retrieve our luggage and clear customs that it will be around 1 am.We will have been traveling for about 30 hours and I'm a poor sleeper so I expect to be tired to the point of stupor by then.If someone can suggest the most economical (but of course safe & convenient) accommodation or if anyone knows if sleep pods are available at the airport (or any info on how best to spend this roughly ten hour period !)it would be appreciated greatly Also, what would you advise about transportation to the port? I have traveled in Egypt and Israel in the past but this is my first trip to the Emirates.Thank you for your advice!

 

 

I would second the recommendation already given of checking into the Premier Inn at the airport then transferring to the port to board the cruise ship.  Taxis are readily available for your transfer to the port and they are all registered and metered so perfectly safe to use...

Anne..

3 hours ago, Magar said:

Anne, I've read this thread, picking up various bits of information.  We will be in Dubai in March and I'm hoping to butt in with some new questions....  We will arrive on a Friday following a land tour of India, and will have Saturday and Sunday for a quick tour of Dubai.  Then on Monday we board the ship in Abu Dhabi, and our first port on Tuesday/Wednesday is....Dubai!! I was thinking we would keep the Dubai sight seeing all in a close time frame.  So, a couple of questions, if I may.  I noted your approval of the Millennium Plaza Hotel on SZR, mentioned by the OP.  What would be a good transport airport to hotel if we booked there? Could we take metro? We will have 22" luggage.  Another hotel option would be the Novatel Al Barsha, also on SZR, supposedly a five minute walk to Sharaf DG metro.  Can you comment between the two?  Thanks in advance!

The Millennium Plaza is the more accessible of the two hotels and there are more options around it for eating out, taking a walk, etc...  Yes, you could take the Metro from Dubai International Airport to SZR.  There are metro stations at Terminals 1 and 3 on the Red line which would take you to SZR (Emirates Towers station for the Millennium Plaza Hotel).   Even though the hotel is on the opposite side of the road to the metro station there is an enclosed pedestrian bridge across SRZ with moving walkways and escalotors down to street level... Alternatively you could get a taxi directly from the airport to the hotel as they are always readily available within both terminals...

Anne..

21 minutes ago, Jayayeff said:

 

Earlier this year I joined a cruise during it’s port stop in Colombo.  Those already onboard had their transit visas processed by the cruise line but in order to fly in and transfer to the port I had to process my own transit visa on line.   It’s a very easy process and if I remember correctly it was free but check with your cruise line first as they may get blanket coverage for all passengers onboard that will be in transit..

 

Anne..

Just to add to my post above.  The free transit visa is only valid for 48 hours so if you have multiple stops and will be in Sri Lanka for more than 2 days then you will need a ETA tourist visa which can also be applied for online but there is a charge of $35..  This is the link to the official government visa site that I used to process mine..

https://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainfo/center.jsp?locale=en_US

Anne..