Jayayeff

15 hours ago, Lunenburg said:

 

“Starting Saturday, September 5th, residents and visitors can enter the emirate of Abu Dhabi within 48 hours of receiving a negative PCR or DPI test result. DPI test results no longer require a prior PCR test,” the Abu Dhabi government media office tweeted. Not sure about Qatar and Oman or what happens at the end of the cruise  as the test will be out of date to re enter Abu Dhabi. Anyone know?

That announcement applies to UAE residents or citizens travelling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi only.  Entry to Abu Dhabi is still closed to anyone other than nationals or valid residence visa holders... 

Anne...

On 9/2/2020 at 7:39 PM, drsel said:

Costa diadema is scheduled to leave Italy in September and arrive at Abu Dhabi on 19th October

 

 

I saw this online yesterday - no mention of Costa and sounds as though they are looking at a season start date of December...🤔🤔

https://cruisearabiaonline.com/2020/09/05/abu-dhabi-tourist-safe-zone-may-be-used-as-model-for-cruise-tourism-amid-covid-19/

Anne...

14 hours ago, drsel said:

But Costa diadema will be traveling between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi and Dubai multiple times from 19th October onwards

 

 

That may be the plan but I can assure you that at the present time nobody can move freely between Dubai and Abu Dhabi and nobody other than UAE Nationals or UAE residence visa holders can fly into Abu Dhabi..  I live in Dubai and haven't been able to travel to Abu Dhabi since Covid-19 travel restrictions were put in place... As of today's date there has been no announcement as to when those restrictions will be lifted... I don't know what other ports are on those itineraries but Oman (Muscat) and Qatar (Doha) are also still both closed to visitors...

Anne..

1 hour ago, drsel said:

But after mid October there are direct flights to Abu Dhabi also

I’m pretty sure that is a provisional date as there has been no official announcement to date of when Abu Dhabi will be open to visitors.  There are flights into Abu Dhabi now but only for returning citizens or residence visa holders.   Dubai is open to citizens, residents and visitors (under certain restrictions) but they cannot travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi...

Anne 

On 8/30/2020 at 5:36 PM, drsel said:

Hi Anne, will Abu Dhabi and Dubai ports be open for Cruises from 19th October 2020?

 

I saw a news report about a week or ten days ago that stated Dubai Ports were working on reopening to cruise ships for the 2020/21 season (usually late October or early November through to April/May) but haven't seen an actual confirmation.  I haven't heard anything about Abu Dhabi but I would have though that is unlikely as they are still only allowing citizens or residents entry not visitors...  If I see anything official about either port I'll post it here...

Anne..

Well, I guess the above posts go some way to explaining the somewhat irritating habit that many North Americans have of always adding the name of a state or country to city names when they are referring to them, i.e. Paris, France or London, England, etc. etc.!!!!   One can only assume that when the New World used those place names they never expected them to get confused with those already established in the Old World!!!!...😁😁

Anne...

2 hours ago, sddsddean said:

Thanks Anne. Hopefully it will be finished by the next time we get to Dubai...whenever that is!

 

Simon

That’s 1 on, only another 47 to go!!!!
 

Maybe finished in time for Expo, which is now due to open in October 2021...

Anne..

On 7/12/2020 at 12:41 PM, sddsddean said:

I can help with the very last bit of your post. Towers Rotana is just across the road from a Metro station (air con footbridge to the station is 100 yds from the hotel) and its one stop to the BK and mall (bear in mind its a good 5-10 minute walk in a air con footway to the mall), or stay on the metro for 5 stops to get to the Mall of the Emirates. If you are there for more than a few days, get a silver NOL card at the airport for use on all public transport...its cheap! We even used the metro to get to our hotel from the airport and you could too to the Towers Rotana. Getting to the port is easy...grab a cab! Cheap and plentiful! Have fun (if you manage to get there!), its  a great place.

 

Simon

Hi Simon,

I thought of you this morning when I saw a news report that the first pod went onto the Ain Dubai (Dubai Eye) in the past few days.... It looks very lost all on it's own at the top of the structure - if I can download a photo later, I'll post one for you!! 

Anne...

12 hours ago, wearesiamese said:

Lots of pictures here, but I have not "played" this game for a while.Where were these photos taken? 🙂

 

The Kapaleeshwara Temple in Chennai in the top picture and the futuristic looking water transport in the lower one is Tokyo??

12 hours ago, wearesiamese said:

On 8/8/2020 at 8:14 PM, FlyerTalker said:

 

I would have to wonder....will this be a "dry" cruise or will this be a time for the booze to flow?  Saudis visiting Dubai have a bit of a reputation as party people.

Oh, I know their reputation!!!!   However, it's anyone's guess whether these will be 'wet' or 'dry' cruises as in the carefully worded promo material I received there is no direct mention of mini-bars in suites or all inclusive wine, cocktails, spirits, etc. in lounges or dining rooms.... I guess you'll need insider information for the answer to that one when the time comes for these sailings...😀

Anne..

9 hours ago, cruiseej said:

 

My speculation was correct: Seatrade Cruise News has a story today about the series of short Silver Spirit cruises in the Red Sea, which are a two-month charter of the vessel by the Saudi Tourism Authority for local residents.

 

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/silver-spirit-chartered-red-sea-cruises-saudi-summer-campaign 

I received an email promotion for these Red Sea cruises using the Silver Spirit a good 10 days or so ago and they were being marketed by Royal Caribbean Arabia who have an office here in Dubai - I have no idea why I got an email because as far as I can tell they are open to Saudi nationals or residents only!!!!????  This was a feature on them in the Conde Nast Middle East edition - although at the time of going to press they said they didn't know which cruise line whereas the email I received clearly identified the Silver Spirit

https://www.cntravellerme.com/25264-leisure-cruises-are-coming-to-saudi-arabias-red-sea-coast-for-the-first-time

I also found the original mailing in my deleted email box, here's a link:

https://mailchi.mp/80acf9a2d550/cruise-from-saudi-arabia-on-an-ultra-luxury-cruise?e=287dea51d5

Anne...

16 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

 

Can't remember the exact name, but it is a cathedral in Rio.

 

 

Yes, popularly known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro but officially the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, Rio de Janeiro......  

Anne...

2 hours ago, BEAV said:

 

Astoria, Oregon.

 

https://astoriacolumn.org/

I’d never have got that one.....well done..👏👏

You’re too good with the outdoor ones,   what about this indoor one...

It’s coming up to bedtime for me so you’ve got all day to work this one out...😀

Anne...

1 hour ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Pink grapefruit comes to mind, and I know there are a number of cocktails in the menu that involve grapefruit juice.  Being on a statin prescription, I can't have grapefruit - so those cocktails have never registered with me, other than something to pass over when I'm reading the menu.

I'm pretty sure the garnish is pink grapefruit and I'm also pretty sure it is a gin based cocktail, however, as a non-gin drinker it isn't on my radar and its name isn't on the tip of my tongue!!!

Anne..

7 minutes ago, MightyQuinn said:

Google for the win!  Deauville Normandy: beaches and promenade with movie star named changing cabins



 

Finally, albeit with the aid of Google!!!!  Yes, it is the Promenade des Planches in Deauville where they hold an American Film Festival every September and the beach huts are named after actors and directors who have attended in person... Most guests tend to visit the Normandy landing beaches when the ships port call in Honfleur but I toured the Calvados coast and a couple of distilleries along the way...

Anne.... 

8 minutes ago, Jim9310 said:

Is it St Tropez, France?

No it isn’t.  You wouldn’t visit this place on a Mediterranean cruise...
 

Anne..

5 minutes ago, TER777 said:

Cannes?

We’re getting closer!!!!     Patty is on the right track, and you are in the right country, but not the right place....🤔😀🤔😀

Anne...

10 minutes ago, Texas Tillie said:

 

No clue, Brian. I assume those are changing rooms at a beach. All the movie star names that I can read are American. Don't know, however, if it's actually in the US. Not sure where all Anne has been in the US. First thought would be LA or Miami, but thinking, maybe, somewhere on Cape Cod. I think I remember that Anne has done a New England/Canada cruise. Or not!!

 

Patty

You’re on the right track, but the wrong continent......😀😀

Anne...

3 hours ago, wearesiamese said:

I would really like to know where this is?:)

 

I believe you'll find this is in Christchurch, New Zealand.....

Anne..

Dug deep into my cruising photo archives for this one....

Anne....

2 hours ago, mskatiemae said:

Oooh - Seychelles? You were just there on Esprit, I believe. Google helped after you gave this latest hint...

 

Circling back to the food topic:

Here is a link about the lipstick tree with a recipe for puerco pibil (wonderful dish I just made in slow cooker w/ banana leaves) https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/4119

Yes it is - Mahe Island in the Seychelles..... 

Anne...

12 minutes ago, BEAV said:

The plot thickens.....

especially when you add French to the English....🤔🤔🤔

Anne...

2 minutes ago, Texas Tillie said:

 

Except that the sign is in English. Would expect Portuguese and then a smaller English sign. I'm usually a pretty good detective about things like that! 😛👄🤩

 

Patty

Whilst it is native to northern S. America and Mexico, you’re correct in it not being Brazil.  However, it can now be found in tropical locations around the world and this one was definitely not Portuguese speaking....

Anne

Well, who knew it grew on trees???????   But, where.....

Anne...

1 hour ago, ChatKat in Ca. said:

Ok - Swimming distance to Cuba. Yes, on a Crystal visit...

Although I doubt very much I could swim from here to there, my guess would be Key West???

Anne....