Sir Bani Yas Island

[grayjay]

We have just returned from our trip and can perhaps offer a few more snippets of advice:

Tendering ( we were onboard Azamara Quest) was uncomplicated but very bumpy in the morning, but it took only about 10 minutes.

You hop ( sort of) onto the pier, wade over a few disinfectant mats and see the buffet area and the huge area with beach and umbrellas etc. in front of you. The beach is artificially sanded with lots of sharp shell pieces - use shoes! - but otherwise very pretty, clean and white.

It's only possible to book tours on board. The Anantara Resorts have control of the tours and don't sell independently. We had either a kayak or bike experience to choose from or two wildlife tours, one in a bus, one in jeeps seating 6 per jeep. We chose the bus tour and saw some wildlife, even a few giraffes , lots of gazelles and antelopes and a few stones left of a monastery. Nothing very spectacular but still something different to do than just lazing around on the beach.I would choose the jeep tour the next time. There were 6 per jeep but everyone had a good seat/ good view. The people we saw coming back from the bike tour looked happy but hot and exhausted!

Ship put up a lavish BBQ buffet but we weren't happy about the huge amount of paper and plastics used for that meal - forks and knives and spoons and glasses and plates - huge amounts of trash.... We decided to eat on board.

[little britain]

Map given out on RCI 2019/20 season . Note separate area for PC, suites and Key guests.

 

Edited December 26, 2019 by little britain

[bearette]

Thanks the map is helpful!

[little britain]

Sir Bani Yas: My thoughts!  Definitely need water shoes- the sand is coarse gritty and full of shells. The water has loads of big stones as you get in making it very difficult to balance. 
There is nothing here apart from the beach. You cannot leave the area unless on a trip. There is a small trinket shop and a guy posing with a beautiful falcon. 
They bring buffet lunch from the ship. Terrible use of single use plastics though, plastic cutlery wrapped in plastic bags!
We did the safari trip . Selling on board for $76.99 for 75mins. The jeeps are open sided and have 3 rows of 3 seats. If you had the middle seat very difficult to see or take photos. We saw lots of animals. Tons of deer, emu, giraffes, ostrich, and even 2 of the 3 cheetah they have! Pics to follow