Dubai Port

[KathyBC]

Found on another site that there used to be complimentary shuttle bus services to selected shopping malls across Dubai. Anyone been there recently and can confirm/deny.  

[cruiser man 60]

Yes there is one which goes to the main Dubai shopping mall where the Burj Kalifa is. However the queues are long, no real time table and according to others who took it it takes over an hour to get there.

we just got a taxi from the port, took about 15/20 minutes and cost is about £10 equivalent.

[In need of Sun]

Hello-

 

The Bus you want is the Dubai Mall shuttle.   It is supposed to run once per hour and yes, it is free.   The only time this changes is when there are a lot of ships in port and it gets full.  It is typically a black bus with "Dubai Mall" on the sides.   The stop  for this bus is about 50 feet from the cruise dock.   There is a large marker for this bus.   Be careful there are several other smaller buses that take you to other malls.  Usually the  big bus is parked in the next spot and those guys are good for asking for info.

 

Another option that we used when the the Dubai Mall bus didn't show up was the following:  look to your left and walk to the cab stands.   As them for the price to the closest metro station (I think it is the Burjurman station).   From there you can take the metro (which is clean and fast) and be downtown in 20 minutes.  (The cab to Burjurman  should cost anywhere from 17-23  although the cabs at the pier will try to charge you outrageous prices.   It helps if you have a group for negotiating leverage.

 

Have a wonderful time!!

[Bobal]

7 hours ago, In need of Sun said:

Hello-

 

The Bus you want is the Dubai Mall shuttle.   It is supposed to run once per hour and yes, it is free.   The only time this changes is when there are a lot of ships in port and it gets full.  It is typically a black bus with "Dubai Mall" on the sides.   The stop  for this bus is about 50 feet from the cruise dock.   There is a large marker for this bus.   Be careful there are several other smaller buses that take you to other malls.  Usually the  big bus is parked in the next spot and those guys are good for asking for info.

 

Another option that we used when the the Dubai Mall bus didn't show up was the following:  look to your left and walk to the cab stands.   As them for the price to the closest metro station (I think it is the Burjurman station).   From there you can take the metro (which is clean and fast) and be downtown in 20 minutes.  (The cab to Burjurman  should cost anywhere from 17-23  although the cabs at the pier will try to charge you outrageous prices.   It helps if you have a group for negotiating leverage.

 

Have a wonderful time!!

 

17-23 what? Dollars? Euros? Dirhams?

[KathyBC]

On ‎2‎/‎6‎/‎2019 at 12:17 AM, cruiser man 60 said:

Yes there is one which goes to the main Dubai shopping mall where the Burj Kalifa is. However the queues are long, no real time table and according to others who took it it takes over an hour to get there.

we just got a taxi from the port, took about 15/20 minutes and cost is about £10 equivalent.

 

For years my husband & I traveled independently and our main mode of transportation was public transport.  A plus was meeting local folks and the slower pace gave us a opportunity to  see stuff along a route rather than whizzing buy in a car so I spent hours determining how to get around  Dubai using buses and metro, A bus that leaves Falcon Intersection  takes 30 minutes to the mall but I woke up in the middle of the night wondering if I would find the intersection so this morning I decided to take a taxi. 

[KathyBC]

4 hours ago, Bobal said:

 

17-23 what? Dollars? Euros? Dirhams? 

 

Thanks so much Bobal for the detailed information. I am traveling solo so no one to share a taxi with. Sigh! but your suggestion re getting to a metro is very much appreciated.

Hmmm - Not sure who highlighted in red or posted asking currency. I figure it is Dirhams. 

Thanks for the good wishes. I have been to Turkey, Malaysia and Egypt but I think this country will offer a whole new experience.

 

 

[KathyBC]

5 minutes ago, KathyBC said:

 

Thanks so much Bobal for the detailed information. I am traveling solo so no one to share a taxi with. Sigh! but your suggestion re getting to a metro is very much appreciated.

Hmmm - Not sure who highlighted in red or posted asking currency. I figure it is Dirhams. 

Thanks for the good wishes. I have been to Turkey, Malaysia and Egypt but I think this country will offer a whole new experience.

 

 

 

 

 

ooops - replied while having my first cup of coffee so brain  not in gear (situation normal - Big Sigh!)

Many Thanks to In Need of Sun. 🙂

[In need of Sun]

Hello KathyBC-

 

It was my pleasure.   This trip widened my view of the world.   I hope that you find it life-altering also.   Don't worry, Dubai in particular has a lot of infrastructure that supports tourism and you will rarely feel alone.   My suggestions would be the following:

 

1. Skip the ship excursions, when you get past the gate, negotiate with a cab driver, you can go the same places for a lot less and have some control over how long you stay.

 

2. Dubai is the 7th most traveled to destination.  Allow the infrastructure they have in place to assist you.   You can get anywhere on the Metro, and I found the metro stations in Dubai cleaner than many governmental buildings I have been in.   The metro stops are announced in English and Arabic.   When you get tired, hop on the big bus and let it take you around while you gather your thoughts and just take a breath.  The big bus operates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat.   If you buy all 3 at once you get a substantial discount and you can schedule your rides for when you start to get tired.  Food is allowed on them so you can eat while you determine your next stop.   95% of my interactions were in English and everybody understood tourism so I never felt at a disadvantage.

 

3. If I were you, I would consider making the Burjamon stop my home base away from the ship, it's easy and cheap to get back to the ship and Burjamon has a more relaxed feel to it.   Its a neighborhood and you can walk along many working folks and the shops they support.   I found myself coming back to this area over and over. I walked this neighborhood all times of the day and night and always felt secure.   The metro stop is huge and you can get a lot of information there. Additionally, There are restaurants and a Carrefour that are informal and allow you to people watch, exchange money and pick up things you might need.

 

4. If you are there on the first Saturday of the month.   Don't miss the flea market in El Zabeel park.   It is the park where the frame is.   It is another place where the "real world" Dubai meets.   it costs 5 dirhams to enter, but if you have it on your metro card, they will accept this.   You can reach it on the Metro.   Bring dirhams, and plan to stay past 10a.m. (it opens at 8), as that is when prices start to drop.  

 

5. Read my review of the ship and the trip.   I have posted it.   If you need more information, don't hesitate to ask.   I hope that you enjoy it as deeply as I did.   My perception of the world is broader as a result of this trip.

 

[KathyBC]

7 hours ago, In need of Sun said:

Hello KathyBC-

 

It was my pleasure.   This trip widened my view of the world.   I hope that you find it life-altering also.   Don't worry, Dubai in particular has a lot of infrastructure that supports tourism and you will rarely feel alone.   My suggestions would be the following:

 

1. Skip the ship excursions, when you get past the gate, negotiate with a cab driver, you can go the same places for a lot less and have some control over how long you stay.

 

2. Dubai is the 7th most traveled to destination.  Allow the infrastructure they have in place to assist you.   You can get anywhere on the Metro, and I found the metro stations in Dubai cleaner than many governmental buildings I have been in.   The metro stops are announced in English and Arabic.   When you get tired, hop on the big bus and let it take you around while you gather your thoughts and just take a breath.  The big bus operates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat.   If you buy all 3 at once you get a substantial discount and you can schedule your rides for when you start to get tired.  Food is allowed on them so you can eat while you determine your next stop.   95% of my interactions were in English and everybody understood tourism so I never felt at a disadvantage.

 

3. If I were you, I would consider making the Burjamon stop my home base away from the ship, it's easy and cheap to get back to the ship and Burjamon has a more relaxed feel to it.   Its a neighborhood and you can walk along many working folks and the shops they support.   I found myself coming back to this area over and over. I walked this neighborhood all times of the day and night and always felt secure.   The metro stop is huge and you can get a lot of information there. Additionally, There are restaurants and a Carrefour that are informal and allow you to people watch, exchange money and pick up things you might need.

 

4. If you are there on the first Saturday of the month.   Don't miss the flea market in El Zabeel park.   It is the park where the frame is.   It is another place where the "real world" Dubai meets.   it costs 5 dirhams to enter, but if you have it on your metro card, they will accept this.   You can reach it on the Metro.   Bring dirhams, and plan to stay past 10a.m. (it opens at 8), as that is when prices start to drop.  

 

5. Read my review of the ship and the trip.   I have posted it.   If you need more information, don't hesitate to ask.   I hope that you enjoy it as deeply as I did.   My perception of the world is broader as a result of this trip.

 

 

 

OMGosh - Again - Many Thanks for being so helpful!

 

If I can navigate C.C (really old computer illiterate person here - me - not the computer LOL!) I will read your review before I leave on Friday.

 

I have no problems traveling on my own - in fact had a couple holidays with friends when I wished I had just paid the single supplement and enjoyed,  I have not booked tours with the cruise line. I spent a month figuring out how to get about on my own (your reply was included in my plan  re free bus) -- along with my own itineraries because I agree that traveling independently gives one the option of where to go and how long to stay.

 

Thanks for the heads up re Burjamon Metro & vicinity. ( I had to google carrefour - not familiar to me). I will miss the Zabeel park market - flying in late on the Saturday and leaving on a Friday.

 

I really appreciate the time you have taken to guide me along

k

 

 

[KathyBC]

9 hours ago, In need of Sun said:

Hello KathyBC-

 

It was my pleasure.   This trip widened my view of the world.   I hope that you find it life-altering also.   Don't worry, Dubai in particular has a lot of infrastructure that supports tourism and you will rarely feel alone.   My suggestions would be the following:

 

1. Skip the ship excursions, when you get past the gate, negotiate with a cab driver, you can go the same places for a lot less and have some control over how long you stay.

 

2. Dubai is the 7th most traveled to destination.  Allow the infrastructure they have in place to assist you.   You can get anywhere on the Metro, and I found the metro stations in Dubai cleaner than many governmental buildings I have been in.   The metro stops are announced in English and Arabic.   When you get tired, hop on the big bus and let it take you around while you gather your thoughts and just take a breath.  The big bus operates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat.   If you buy all 3 at once you get a substantial discount and you can schedule your rides for when you start to get tired.  Food is allowed on them so you can eat while you determine your next stop.   95% of my interactions were in English and everybody understood tourism so I never felt at a disadvantage.

 

3. If I were you, I would consider making the Burjamon stop my home base away from the ship, it's easy and cheap to get back to the ship and Burjamon has a more relaxed feel to it.   Its a neighborhood and you can walk along many working folks and the shops they support.   I found myself coming back to this area over and over. I walked this neighborhood all times of the day and night and always felt secure.   The metro stop is huge and you can get a lot of information there. Additionally, There are restaurants and a Carrefour that are informal and allow you to people watch, exchange money and pick up things you might need.

 

4. If you are there on the first Saturday of the month.   Don't miss the flea market in El Zabeel park.   It is the park where the frame is.   It is another place where the "real world" Dubai meets.   it costs 5 dirhams to enter, but if you have it on your metro card, they will accept this.   You can reach it on the Metro.   Bring dirhams, and plan to stay past 10a.m. (it opens at 8), as that is when prices start to drop.  

 

5. Read my review of the ship and the trip.   I have posted it.   If you need more information, don't hesitate to ask.   I hope that you enjoy it as deeply as I did.   My perception of the world is broader as a result of this trip.

 

 

I scrolled through a number of pages of reviews and eventually gave up. I then entered your name but was provided with many reviews that had the word "sun" in the topic. If you give me the date you posted that would be helpful. 

[little britain]

On 2/7/2019 at 3:31 AM, In need of Sun said:

 the cabs at the pier will try to charge you outrageous prices.  

There is a 20aed surcharge on cabs leaving the port, therefore the cab fare on the way out is always more expensive than the return journey:   The same applies in Abu Dhabi.

 

The taxis are metered. Make sure you see the meter is on and clearly showing the screen before you set off. 

 

As a a single female traveller you may also appreciate the pink cabs driven by lady cab drivers. An excellent idea. 

[lambs2]

For anyone who has flown into Dubai: Approximately how long does it take to go through customs at the Dubai airport and pick up luggage before able to get a cab to your hotel? Thank you.

[cruiser man 60]

It took us about 45 minutes to get through customs as they individually check all passports and stamp them. I should think when it's busy it would take a lot longer.

there are also several checks leaving the airport and when we got to final one the guy on desk said we didn't have the correct entry stamp for when the cruise came back and virtually accused us of entering illegally!!

we showed him the itinerary and said on docking we walked out of port, and took a taxi to hotel for 3 days.

anyway he wouldn't have it and sent us to immigration rooms who looked at passports, itinerary and just stamped us through, added 20mins extra onto exit.

[KathyBC]

7 hours ago, little britain said:

There is a 20aed surcharge on cabs leaving the port, therefore the cab fare on the way out is always more expensive than the return journey:   The same applies in Abu Dhabi.

 

The taxis are metered. Make sure you see the meter is on and clearly showing the screen before you set off. 

 

As a a single female traveller you may also appreciate the pink cabs driven by lady cab drivers. An excellent idea. 

 

I am aware that there is a surcharge. Converting the Canadian peso that's another 10 bucks added to the fare. 😞

 

Also know to insist on meter so don't expect to get ripped off like I will in Oman

 

Pink cabs for women - ha-ha, Where I live - I see a number of pink cars. These are owned by a house cleaning company.