4/17–Abu Dhabi afternoon

The tour goes on – with out next stop being a market, which turns out to be a really expensive shopping “market” inside a hotel.  Everything there is pricey and they want us to have a seat around these carpets and they’ll bring us tea.  Oh no – not the carpet gimmick. Fortunately none of us are into that – so we all get up and skedaddle back to the van. No commission for our guide today. 

The next stop is up for debate – we were supposed to visit a local souk, but that seems to have been left out of our itinerary now. So the guide convinces us to go the Ferrari World where we can see all the expensive cars.  A discussion ensues about how long to stay with the back of the van voting for 30 minutes, but Ann, the tour leader saying 1 hour – so 1 hour it is.

As it turns out, the Ferrari place is a waste.  It’s basically a big shopping mall with lots of restaurants (Bucca di Beppo and Starbucks for God’s sakes) and one Ferrari car in the upstairs lobby you could use for picture taking.

Everything else was accessed only by ticket – and the tickets were $60 or $70 each.  Not.  So, now we have an hour here to do what exactly, we’re not sure.  So, we leave, sit outside and use the free mall wifi for the remaining 45 minutes at least.  Fortunately, everyone – including the guide - shows up on time for the van and we head back to the port.

Semi-nice day – the mosque was definitely worth it – the rest? Eh, we’d have to say no – we’d pass if we ever came back – which we won’t, thank you just the same.

Back at the port, we are transit passengers, but we have to go to port coordinator to get our new keys.  It’s late enough when we get aboard that we’ve missed lunch in Luminae, the suite restaurant, but our cabins are ready.  We check out our Sky Suite, which is basically a bigger stateroom.  It’s about 1/3rd bigger than a normal cabin, with a nice size sofa, comfy chair and a bigger balcony that will be great for our canal cruising.  The bathroom has a tub – but no towel racks – odd but true.  And the closet is a walk-in, sort of – it’s weird, but actually very practical and works quite well because you can walk in it like a little alley and avoid the front door area – which unfortunately is soaking wet – something’s not right with the plumbing.  Oops.   

Our bags are here – with is a relief – and we begin our unpacking and organizing before the muster drill.  We meet our cabin steward, who is a doll, and who also gets plumber up here to fix whatever it is that is leaking into the carpet (and later on gets us one of those awesome bamboo diffusers from Aquaclass to help with the smell in the entranceway). Then start our new routine – which includes going to Michael’s club for our drinks and canapés before dinner, then to Luminae (which is fabulous), then the show….and well…you know how it goes. Life upon the sea.  On it goes….