Middle East & Africa

Memory Lane -

Middle East &

Africa

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The very charming Cristhel from Dubai

The face of Emirates for our flight.

This was a trip I had planned for over 2 years, and it was worth the wait! This fulfilled a number of destinations and experiences I have had on my "list." The first was to enjoy another trip aboard the Crystal Symphony which always feels like home when I board. The second opportunity was to visit the Middle East, especially Dubai. Other exciting destinations were to be the Seychelles and Madagascar, along with other African islands. A major aspect of this trip was to visit a number or reserves in preparation for an upcoming, perfect safari. This meant visiting several places in South Africa to learn more and get recommendations from others' experiences. It was a long trip, but one so amazing that moved me in a way I had not encountered before.

Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans...

We were notified shortly before the trip that we would not be visiting Madagascar due to an outbreak of the plague. No arguments there, but definitely disappointment.

The big treat was getting to and from Dubai. I cannot question why everyone says Emirates is one of the top airlines. I was lucky enough to take advantage of a special offering to upgrade to Business Class (which is as good or better than others' first class)! This made a very long flight seem like another day in paradise. Be sure to check out my comments in the "Special Mentions" section.

The Burj Khalifa

Tallest building in the World

at 160 stories

Days

1-6

The Middle East: Dubai, Qatar & Abu Dhabi

After a 15-1/2 hour flight, I finally arrived in Dubai. Fortunately, I was able to take advantage of a very special restaurant, Amaseena, at the Ritz Carlton in Dubai. Even after a long trip, I was literally stimulated by the sights, sounds and tastes of this amazing cuisine and cultural experience nestled along the coastline of Dubai. Large red tents covering red sofas and tables awaiting a feast, along with haunting Arabian music wafting through a beautiful balmy night is how you are greeted. Then…the chefs and managers arrive to welcome Americans. Refreshing, relaxing and joyful!

The next day gave me an opportunity to experience the Burj Khalifa at sunset! This is special, and will forever be a fond memory as I relaxed in At.mosphere on the 122 floor (where you literally see the curvature of the earth). However, the heights and the price tag are not for the faint of heart.

The following day, I was able to lay eyes on the engineering marvel known as Palm Island. It is hard to fathom how they accomplished this feat, but I'm sure all of the local residents and businesses are paying for it!

Enjoying the wonderful

Amaseena Restaurant

with the Chef

Next, I was off to Qatar. This was another disappointment, as I had planned to chill on Banana Island, just off the coast of Doha. This astounding resort is a destination for royalty and the rich...unfortunately, because of conditions, I didn't get to pretend. I chose, instead, to wander into town to see what this coastline capital was all about. My lesson learned is that it was a Friday, the Islamic holy day. Not much was open, but I did get to witness the incredible competition between the Arab countries for jaw-dropping structures.

Eventually, I found my way to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Again...amazing architecture. However, my destination was the Grand Mosque. A structure that feels somewhat akin to the Taj Mahal.

The Evening View of Doha, Qatar

Birthday greetings from the Captain & Crew

Days

14-16

More days at sea. A great respite from early mornings and long days. Check out these great times under "Special Mentions."

Days

17-21

Reunion & Mauritius: Reunion is a small French colonized island, and Mauritius is a major African island. Both offer waterfalls, vistas and unique lush environments. Their architectures and culture have preserved their heritage over these years.

Days

11-13

The Seychelles: This has been a dream destination for me for decades. Known for its beautiful beaches, this is another destination for the rich and royalty. I expected a relatively lush, flat island...and boy, was I wrong. It is lush, but the hills offer spectacular vistas and the waters are warm and perfect. The flora and fauna are exceptional. I was especially impressed by the gigantic tortoises (which are highly protected) and the huge fruit bats that have the unusual habit of flitting about during the day!

Days

7-10

At Sea: When you are on a long trip like this, sea days are a great break to the constant hustle of foreign exploration. On Crystal, these days are full of catching up with officers and crew, relaxing, imbibing, sampling the phenomenal cuisine, enjoying the spa, reading...well, you get my point. It is especially fun for me because the onboard Crystal Society Hostess, Raffaella, is a dear friend of mine and partner in (singing) crime! I was able to dine with several officers, enjoy special birthday treatment and helped to open the renowned Karaoke on board this ship with "All That Jazz". Amazing singers and stars step up, and there is never a dull or ear-piercing moment into the wee hours.

Days

22-31

Mozambique & South Africa: Days 22-25 were, once again, at sea. More black tie nights and special dinners and spa time; then off to Mozambique and South Africa. I would not describe Mozambique as a major destination; however, I was impressed with the people's love for their country. With very few exceptions, they have removed all public indications of the Portuguese occupation. Because they have such an extraordinarily high unemployment rate, the inhabitants work diligently to garner income by being aggressive street vendors. While some were annoyed, I really did feel for them.

South Africa is a completely different story. We had 6 days to explore three different reserves and Cape Town. It is an experience I will never forget. This was especially important, because I am seeking to find the perfect safari experience. This preview showed me that each reserve is very unique...in both layout and game. I found myself in tears on a number of occasions; overcome with awe and joy that I was fortunate enough to experience these beautiful animals in their natural habitat. We should all be grateful to those in Africa who give their time and money and risk their lives to protect their wildlife. Please be sure to check out my full gallery and video of these experiences.

Safari

South Africa Safari

Watch the Beautiful

Safari Musical Slideshow

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This is one of my greatest experiences in my travels. To turn a corner and come face to face with a herd of elephants or come upon an entire group of giraffes feasting on the tree tops is, to say the least, humbling and awe inspiring. I thought I would offer you a special gallery of photos from the three reserves I was able to visit. You may also want to check out the musical slideshow.

Arabian Nights

Special Mentions

Amaseena Restaurant, Dubai

Upon arriving, after an extremely long flight, I had made arrangements for a wonderful experience at the outdoor Arabian restaurant, Amaseena, at the Ritz Carlton. They take this experience seriously. Even after a long trip, we were literally stimulated by the sights, sounds and tastes of this amazing cuisine and cultural experience nestled along the coastline of Dubai. Large red tents covering red sofas and tables awaiting a feast, along with haunting Arabian music wafting through a beautiful balmy night is how you are greeted. Then…the chefs and managers arrive to welcome Americans. Refreshing, relaxing and joyful! Needless to say, the experience was a perfect end to a very long journey. It was time for a great night’s sleep; and the next day awaited. If you are in Dubai, this feels like such an authentic experience.

Go!

Watch the Charming

Amaseena Video

videos

Videos

Amaseena Restaurant:

Arabian nights in Dubai at the Ritz Carlton

Shopping in Dubai:

Christmas in the stunning mall in the Burj Khalifa

Giant Tortoises:

The amazing tortoises of the Seychelles. Video cannot do them justice.

The Music of Cape Town:

Delightful music on a delightful day in Cape Town, South Africa

Zebra Smelling:

The unusual way zebras use the gland under their lip to smell. Enjoy!

Encountering Elephants:

Imagine turning a corner to meet an entire herd of elephants!

Giraffes in So. Africa:

It was amazing to come across these beautiful creatures in the wild.

Zebras Everywhere!:

Zebras seemed to have no fear of the human intrusion. They were everywhere.

Huge White Rhino:

This big boy has claimed his territory right in a mud hole!

Mama & Baby Warthogs:

I loved the warthogs... especially the babies.

Mama & Baby Antelope:

A great moment to catch of an antelope feeding her baby.

White Rhinos Grazing:

A relaxing day for rhinos under the constant vigilance of dedicated rangers.

Emirates Airines

Emirates Airlines

Normally, I wouldn't comment about an airline, but WOW. I have been able to fly 1st class often throughout my life and nothing is better than when you can fly 1st class on a long, international flight. Nothing in my experience could even compare to Emirates' Business class onboard their Airbus 380.

You will see my amazing space in business class on Emirates. I can't imagine what first class was like. I had a mattress for when I turned it into a bed, notice my side table (birdseye maple), I had a control panel, an iPad, a full screen TV, and you might notice the rack of drinks, state-of-the-art headphones, all the plug-ins and yes, a bag of Bvlgar products in a lovely suede pouch. Of course, they provide cushy eye masks and socks.

Check out my Mimosa and some little snacks I picked up in their lovely lounge at the back of our business section. This "lovely lounge" is constantly attended, stocked with treats and sandwiches, offers free cocktails (they even offer my favorite champagne, Veuve Cliquot), a variety of reading materials and a comfortable environment to interact with other travelers and even the crew.

This made a 16 hour flight enjoyable, to say the least. By the way, did I mention their food is out of this world?

I was so impressed with the leg into Dubai that I upgraded for the return leg, Dubai to San Francisco!

Cristhel, from Dubai

The Lovely Face of Emirates

Crystal

Food & Beverage Officer

Svein Erik Bye

A Good Person to Know!

Crystal Gallery

Crystal Symphony

As if the cultural and wildlife experiences weren’t enough to provide an amazing trip, the Crystal experience is “icing on the cake.” Sailing with Crystal is, in itself, a memorable experience. From the wonderful crew who become family, engagement with the officers, the onboard entertainment (of which sometimes I would play a role) and the amazing cuisine, to the lectures, spa treatments, casino and meeting other experienced travelers seeking to learn more about their world; Crystal never fails to deliver. I was able to enjoy a penthouse, complete with butler on this trip (which will make it hard to go back to being normal). That just made the icing extra rich.

Most importantly, the crew makes the experience exceptional. Every time I board the Crystal Symphony, I am greeted with hugs and smiles. It feels like coming home. We share photos, catch up on our lives and do a lot of laughing. They have an uncanny way to maintain the Crystal decorum, making you feel special, while knowing how to make you enjoy your time aboard. Here are a few photos that I hope will explain my affinity for the Crystal Symphony.