Last year, we went on one of our favorite types of vacations: a cruise. And this time, it was through the Middle East, sailing with our go-to cruise line: Costa Cruises — Italian, just like my roots, and known for its amazing food (and yes, I’m team Italian cuisine forever 🍝).
The journey started in Dubai — a city I honestly didn’t expect to love. I’ve always been more drawn to Europe, with its open skies and historical richness. Dubai, to me, seemed all about luxury and excess — not really my style.
But I was so wrong. I’ll write a full post about Dubai soon, because it truly deserves it. But for now, here’s how our Middle East cruise itinerary went:
🗺️ The Route:
- Dubai – Our starting point. We flew in, hopped in an Uber, and went straight to the port. Had dinner, took a good shower and after a good night of sleep we enjoyed a full day visiting the city.
- Abu Dhabi – Impressive ambition. The main mall isn’t quite on Dubai’s level, but you can feel the city transforming. Think Louvre Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld (indoors!), and major international concepts popping up everywhere.
- Qatar (Doha) – A quick visit. We did a hop-on-hop-off tour, saw the main highlights… but it didn’t charm me. I wouldn’t stay more than a couple of nights.
- Oman (Muscat) – Another interesting stop, but again, not a destination I’d return to.
- Back to Dubai – We ended the trip where it started. Another full day of fun, and after our last dinner, we headed to the airport for a 2 am flight.
What made this trip even better was the timing. We sailed just before Ramadan, which was perfect. If you’re not familiar with Islamic customs, it can be tricky to travel during this holy period — many services are reduced, and there are important cultural norms to respect. Out of consideration, I prefer to avoid traveling to Islamic countries during that time.
We were lucky to catch the very last Costa Toscana cruise of the season before the ship moved to the Mediterranean.
What I love about cruises is the simplicity:
✔️ All-inclusive comfort
✔️ No repacking
✔️ Stress-free transfers (literally Uber > port > ship > return)
✔️ New countries, no airport hopping
It was such a smooth, enriching, and unforgettable experience. And yes, I’d absolutely cruise this route again — especially with Costa.
Middle East Cruise – Highlights & Tips
- Cruise route: Dubai → Abu Dhabi → Doha (Qatar) → Oman → back to Dubai
- Cruise line: Costa Cruises (Italian cuisine onboard – a favorite!)
- Dubai: Surprisingly charming; more on this in a separate post
- Abu Dhabi: City under massive development, with Louvre, SeaWorld, etc.
- Qatar (Doha): Hop-on-hop-off tour was nice, but not a place I’d stay long
- Oman: Interesting stop, not a must-return destination for me
- Cruise timing: Right before Ramadan (recommended to avoid travel during it)
- All-inclusive cruise = no stress, no repacking, easy transportation
- Costa Toscana: Last sailing of the season before moving to the Mediterranean; was replaced by the Costa Smeralda for this route
- Simple logistics: Just a flight + Uber to/from port — everything else handled onboard
Overall: A smooth, practical, and enriching travel experience
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