As promised, this is a follow-up to my previous post about the cruise through the Middle East. Before visiting Dubai, I didn’t think it would be my kind of place. I’ve always been drawn to Europe — open skies, history, culture, depth. Dubai, to me, seemed flashy and superficial.
But… I was completely wrong.
We arrived at night, and even just the Uber ride from the airport to the cruise terminal was a show. The city lights, the massive buildings, the nightlife — it was alive. There was traffic near the Marina even past midnight, and long lines outside clubs. That was surprise number one.
The next morning, from the skywalk on our ship, we had a panoramic view of the Marina and Palm Jumeirah — absolutely breathtaking.
To explore, we used the Hop-On Hop-Off bus, which was very practical. There are two routes: one passes the Dubai Mall and historical markets, and the other heads toward the Palm islands.
We started with the Dubai Mall. Pro tip: we got there before it opened, and it was completely empty. Perfect for pictures! We had the waterfall sculpture all to ourselves and captured great shots near the Burj Khalifa with no crowds.
We also visited:
- The Dubai Frame
- The Museum of the Future
- The souks and newer markets
- The area with the Burj Al Arab, which is photo-worthy even from a distance
- And of course, the Dubai Miracle Garden — home to around 150 million flowers, mostly in quantity, not variety, but it’s stunning!
On our second return to Dubai (at the end of the cruise), we finally saw the Dubai Fountain Show. I used to think the Bellagio fountains in Vegas were amazing — until I saw this. The force, the sound, the sheer scale… it’s on another level. Even my husband, who had already warned me, was right: Dubai doesn’t hold back.
What stood out the most:
- The cleanliness and flowers everywhere (we went in March — it was in full bloom!)
- The hospitality — people were so kind, respectful, and professional
- The architecture — a mix of ultra-modern, desert-inspired, and cultural motifs
- The luxury — cars, stores, everything
- The American presence — everything from Five Guys to Starbucks to fast-fashion chains, with signs in both Arabic and English
- And the smell — yes, the city smells amazing. Arab perfumes are everywhere, even in the air.
One last note: the cruise terminal and airport were both exceptional — clean, modern, well-staffed, and running 24/7. Coming from Houston, I was amazed at the number of overnight flights and the flow of activity.
Dubai left a strong impression on me — not just visually, but emotionally and even olfactively. I didn’t expect to fall in love with it, but I absolutely did. And yes — I would go back.
Summary: Dubai Travel – What Surprised Me Most
- First impression: Arrived at night — city lights, tall buildings, nightlife = stunning
- Transportation: Uber from the airport to the cruise terminal was fast and easy
- Hop-On Hop-Off bus = great for seeing major sights
- Top highlights:
- Dubai Mall (arrive early for crowd-free photos)
- Burj Khalifa
- Dubai Frame & Museum of the Future
- Dubai Miracle Garden (approx. 150 million flowers)
- Markets and souks (great for perfume, chocolate, and unique shopping)
- Fountain Show: Better than Bellagio — loud, powerful, unforgettable
- Cleanliness: The City is spotless and full of flowers
- Perfume: The whole city smells amazing — Arabian scents everywhere
- Hospitality: Locals and workers were polite, welcoming, and professional
- Style: Many women dressed freely, expats live comfortably and stylishly
- Religion: They do have catholic churches there with about 300,000 parishioners
- American brands: Starbucks, Five Guys, and more are everywhere
- Architecture: Fusion of desert-inspired + ultra-modern design
- Cruise terminal & airport: Modern, organized, and fully operational 24/7
- Overall: Dubai completely exceeded expectations — would 100% go back
