The United Arab Emirates

The Dubai skyline.

Unfortunately, the Cunard shuttle bus dropped us off at the Burjuman Shopping Center, about a fifteen-minute drive in the opposite direction. This is as close as I was able to get in the time allotted. The mall area was not much more than fast food chains and designer clothing stores.

The scenery from the shuttle drop-off point in Dubai was so unspectacular that I went out on Deck 7 that night to try making up for it. The skyline wasn’t visible from the ship, but I did get a decent shot of the ship’s spare propeller blades.

 The remaining six photos are from Abu Dhabi. Again, the shuttle left us off at a shopping center. This time, at least, it was nearer the downtown area.

 

Safaga, Egypt

Today, most of the ship's guests took bus tours to the Valley of the Kings. The scenery for pedestrians was less spectacular. Yesterday's port had even less scenery to offer, but it served as a point of departure for those wishing to visit the pyramids of Giza.

The Suez Canal

Heraklion, Crete

Strong winds prevented the ship from docking in Piraeus, Greece, this morning, so the Commodore opted for Crete instead. It was the QM2's first visit to this port.

Barcelona

Columbus is pointing the way back to the U.S., and the traffic light below is green. Maybe he's trying to tell me something.