Tony Walsh – author & tours through Arabia
Tony Walsh – lecturer about the Arab Gulf for cruise ships, author and director of tours in the Middle East
Cruising to Muscat’s Mina Sultan Qaboos is always an experience, the harbour really looks great from the sea.
Of course though enjoying the views it was also Continue reading “Cruising to Muscat with the Clipper Odyssey”
Waking early enabled me to enjoy sunrise over Musandam as we entered Khasab on the Clipper Odyssey.
It was a treat to visit Continue reading “Sea and Sun in Musandam”
The Zodiacs of the Clipper Odyssey (now renamed Silver Discoverer) ably lead by John Yersin came in handy to get us onto Sir bani Yas .
Once on the island I joined other Continue reading “Zodiacs onto Sir Bani Yas”
I arrived in Dubai to join Zegrahm’s ‘Sands of Time’ cruise and the ‘Clipper Odyssey’ to give lectures on board about this region to the passengers.
Remarkably Zegrahm’s had booked me into the hotel I slept in when first visiting Dubai in 1986, the Continue reading “Zegrahm’s ‘Sands of Time’ cruise”
In January last year I was delighted to give lots of talks about Oman as ‘Guest Lecturer’ on an Arabian Gulf Cruise with the Island Sky as it cruised from Salalah to past Abu Dhabi.
This year in November the American Continue reading “Arabian Gulf Cruise with Clipper Odyssey in November”
in Arabia
Before we cruised into Sharjah, my fellow lecturer, Dr Alan Borg, who after retiring as Director of the V&A Museum has more time to give us an insight into the decorative arts, gave a very interesting overview of the architecture, both old and new, of the Arabian Peninsula.
Arriving into Sharjah we walked Continue reading “Sharjah’s Museums and Mosques”
on its way to Oman
The Island Sky had wonderful weather for the Arabian Gulf section of our voyage. We wandered around the spice souq and then into the gold souq in Dubai.
While the previous journeys had some cloud, for this one we had clear skies and warm weather. Continue reading “Island Sky in the Gulf”
via Sir bani Yas
The island of Sir bani Yas was to be the next destination of the Island Sky.
Here not only did we have a wonderful animal safari but also a superb lunch in the new hotel. Finally we arrived in Dubai as the sun rose to illuminate Continue reading “Cruise to Dubai and Sir Bani Yas”
and Fujarah
Before our Tour of Musandam in Oman we arrived into Fujarah and took a tour through this part of the UAE.
The museum was Continue reading “Tour of Musandam in Oman from Noble Caledonia’s Island Sky”
after arriving by sea in Noble Caledonia’s Island Sky
During our guests holiday in Oman we paid a nice visit into Sur, near Oman’s eastern tip.
and its historical sites.
It was great to meet all the passengers who flew in for the start of their cruise from Salalah.
They overnighted in the Hilton Salalah Continue reading “Passengers arrive for the start of their Cruise from Salalah”
from Salalah to Dubai
This time next year I should be on board the MS Island Sky for a wonderful cruise from Salalah along Oman’s coast and on up to Sir bani Yas in Abu Dhabi – plenty of subjects for talks.
Its 10 years since I first stepped on board a ship as cruise lecturer. This was also with Nobel Caledonia’s Shearwater when it undertook their first Gulf Cruise in 2000 – we ventured from Muscat up to Bahrain .
Cruising in the Gulf has become more popular since then – warm winter sun might be a factor! But the Island Sky will go where other ships cannot reach and add in spectacular scenery, extraordinary birdlife along the coast, the historical monuments in Oman and of course the fabulous Omani’s themselves and it should again be a journey to remember.