Seabourn Encore arrived in Mina Zayed at 8am on Monday. On the quay, passengers were met by women and men in traditional Emirati dress serving Arabic coffee and dates. Falconers were on hand and an ayyala traditional dance was performed. Across the water, the dome of Louvre Abu Dhabi shimmered.
Onboard were 604 passengers and 422 crew, meaning the ship was close to capacity. Her arrival marked the start of the 2017/2018 cruise season and it has been quite a decade for the sector.
The cruise business started in Abu Dhabi in 2006 with 32,000 passengers coming through.
Last year a staggering 346,000 passengers visited the capital with 170 calls at Mina Zayed and Sir Bani Yas, while a new cruise terminal opened at Mina Zayed two years ago. A five per cent increase in passengers is forecast this year, with four maiden calls scheduled in Abu Dhabi, as the emirate bids to become the leading international alternative winter sun cruise destination.
This week, Etihad announced a link up with Louvre Abu Dhabi to promote the museum at home and abroad but one of the more interesting questions is how passengers from cruise liners will be able to access the Louvre Abu Dhabi once it opens on November 11.
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Read more:
[ Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach opens ]
[ Abu Dhabi Ports Company to promote Cruise Abu Dhabi’ as a preferred winter cruise destination ]
[ Majestic Princess caps Abu Dhabi’s longest cruise season ]
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“Louvre Abu Dhabi is no more than ten minutes away from here,” said Saif Ghobash, director general of the Department of Culture and Tourism.
“It’s perfect for a passenger seeking a cultural escape and for these one-day stops.”
This view is shared by Saeed Al Dhaheri, cruise sector and city tour development section manager at the department. “We are engaged with the Louvre team. There will be access for them,” he said.
At the Abu Dhabi terminal are gift shops, money exchanges and tourist booths. Signs for attractions such as Al Wathba, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Jebel Hafeet hang from the walls, while Big Bus double deckers are lined up outside. There is also an Etihad check-in desk. Mr Al Dhaheri said surveys are conducted to gauge the satisfaction of passengers arriving in Abu Dhabi and last year more than “more than 80 per cent were satisified”.
The passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi are mainly from Europe and the United States. About five per cent come from the local market but it’s hoped that this will increase. A campaign was launched last month to encourage more GCC nationals and Emiratis.
Walking around the terminal on Monday were hundreds of these passengers. For Guillermo and Annette from Mexico City, the chance to visit Abu Dhabi was important. “You hear about it across the world, said Guillermo. “We are always curious to see different cultures and Abu Dhabi is one and we felt it was very safe and very cosmopolitan and very grand. So that’s why we chose to come here.”
Americans David Allen and Sandee Norris are both spent time in Dubai more than twenty years ago but had never been to Abu Dhabi. “We are destination driven so we wanted to come back and see the Emirates as they are today which is very, very different,” said Mr Allen. “We want to get a general feeling for the city. Our plan is to come back and spend more time.”
Cruise arrivals fall into three categories: cruise ships operating seasonal winter sun circular tours of the Arabian Gulf with Abu Dhabi being the beginning and end port; cruise ships which will dock at Abu Dhabi as part of a regional Arabian Gulf itinerary; and international cruise lines which will call at Abu Dhabi for a day during their round-the-world voyage.
Part of the Seabourn chain, the vessel arrived in Abu Dhabi from Muscat via Italy, Santorini and Jordan. Its inaugural season was in 2016, and she has 12 decks, 266 cabins, can reach 19 knots and is 198 metres long.
On Tuesday evening, the Seabourn will leave for Sir Bani Yas, the region’s only dedicated cruise stopover beach and then she heads back to Dubai. Many people will get on in Dubai to begin a fresh cruise to Singapore.
“What distinguishes us is our cultural offering – it’s very, very unique,” said Mr Ghobash.
“Be it the historic sites in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi or the mega museum such as Louvre Abu Dhabi. We hope to open Qasr Al Hosn next year. So we have a plan.”
Confirmed bouts (more to be added)
Cory Sandhagen v Umar Nurmagomedov
Nick Diaz v Vicente Luque
Michael Chiesa v Tony Ferguson
Deiveson Figueiredo v Marlon Vera
Mackenzie Dern v Loopy Godinez
Tickets for the August 3 Fight Night, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, went on sale earlier this month, through www.etihadarena.ae and www.ticketmaster.ae.
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
John Wick: Chapter 4
Director: Chad Stahelski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, George Georgiou
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Results:
2.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh60,000 1,200m.
Winner: AZ Dhabyan, Adam McLean (jockey), Saleha Al Ghurair (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 1,200m.
Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
3.15pm: Conditions (PA) Dh60,000 2,000m.
Winner: Hareer Al Reef, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
3.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 1,700m.
Winner: Kenz Al Reef, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
4.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh 200,000 1,700m.
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
4.45pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m.
Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
ATP WORLD No 1
2004 Roger Federer
2005 Roger Federer
2006 Roger Federer
2007 Roger Federer
2008 Rafael Nadal
2009 Roger Federer
2010 Rafael Nadal
2011 Novak Djokovic
2012 Novak Djokovic
2013 Rafael Nadal
2014 Novak Djokovic
2015 Novak Djokovic
2016 Andy Murray
2017 Rafael Nadal
2018 Novak Djokovic
2019 Rafael Nadal
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
Pakistan squad
Sarfraz (c), Zaman, Imam, Masood, Azam, Malik, Asif, Sohail, Shadab, Nawaz, Ashraf, Hasan, Amir, Junaid, Shinwari and Afridi
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
Listen to Extra Time
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
Coming 2 America
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones
3/5 stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Revibe
Started: 2022
Founders: Hamza Iraqui and Abdessamad Ben Zakour
Based: UAE
Industry: Refurbished electronics
Funds raised so far: $10m
Investors: Flat6Labs, Resonance and various others
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)