Golden Dubai & the Indian Ocean Cruise to Cape Town
Includes Whale watching and wine tasting tour
36days from
£9,359*per person
Overview
From the deserts of Dubai to the Savannah of South Africa, this cruise will take you along the ancient spice routes, taking in India, Maldives and Zanzibar on you cruise to South Africa. Start your adventure in the Modern city of Dubai, before exploring India with an overnight in Mumbai. Then on to a couple of picture postcard and bucket list destinations of Maldives, Seychelles and Zanzibar. This cruise will hopefully tick a few boxes on your list.
Itinerary
- Fly overnight from UK to Dubai
- Explore this amazing emirate where ultra-modern architecture soars over traditional Arab styles. See the impressive Jumeirah Mosque and stroll through the narrow alleys of old Dubai. Visit a museum in a former all-boys school or journey along Dubai Creek in a dhow. Visit fascinating Sharjah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its fabulous souks.
- Embark ship
- As the world's richest city, Abu Dhabi boasts opulent hotels, museums and a yacht-filled marina, all marvels of modern architecture. Explore the emirate's old souks, sip a fragrant Arabic coffee, ride the dunes on an exhilarating desert safari, or dive into dazzling marine life.
- The only emirate on the Gulf of Oman rather than the Persian Gulf, Fujairah is blessed with fine beaches and offers excellent deep-sea fishing and snorkeling. It's separated from the rest of the country by the Hagar mountain range that looms majestically behind the port of Fujairah. Built in 1670, Fujairah Fort and the spring-fed Ain Al Madhab Gardens lie nearby.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- Enjoy the sights of this teeming city, visiting the many lovely Jain and Hindu temples, the Hanging Gardens, the Gandhi Memorial Museum and the magnificent Victoria Station. Take a harbor cruise from the Gateway of India or travel to lush Gharapuri Island to see the 7th century rock-cut temples of the Elephanta Caves. Shopping: Lovely silks, fine gold jewelry, ornate woodcarvings, personal altars, finely carved screens and antiques abound.
- Enjoy this marvelous old Portuguese and Hindu city studded with vibrant temples and majestic churches. Visit the stunning Baroque cathedral and quaint, colorful Panjim for a taste of Portugal in India. Explore the countryside and its spice farms, local markets and the region's exquisite beaches.
- Enjoy the beautiful beaches on the Arabian Sea, watch the fishing boats and explore the city, especially the 10th century Manjunatha Temple, St. Aloysius College Chapel, the Sultan Battery, Light House Hill Garden, Mangala Devi Temple and the Jumma Masjid. See a traditional South Indian dance performance or perhaps encounter a festival honoring a local deity.
- Discover the amazing contrasts of this cosmopolitan, Portuguese-founded city with its lovely colonial architecture, Dutch-style palaces, historic churches, Jewish quarter and huge Chinese fishing nets. Or explore tranquil canals by boat and see ancient villages, exquisite scenery, plantations and temples. See Indian cotton made in traditional fashion.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- As the capital of the low-lying, coral-bed Maldives, winsome Malé is surrounded by a sea wall, where you might watch the fishing dhonis return with the day's catch. Also be sure to see Friday Mosque, a masterpiece of filigree-curved coral built in the mid-1600s, and the Mulee-aage Palace.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- Gorgeous and romantic, the Seychelles define tropical beauty. A mountain range runs through the spine of Mahé, the largest island, and scenic national parks have sprung up around it, attracting hikers. Still, it's the idyllic beaches that have immortalized Mahé and its laid-back capital of Victoria, where the Seychellois speak a mellifluous Creole patois.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- The palm-fringed archipelago of Zanzibar lies about 20 miles off Tanzania. It's a sensual paradise of aromas from locally grown spices, vistas of idyllic beaches, and the sounds of commerce echoing through the Arabic alleyways of Stone Town. Don't miss the Anglican cathedral, built on the site of the slave market to commemorate its closing in 1873.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- Lying off the northern coast of Madagascar, Nosy Be (which means "Big Island" in Malagasy) contains seven volcanic lakes and is blanketed with fragrant flora such as ylang-ylang, frangipani and vanilla. Unusual wildlife flourishes here, as witnessed in Lokobe Nature Reserve, home to maki lemurs, chameleons and paradise flycatchers.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- Take an excursion to one of the nearby game reserves or simply gaze over the surrounding waters, where you might get a glimpse of dolphins, whales and kite-surfers. The best view is from the lookout point at Alkantstrand Beach. Richards Bay is a busy port and the myriad of specialized ships will intrigue marine buffs.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- South Africa's third largest port, Port Elizabeth is known as “The Friendly City.” A popular destination for water sports, Port Elizabeth offers spectacular beaches, historical attractions, the oldest bowling green in South Africa and beautiful wildlife sanctuaries. Bayworld features a fascinating cultural history museum, an oceanarium and a snake and dinosaur park.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- Disembark ship. It's difficult to get lost in Cape Town because gorgeous Table Mountain looms above the city as a reference. For breathtaking views, ride the cable car to the top, or explore this urbane city on foot. Visit the fascinating South African Museum and Planetarium and the culturally significant St. George's Cathedral.
- Fly overnight to UK
- Arrive home
What's Included
Holiday Highlights
- Dubai
- Mumbai
- Maldives
- Seychelles
- Zanzibar
- Cape Town
Our Price Includes
- Return flights from UK and all transfers
- Two nights' four-star bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Dubai (in featured hotel or similar standard)
- 30 nights' full-board cruise accommodation on board Nautica
- Two nights' four-star bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Cape Town (in featured hotel or similar standard)
- Whale Watching and Winelands tour
- Pre Paid Gratuites
- Dubai Full Day Tour with Entry to Burj Khalifa at the Top
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Dates and Prices
Accommodation
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort And Marina -
Boasting a 1200-metre sandy beach, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi is located in Jumeirah. This 5-star resort has several swimming pools situated amidst lush gardens and 5 dining and entertainment venues. Guests benefit from access to Jungle Bay waterpark. Le Meridien rooms are air-conditioned. Each room offers free WiFi, a flat-screen TV and a safety deposit box. They all offer views of the Arabian Gulf or Dubai's skyline. Leisure facilities at the Mina Seyahi include a water sports centre and Club Mina fitness centre. Younger guests can enjoy Le Meridien Family Kids Club which offers activities programs, beach games as well as 2 separate kids' pools. Guest of all ages can also enjoy Jungle Bay waterpark, complete with slides, a wave pool and other amenities. Guests can enjoy a range of international dishes. Horizon offers snacks and cocktails by the pool. For more upbeat evening, Barasti Bar has live entertainment. Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort is a 10-minute drive from Emirates Golf Course. Mall of The Emirates is 8 km from the resort and Dubai International Airport is 31 km away.
Cape heritage hotel -
Right in the heart of Cape Town, this award-winning boutique hotel is situated in the elegant Heritage Square. It features a roof-top jacuzzi pool and chic rooms decorated combining European and African elements. Each room at Cape Heritage Hotel has its own character and atmosphere. They all come with extra-long beds and a pillow menu. Some rooms have teak ceilings or spacious living areas, others include luxury bathrooms. Opening out on to the historic Heritage Square, the hotel provides dining opportunities in some of the best restaurants in town. Breakfast is served in house and is prepared with inventive pastries and organic smoothies. Cape Heritage offers easy access to the city's vibrant street life and business area. Nearby attractions include Signal Hill, Company Gardens and the notorious V&A Waterfront, all within a 10-minute walk away. Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is 1 km away.
Ship Information
Cruise Overview
Imagine yourself in a floating country club, and you'll have a good feel for Nautica's onboard ambience: elegant, understated and luxurious but with a casual vibe that keeps the whole experience from being overly formal. The experience is anything but pretentious. In terms of facilities, there's virtually everything you'd find on a larger ship (Canyon Ranch spa, a casino and an excellent fitness facility), yet the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. Staff and crew routinely rotate among Oceania's ships, so a returning passenger on any of them is likely to recognize friendly faces. That could also be because Oceania treats its employees well -- and they return, contract after contract.Cabin Details
Nautica's 342 cabins are plush and well organized -- comparable to the feel of a high-end hotel room, like you'd find at a Fairmont or Ritz-Carlton. Nearly 70 percent of the cabins have verandahs, and there are 62 suites in three different configurations. In 2022, 14 new single-occupancy cabins were added, replacing Category E Oceanview staterooms. In each cabin, the phone is atop the desk, and electrical outlets are in the wall just above the desk (but no outlets next to the beds). There are two U.S.-configured 110V outlets and two European-configured 220V outlets. (U.S. appliances would need a converter for the latter two, unless they have a built-in transformer.) A hand-held hair dryer is stashed in the closet. The TV offers eight news-oriented satellite channels, three movie channels, episodic TV shows and 12 music channels, plus a daily activities rundown by the cruise director, replays of the enrichment lectures, shore excursion videos and other ship-centric channels. If that's not enough, cabins also have DVD players, and there's a 9,000-DVD library located at reception.Dining Details
Nautica doesn't offer any added-fee dining; all restaurants are free to all passengers, although access to the two specialty restaurants is limited. The service in both specialty restaurants is admirable. We especially appreciated that the usual white napkins were exchanged for black ones when a diner was wearing dark clothing. Details like that truly make passengers feel cosseted. The Grand Dining Room (Deck 5): Nautica's elegant main dining room seats 352 and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's decorated in traditional style, with brocade curtains, shades of gold in the fabrics and wood paneling. Tablecloths are white, the silverware is substantial, and you'll be sipping from Riedel crystal. We were particularly impressed by the Versace service plates, with rims decorated in a lavish floral design. (See if you can find the painted ladybug.) Waitstaff are dressed formally, and wine stewards call on tables to help navigate wine choices. Plenty of tables for two line the aft windows, while larger tables fill in the rest of the room. To break up the space a bit, an ornate railing surrounds the central area. Seating is open, and we never had to wait for a table -- although, on some occasions, that meant sharing a larger table.Activities Details
The Nautica Lounge (Deck 5) serves as the main venue for entertainment and enrichment. Set on one main level, it has banquette seating and chair seating with tables. At the rear, a slightly higher area has chairs and tables, as well as bar-height chairs arrayed along curving bars. Decor is in shades of gold and gray-blue, with dark wood accents. There were three excellent lecturers onboard Nautica during our cruise, and they spoke to large and engaged crowds. Two discussed destination-related topics, touching on history, politics, religion and other cultural aspects, as well as some general information that was helpful to know about sightseeing -- though they didn't get into nuts-and-bolts port information. The third covered topics less related to our itinerary. Ample sea days meant there were plenty of opportunities for lectures, which were presented in the Nautica Lounge, with illustrations projected on three large screens. Nighttime is low key on Nautica. The ship's big band plays for dancing in different lounges, depending on whether they are participating in the main show that night or not. Sometimes the resident string quartet entertains in the early evening, and there's a pianist in the Martinis Lounge. When the band isn't playing, the cruise director takes song requests via a jukebox app in the Horizons lounge. Some evenings, there are also team trivia contests.Other Information
Hotel Info
Advertised hotel is subject to change and other same standard hotels may be offered as an alternative
Holiday code
J692Holiday provided by Jetline Cruise
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