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Fabulous Dubai and Arabian Nights 2011!

NEW - Optional Extension to Petra and the Dead Sea!

Dubai, here we come again! Our tour/cruise to Dubai and the Gulf region the past two years have both been such a success we are doing it again. Four people on the first trip in 2009 booked to go again this past February in 2010 and I wouldn't be surprised to have a few repeats again in 2011! There was one major difference this year to 2009. Instead of the old Costa Classica, we enjoyed the brand new Costa Luminosa which just came into service in June 2009. What an improvement! Sixty percent of the cabins have balconies, which makes them quite affordable. Another difference is that the three half-day tours during the cruise as well as the gourmet High Tea (read 10-course lunch!) at the 7-star Burj al Arab Hotel in Dubai were included in the tour package this year and will be again next year. Even with these included, the price was LESS than 2009! What a deal. This is truly one of the most remarkable areas of the world and Dubai has long been one of my all-time favorite destinations. Some of you may have seen the email with all the incredible photos of Dubai (if you haven't and want to, let me know), showing the world's only 7-star hotel, the world's only underwater hotel, the world's tallest building, indoor snow skiing, the magnificent Palm Island developments, amusement parks with outdoor air conditioning, the world's most innovative architecture, etc., but for me a big appeal of Dubai is the contrast between ultra-modern and antiquities. It's a delight to wander the little alleyways and shops of Dubai center, stopping for a cup of tea at a little Indian teahouse. Browse the spice market and guess at the contents of the barrels and vats and vessels and take a sample from a huge mound of dates or figs. The famous Gold Souk (market) is lined with shops full of gold in every form, all at duty-free prices! The Deira market offers an extraordinary range of wares from Pashmina scarves, to carpets, brass, clothes, and souvenirs. The city is divided by picturesque Deira Creek (actually an estuary) and a crossing is by means of an abra, a traditional, wooden ferry boat that motors you from one side to the other. After the Dubai tour/cruise this past year I also took 5 people on an extension to Jordan where we visited the incomparable Petra (the Rose-Red City Half as Old as Time) and the Dead Sea. It was a delightful few days and this will be definitely offered as an option in 2011 for those interested. Here's the 2010 itinerary and as soon as I set dates and details for 2011 they will be posted here as well: Wednesday, February 10: Fly from the United States overnight to Dubai Thursday, February 11: Arrive Dubai in the evening. The next two nights will be at the FIVE-STAR Radisson SAS Deira Creek. Friday, February 12: Morning tour of Modern Dubai with its exotic architecture and outrageous space-age projects. We will see the world’s tallest building, the Jumeirah Palm development, Atlantis Hotel, and Dubai Land. Lunch on your own, Free time Late afternoon we will go on a desert safari with sunset dinner in a Bedouin Camp with camel rides, belly dancing and Arab crafts. Overnight in the Radisson SAS Deira Creek Saturday, February 13: Morning tour of ancient Dubai, including the Dubai Golf and Yacht Club, the Dubai Museum, the Gold Market, the Spice Market, Dubai Old Town, and of course, the obligatory ride on the abras (ancient ferry boats) across Deira Creek. Lunch will be an elegant High Tea at the world’s only 7-star hotel, the Burj al Arab. This was one of the highlights of the trip for those who took part in it this past February. Mid-afternoon we will board the Costa Luminosa. We will have a welcome party and dinner on board. Sunday, February 14: Happy Valentine’s Day! Free morning in Dubai. The Luminosa sails at 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 15: Muscat, Oman. A half-day tour of this ancient city is included in the tour package. Tuesday, February 16: Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Free day to shop or book an excursion through the ship. Wednesday, February 17: Abu Dhabi, Capital of the United Arab Emirates. A half-day tour is included, featuring the Grand Mosque – one of the most stunning architectural wonders of the world. Thursday, February 18: Manama, Bahrain. A half-day tour of this island kingdom is included, featuring a camel farm and a drive out to the observation tower on the 25-mile causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. Friday, February 19: The Luminosa arrives back in Dubai about 1:00 p.m. We will have a bus available for our group to shuttle us around Dubai to the markets and malls etc. Overnight on board the Luminosa. Saturday, February 20: Full day to enjoy Dubai and do more exploring. We will again have a bus available. Dinner will be on board the ship, before we depart for the airport for late night flights home from Dubai. The cost of the cruise and pre-cruise tour (not including air) is: $2650 per person double occupancy in a balcony cabin $2250 per person double occupancy in an outside cabin $1990 per person double occupancy in an inside cabin Rates for singles, triples, and suites available on request. INCLUDED in the tour price: * 7-night cruise on the Costa Luminosa with all meals included * Private Welcome Reception on board the Ship for our Group * Government fees and taxes for the cruise * 2-night pre-cruise tour in Dubai in the 5-star Radisson SAS Deira Creek in the heart of Dubai * Breakfast both mornings * Dinner Friday night * High Tea (lunch) at the 7-Star Burj al Arab * 1/2 Day Tour of ancient Dubai * 1/2 Day Desert Safari with Bedouin Dinner * 1/2 Day Tour of Modern Dubai * 1/2 Day Tour of Muscat, Oman * 1/2 Day Tour of Abu Dhabi, UAE * 1/2 Day Tour of Manama, Bahrain * Transfers to/from Dubai airport * Private shuttle bus in Dubai for our group Friday afternoon and all day Saturday afternoon at the end of the cruise. NOT Included in the tour price: * Friday lunch in Dubai * Onboard Gratuities (suggested amount $70 per person) * Your shopping allowance for the Fabulous Markets!! * Trip Insurance (highly recommended) HOTEL: The 5-Star Radisson SAS is one of my favorite properties in Dubai and all rooms have balconies facing Deira Creek. It is in downtown Dubai, within walking distance of lots of shopping and lovely strolls along Deira Creek. SHIP: The Costa Luminosa is brand new and was christened June 2009. Costa is the largest European Cruise Line and there are not likely to be many other Americans on board. Costa is not a luxury cruise line, but the food is good (especially the Italian) and for getting us from one amazing port to another it should be quite comfortable. AIR: Air is not included, but I’m happy to help anyone with booking air. Depending on your departure city, air will probably be about $1000 to $1500. Delta Airlines has a nonstop flight from Atlanta to Dubai, departing about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and arriving in Dubai the following evening, just in time to check into the hotel and go to bed! The flight isn't quite as long as it sounds - there is a 9-hour time difference. United offers nonstop service from Washington Dulles to Dubai with similar timings and Emirates Air offers nonstops from New York and Houston. Northwest also offers service via Amsterdam if you want to break up the flight a bit. DEPOSITS: The sooner you book the better. I am holding cabins in several categories, but cabin numbers are assigned as they are actually booked and the ship is selling out fast. Our group size will also be limited to about 30 people. A deposit of $400 per person is required to book. Full Payment is required by November 1, 2009 at which time a scale of refund percentages kicks in: Cancel by November 1, full refund of deposit. Cancel November 1, 2009 to 45 days prior to sailing, forfeit $800 per person Cancel 44 to 15 days prior to sailing, forfeit 50% of total trip booking Cancel 14 days or less prior to sailing, forfeit 100% of total trip booking I STRONGLY recommend trip insurance (if I could make it obligatory I would!). Costa offers trip insurance for all passengers for only $159, which covers the cost of the cruise, air, and medical. All deposits and payments may be made by check, made out to me, or if you prefer, the cruise portion (including the deposit) may be paid by credit card. If you wish to pay the deposit by credit card, I need only your name (as it appears on the card), the type of credit card, and the card number at this point. Later I will send out forms asking for more detailed information such as address, passport numbers etc. NOTE: Passports must be valid for at least 6 Months after the end of our trip, i.e. at least through August 21, 2010. OK, that's a lot of information, but I want people to know as much as possible about the trip. Let me know if you have any further questions! Salam! Kent Kauffman Click here for a link to the 2010 Dubai Blog we created on this past tour with photos and commentary: http://fabulousdubai2.blogspot.com/ Click here for a link to the Costa Luminosa: http://www.costacruise.com/B2C/USA/Shopping/Ships/LU/Default.htm Click here for a link to our fabulous 5-star Radisson SAS Deira Creek Hotel in Dubai : http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-dubaideiracreek