This is not a paid post.
I watched as a
mother berated her two kids for playing in the road when
they were meant to be crossing it. She led them safely to the pavement and kept
a watchful eye on them to make sure that they were obediently following her.
Why I was spellbound was that the mother was a goat. You see
in Khasab, even the goats are well-behaved ... and expect their young to be the same.
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| In Khasab, even the goats are well-behaved |
The Celebrity Constellation had just docked in Khasab, a
pretty port on the Musandam peninsula in Oman, just one of the amazing places
on my cruise.
This place lived up to my fantasy of what an Arabian
adventure would be like. Bursting with character and charm this area, often
referred to as the “Norway of Arabia”, is stunningly beautiful. Steep fjords
and cliffs along with seductive turquoise waters give it a wild yet tranquil
feel.
A souk awash with people talking a wide range of languages
and a harbour full of boats loaded with goods ready to be smuggled into Iran as
soon as dusk falls gives Khasab an air of excitement.
Cruising takes the hassle out of seeing several places in
one trip. You unpack once yet you wake up in different ports. You are cocooned
in an environment where you should be spoilt rotten. Everything is supposed to
be on tap and can be served up at a whim. Passport control is taken care of and
there are guided tours you can purchase to get you round your destinations.
Perfect for those travelling solo.
Meeting people is easy. Guests always smile at each other as
you pass by. Conversations are struck up easily in restaurants and bars as well
as on tours. You do not have to worry about anything.
It seemed like months ago since we had set sail from Abu
Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. In fact it had only been days.
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| Celebrity Constellation in Khasab |
We were welcomed on board the Celebrity Constellation with a
warm glass of flat prosecco by a bunch of waiters who looked as if they
were have rather been anywhere else but doing what they were doing. Ducking crew trying to sell you packages for
drinks or for dining in their speciality restaurants before you were
even on the ship was not a great start.
Celebrity states: “If you love modern luxury, outstanding
service and a choice of inspirational global destinations to explore, a
Celebrity cruise will be your perfect holiday. It’s the little things that make
all the difference – whether that’s our helpful staff greeting you by name or
your favourite dessert appearing after dinner.”
It sounded like a dream holiday as luxury, good service and
excellent food are what I expect on a cruise. I have been on a lot over the
years and have sailed with most of the top lines. The reality, in this case,
was that it did not live up to its promise.
Celebrity Constellation went into service in 2002 and was
renovated 11 years later. Luxurious with outstanding service it was not. To
quote two of my fellow passengers, a stylish couple from Belgium, “It is more
Ryanair then British Airways.” In other words, it was mass market rather than
luxurious.
The crew, obviously, had been told to say etc. It came over
so insincere. All they seemed interested in was trying to sell you something.
Luckily, I had an internet package included in my cruise otherwise it would
cost approximately $249 (£203) for 9
days. No wonder many people declined.
There was one member of the crew who stood out a mile and
that was a lovely man from the Philippines. Saying washy-washy while handing
out antibacterial wash each time you boarded the ship brought a smile to most
people’s faces. He made sure that nobody got passed him. So important in this
environment. Others around the ship were not so fastidious. I have never been
on a cruise where the captain, his officers and entertainment staff were less
visible.
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| Abu Dhabi |
Paying the extra to have a stateroom in Aqua Class was worth
it. It was spacious and kept reasonably well. Spa elements were supposed to be
injected into the stateroom experience though I am not sure what they were as I
found nothing more than you would get in any decent hotel room.
Aqua Class has its own restaurant, Blu, which is open for breakfast and dinner. It
focuses on clean cuisine. The line is supposed to dish up excellent food but
compared with other ships it was extremely average. Food was seldom piping hot.
Of course, there are always people who are special and Wilma from Honduras was
one. He was Blu’s best waiter by far. He really seemed to care about you.
The Oceanview Café was quick and convenient for
lunch. The buffet, served here, did not seem to change much over the cruise.
The salad bar was the highlight. It would have been good to see some dishes of
the areas we were visiting included on the menu. Even dates were nowhere to be
found. Although I was told that they had appeared once by the cheese
board and had gone quickly.
Included in my cruise fare was the Classic drinks package.
The wines available were, on the whole, quite poor. You had to search hard to find one
or two interesting numbers. When you pay about £10 a glass including compulsory
service charge of 18 per cent, you expect a reasonable quality.
Shows in the Celebrity Theatre varied. One or two were good,
the rest made me think of Simon Cowell when he tells contestants they are a
“bit cruise ship”. On the last night it was so bad that lots of people walked
out. That could not have been the first time that had happened.
The music playing throughout the ship in the various bars
was pleasant as was the group that played on deck throughout the day. Lectures
were not that interesting compared with
other ships, but we were only at sea one day so I suppose that was
reflected in the programme.
I had gone for the ports. To stand on my veranda and see the
skyline of Dubai glittering in front of me as it punched the sky was magical.
Three days to explore this fascinating city was a key factor in picking the
cruise. As was getting to go to see the port city of Muscat, Oman. Set against
the backdrop of the Hajar Mountains, this city respects its past while eagerly embracing the future.
Khasab was a lovely surprise. Last, but certainly not least, was Abu
Dhabi. Exhilarating with a distinct Arab flavour, it is a classy city that has
so much to offer.
Like any holiday, it is who you meet that makes the trip and
I met so many interesting people. Another cruise is not out of the question but
I would pick a more upscale line.
By Daralyn Danns
For more information about Celebrity visit celebritycruises.com
