Here we go again! Still in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Posted on by Lea Ann Reynolds
It’s all about Christmas for the next two weeks. 

We have officially started our next cruise for 7 days from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas and then back to Muscat, Oman. Next week we will be visiting the same ports except for Muscat so we will take an excursion or take a bus to the center of town and explore Oman on this weeks cruise but probably nothing else. We have both been sick, Chuck so much more than I. He was really hit hard with what we think was two viruses. One, we are very sure it was the Norovirus and the second was what many call the cruise cough.

The Christmas tree on the ship is beautiful!

When I started feeling ill, we were in Dubai and we found some Erythromycin. The cost for that and some throat lozenges were $50 USD. Totally worth it when you feel miserable. Thankfully I didn’t get the Norovirus portion and the z-pack did the trick for me in a few days. We brought a z-pack along with us so Chuck started that pack yesterday and is already feeling better. Hopefully that will do the trick for him. Not only does he feel bad, but this cruise is full of screaming, unruly kids. Yes, we know it’s the week before Christmas and understand the excitement the children have. What we don’t understand is the uncontrolled parents that don’t take care of their kids.

Guests doors decorated for the holidays!

There were more than 20 kids in the pool last night and many of them had life jackets on. Some grabbing them off the rack and they didn’t fit. Let’s just say they had to bring in a 2nd lifeguard to help out. It was crazy. Food spilled everywhere. On the floor, on the buffet tables. Kids running down  the hallway screaming. Fathers antagonizing the kids to make them scream. Its just unreal! Chuck said this is the first cruise he has been on that he’ll be happy when it’s over.

This was so cute. The snow is falling and the Santa is moving around inside. Its like an outdoor lantern.

Normally Royal Caribbean is pretty good with their organizing and control of things. Not sure what’s going on now. We will not purposely book a cruise the week before Christmas again. Probably won’t on Spring Break either! 


Even as bad as we felt, we decided to get off the ship in Abu Dhabi today. We didn’t venture far from port. We wandered around the shops and bought my key chain and sent a postcard to my dear friend Audrey. She is keeping them for me, so we get to share! We found the cruise terminal very decorated in Christmas holidays to include the camel and Christmas trees. 

We tried to use the wifi to upload my photos for the past trips but no luck so begins the saga of no posting for more than a week. It felt good to get out and walk around in the sunshine. After an hour or so we ventured back to the ship for more rest. I think that’s the only thing that’s going to get Chuck well! We leave tonight for Sir Bani Yas, a small island with beautiful white sandy beaches.

We look forward to the holidays and next weeks cruise already!

May God Bless you always!

Chuck & Lea Ann

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