Dubai Dhow Cruise

Bought a coupon from web site going for a Dhow Cruise for only AED 49.  Turns out it's an agency who either doesn't own a ship or their ship was not working.  On board venue changed 3 times and communicating with different cruise ships and different customers are no easy job, this is the lady who was calling everybody whole night.
 at the end she was totally exhausted of the chaos and I wonder if it's the same every night for her.

I arrived very early before sun set because I car pool with my colleague.  A typical cruise ship looks like this

This particular one is priced at AED 500 - almost exactly the same itinerary.  (but later I think the food, presentation, crowd level, coziness might be different: then again may be not, please share if you have experience going on non discounted dhow cruise)

Below is supposingly the cruise I got on to.  It looks old but still considered above average among the long stretch of docking ships.

Its early so I sat down drink juice enjoying sunset.  Freshly squeeze Kivi is AED 15

  

When night falls, beauty comes with all the lights ~

  

The purple color ship was my final boarding ship.  Much smaller and yurky.  And they didn't allow me to go on the deck !  What is the point of dhow cruise sitting inside an aircon room eating buffet ?

Walking down into the enclosed dinning hall through a smelly toilets.  As I was the very first passenger, they are still preparing - all the food was lay down the floor as you could see.

  

This is the view from within the cruise ~ nothing special really if you are within the enclosed hall.  A walk by the corniche would be much nicer ~

There was a person talking through the mic welcoming us to the cruise.  But he didn't introduce what the cruise was about, nor did he talk about the places we were passing by.  He sang instead.  Mostly Indian and English songs.  I may be bias on this part because I am more into Jazz.  The music is loud and unpleasant; so NOT appropriate for an evening cruise like this.  But he has good voice though.  Most passengers were fine and happy with him because most are Indians too, perhaps if I could understand the song I would feel differently.

People down in the enclosed air con dinning hall

People on the open air deck

This was my cruise path.  Not sure why it turns the 1st time.

At the end I did walk out to the back of the ship enjoying some fresh air but people are smoking there.  There weren't any proper place to relax and lay back.  The whole of upper deck was jam pack like sardine.

Some pictures taken at the back of the ship.  The later part of the cruise passing Hyatt is really quiet and dark.  A private cruise here would be really nice.

 

Then while on the way back, they started a dance presentation.  To me, it's very refreshing and this is the time I finally feel worth every penny of my AED 49. Ha Ha ~

At the end of the journey, the crews gathered and ate the remaining food, which were still quite a bundle.

 

So in short, I am glad I got a coupon for this.  It would be a regretting experience if I paid full price.  And I will most probably not try this again.  Perhaps paying more for a more private and cozy cruise would be more appropriate.  Then again, it might means 10 times more expensive for a 2 times better experience.  Sign off with a final view of the cruise ship I was on ~ the good side of the memory.



And this is the night view of the long stretch of all the cruise ships along Dubai Creek.  Easily about 80 ships there, but perhaps only 20-30 were cruising tonight.