ABU DHABI TO MUSCAT

On your cruise from Abu Dhabi to Muscat, explore Muscat with its very own mix of modernity and old world charm, all woven in one beautiful city. Take a cruise from Abu Dhabi to Muscat and we promise you won’t be able to stop raving about it!

Muscat is the ancient capital of Oman; it is a city of greenery and barren peaks that is best approached from the sea as the sun rises over the Gulf of Oman. Muscat is one of those cities that makes a lasting impression. The majority of cruise ships arrive late at night, sliding past the Port Sultan Qaboos breakwater as the city sleeps. Until the whisper of the bow thrusters breaks the magic, the only sound is the lap of black water against the hull beneath your stateroom balcony.

The sun then begins to rise, turning the terracotta mountains around the city a rich pink, and the ancient call to prayer sounds across the historic capital's old quarter. Muscat is a city best approached by water, and you must be awake to see it. Muscat has a different set of values than the other capitals in the Arabian Gulf region; it takes pleasure in heritage, history, and being a model of moderation in economic expansion. If these weren’t enough reasons to take a cruise from Abu Dhabi to Muscat, here’s some more!

Muttrah, the city's old waterfront section, has been meticulously conserved, displaying a blend of traditional architecture and rough natural beauty, and is the first portion of the city seen by disembarking cruise guests. The old town, as it is now, spans a lovely waterfront Corniche flanked on each end by 16th-century hilltop forts, their shadow a reminder of the Portuguese presence here. In the 17th century, Portugal conquered Oman to preserve their oriental trade lines, about the same time as Britain's East India Shipping Company began to build Dubai as its regional hub. Behind the mountains, distant from the old town, sits 'Modern Muscat,' which houses the capital's business, politics, and daily life.

The old town, with its meandering souq lanes, mediaeval forts, and the Sultan's palace, will be the main draw for cruise guests. The office and former residence of Sultan Qaboos, the monarch of Oman, is Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace, which is fortified by the twin forts of Jalali and Mirani. There are no open days for tours, unlike Buckingham Palace or other European royal houses, although you can take photographs from the palace gates.There are tours into the mountains and wadis outside of the city, as well as 44 rides along the coast to visit fishing communities.

In 2018 and 2019, just two cruise lines offered Muscat cruise departures: Marella Cruises (previously Thomson Cruises) and Silversea. The Arabian Gulf cruise season runs from November to March each year. A complete list of cruises with Muscat as a port of call in 2019 can be found on the Akbar travels website. Make sure you check it before planning your cruise from Abu Dhabi to Muscat. All customs processing is done behind the scenes while passengers eat breakfast at the port's former commercial berths. Then all you have to do is go ashore with your cruise card. Because guests cannot walk from the ship, buses are provided to the port entrance. There are a lot of taxi drivers at the port entrance, which can be a little intimidating at first, but they're all quite pleasant (and unlike Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the taxi drivers here are genuinely Omani). You can find all other details about the Abu Dhabi to Muscat cruise, cruise ships from Muscat and cruises in Muscat on the Akbar Travels website. Bon Voyage!

Cruise by Ship Names

Cordelia Cruises | Holland America Cruises | MSC Cruises

Domestic Cruise Packages

International Cruise Packages