A Journey from Shimmering Skylines to the Gulf's Hidden Gems

The A Journey from Shimmering Skylines to the Gulf's Hidden Gems is a 7-night Middle East cruise aboard EXPLORA I, operated by Explora Journeys. Departing Dubai on November 19, 2027, the voyage visits 5 ports. Fares start from $4,305 per person.

Length: 7 nights
Departs: Nov 19, 2027
Returns: Nov 26, 2027
Ports of call: 5
Days at sea: 1

Itinerary

Day 1 Feb 5, 2028 Dubai Departs 15:00 Bold, brash and brilliant, Dubai’s explosion of wealth and wonder has created a dizzying, logic-defying desert wonderland. Boundary-pushing architecture, which gently nods to the region’s past - and a relentlessly futuristic vision - makes Dubai one of the most dynamic destinations on the planet. The hyper-speed transformation, from fishing village to glitzy mega-city, has been truly astounding, and it’s hard to avoid feeling humbled, as you stand dwarfed by cloud-scraping architecture, and some of the most elaborate, audacious engineering projects ever conceived. Fuelled by abundant oil reserves, it’s an understatement to say that there is cash to splash here. Whether it’s the gleaming sports cars that purr along the streets, or the luxury shopping malls that are decked out with colossal aquariums and amusement parks, credit cards are flexed with abandon here. The sheer scale of Dubai is stupefying, and the sight of the iconic Burj Khalifa towering over its not inconsiderable neighbours is surreally spectacular. Rocketing up a staggering 830 metres, the world’s tallest building is an elegant affair, tapering up into the ever-blue sky, and headlining this record-breaking city’s list of architectural wonders. The Dubai Fountain performs here each evening - a blur of colour and haze, its waters dance before the almighty tower behind. Dubai isn’t all about the skyward scramble, however, and the Miracle Garden is a vibrant, violent explosion of multicoloured flowery landscaping. Elsewhere, white-sand beaches like Sunset Beach grant sanctuary to take it easy, and enjoy splendid views of instantly recognisable buildings like the Burj Al Arab, and the reclaimed islands that fan out across Dubai’s warm sea waters. Desert landscapes of rolling sand dunes raise the pulses of the adventurous, while fine-dining and lively nightlife makes Dubai a luxury destination that truly has it all. Dubai port guide Search cruises visiting Dubai

Dubai photo — Day 1 Feb 5, 2028 Dubai Departs 15:00 Bold, brash and brilliant, Dubai’s explosion of wealth and wonder has created a dizzying, logic-defying desert wonderland. Boundary-pushing architecture, which gently nods to the region’s past - and a relentlessly futuristic vision - makes Dubai one of the most dynamic destinations on the planet. The hyper-speed transformation, from fishing village to glitzy mega-city, has been truly astounding, and it’s hard to avoid feeling humbled, as you stand dwarfed by cloud-scraping architecture, and some of the most elaborate, audacious engineering projects ever conceived. Fuelled by abundant oil reserves, it’s an understatement to say that there is cash to splash here. Whether it’s the gleaming sports cars that purr along the streets, or the luxury shopping malls that are decked out with colossal aquariums and amusement parks, credit cards are flexed with abandon here. The sheer scale of Dubai is stupefying, and the sight of the iconic Burj Khalifa towering over its not inconsiderable neighbours is surreally spectacular. Rocketing up a staggering 830 metres, the world’s tallest building is an elegant affair, tapering up into the ever-blue sky, and headlining this record-breaking city’s list of architectural wonders. The Dubai Fountain performs here each evening - a blur of colour and haze, its waters dance before the almighty tower behind. Dubai isn’t all about the skyward scramble, however, and the Miracle Garden is a vibrant, violent explosion of multicoloured flowery landscaping. Elsewhere, white-sand beaches like Sunset Beach grant sanctuary to take it easy, and enjoy splendid views of instantly recognisable buildings like the Burj Al Arab, and the reclaimed islands that fan out across Dubai’s warm sea waters. Desert landscapes of rolling sand dunes raise the pulses of the adventurous, while fine-dining and lively nightlife makes Dubai a luxury destination that truly has it all. Dubai port guide Search cruises visiting Dubai

Day 3 Feb 7, 2028 Abu Dhabi 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore The United Arab Emirates’ capital, Abu Dhabi, where your MSC cruise ship awaits your return, offers an intriguing contrast to its freewheeling neighbour Dubai, a little over an hour’s drive down the coast. Leading attractions on your Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar cruises to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates include the extravagant Emirates Palace hotel and the even more spectacular Sheikh Zayed Mosque, while the various attractions of Yas Island, home to the vast Ferrari World theme park, lie just down the road. The blockbuster attraction at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island is a dream excursion for any F1 fans. The “world’s biggest indoor theme park”, it offers a wide range of Ferrari-themed rides and displays which will appeal both to kids and grown-ups, including the chance to drive an F1 simulator or to ride the Formula Rossa roller coaster (the world’s fastest) or to experience race-day acceleration in the G Force “tower of speed” – as well as numerous gentler family-oriented rides. Dedicated motorsports enthusiasts will also enjoy the big display of classic and contemporary Ferraris , and the virtual tour of the firm’s famous Maranello factory. Some 15km from central Abu Dhabi, the mighty Sheikh Zayed Mosque dominates all landward approaches to the city, its snowy-white mass of domes and minarets visible for miles around and providing a spectacular symbol of Islamic pride at the entrance to the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Completed in 2007, the mosque was commissioned by and named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, who lies buried in a modest white marble mausoleum close to the entrance. The mosque is one of the world’s biggest and certainly the most expensive, having taken twelve years to build at a cost of around US$500 million. It’s also unusual in being one of only two mosques in the UAE open to non-Muslims. Abu Dhabi port guide Search cruises visiting Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi photo — Day 3 Feb 7, 2028 Abu Dhabi 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore The United Arab Emirates’ capital, Abu Dhabi, where your MSC cruise ship awaits your return, offers an intriguing contrast to its freewheeling neighbour Dubai, a little over an hour’s drive down the coast. Leading attractions on your Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar cruises to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates include the extravagant Emirates Palace hotel and the even more spectacular Sheikh Zayed Mosque, while the various attractions of Yas Island, home to the vast Ferrari World theme park, lie just down the road. The blockbuster attraction at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island is a dream excursion for any F1 fans. The “world’s biggest indoor theme park”, it offers a wide range of Ferrari-themed rides and displays which will appeal both to kids and grown-ups, including the chance to drive an F1 simulator or to ride the Formula Rossa roller coaster (the world’s fastest) or to experience race-day acceleration in the G Force “tower of speed” – as well as numerous gentler family-oriented rides. Dedicated motorsports enthusiasts will also enjoy the big display of classic and contemporary Ferraris , and the virtual tour of the firm’s famous Maranello factory. Some 15km from central Abu Dhabi, the mighty Sheikh Zayed Mosque dominates all landward approaches to the city, its snowy-white mass of domes and minarets visible for miles around and providing a spectacular symbol of Islamic pride at the entrance to the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Completed in 2007, the mosque was commissioned by and named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, who lies buried in a modest white marble mausoleum close to the entrance. The mosque is one of the world’s biggest and certainly the most expensive, having taken twelve years to build at a cost of around US$500 million. It’s also unusual in being one of only two mosques in the UAE open to non-Muslims. Abu Dhabi port guide Search cruises visiting Abu Dhabi

Day 4 Feb 8, 2028 Bahrain 09:00 – 19:00 10.0 hrs ashore During an MSC cruise to Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar, you will also disembark in Bahrain, an island 40km long and just 15kn wide in The Gulf. This country with a thousand-year-old culture, is also called “the kingdom of the two seas”, because its waters border with those of Qatar to the south and with those of Saudi Arabia to the west. In the course of your stop in Bahrain, an excursion will take you on a discovery of its charming capital, Manama. The city, where modern skyscrapers stand side-by-side with old buildings, has strong ties to nomadic traditions: its inhabitants often head out to the desert and stay in large white tents to participate in the ancient tradition of falcon hunting. The National Museum is an excellent starting point for a visit to the capital: an opportunity to learn about the history and customs of this territory. The Al Fateh Mosque, on the other hand, is a mystical experience. It is an immense holy building with two imposing minarets, which can host up to 7,000 faithful, built from materials brought from all over the world. For example, the thousand Indian lamps of inlaid wood, the gigantic Austrian chandelier of Swarovski crystal, and the Italian Carrara marble. A short distance from the capital, there is Qal’at al Bahrain (Bahrain Fort). Of great quality, in part due to recent reconstruction efforts, the fort in its current form is evidence of 16th century “raiding” by Portuguese sailors. However, the hill on which it is set has been the site of several human settlements over the centuries. Finally, you cannot leave Bahrain without having bought, or at least admired, the marvelous and extremely prized pearls gathered in its sea. Bahrain port guide Search cruises visiting Bahrain

Bahrain photo — Day 4 Feb 8, 2028 Bahrain 09:00 – 19:00 10.0 hrs ashore During an MSC cruise to Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar, you will also disembark in Bahrain, an island 40km long and just 15kn wide in The Gulf. This country with a thousand-year-old culture, is also called “the kingdom of the two seas”, because its waters border with those of Qatar to the south and with those of Saudi Arabia to the west. In the course of your stop in Bahrain, an excursion will take you on a discovery of its charming capital, Manama. The city, where modern skyscrapers stand side-by-side with old buildings, has strong ties to nomadic traditions: its inhabitants often head out to the desert and stay in large white tents to participate in the ancient tradition of falcon hunting. The National Museum is an excellent starting point for a visit to the capital: an opportunity to learn about the history and customs of this territory. The Al Fateh Mosque, on the other hand, is a mystical experience. It is an immense holy building with two imposing minarets, which can host up to 7,000 faithful, built from materials brought from all over the world. For example, the thousand Indian lamps of inlaid wood, the gigantic Austrian chandelier of Swarovski crystal, and the Italian Carrara marble. A short distance from the capital, there is Qal’at al Bahrain (Bahrain Fort). Of great quality, in part due to recent reconstruction efforts, the fort in its current form is evidence of 16th century “raiding” by Portuguese sailors. However, the hill on which it is set has been the site of several human settlements over the centuries. Finally, you cannot leave Bahrain without having bought, or at least admired, the marvelous and extremely prized pearls gathered in its sea. Bahrain port guide Search cruises visiting Bahrain

Day 5 Feb 9, 2028 Doha, Qatar 06:00 – 18:00 12.0 hrs ashore A journey to Qatar becomes special on an MSC cruise. A cruise to Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar will introduce you to Doha, the country's futuristic capital on The Gulf. The city is preparing to host the 2022 World Cup, enhancing its already awesome skyline with new super modern skyscrapers. The Aspire Tower in Doha (300 meters) dominates the skylines. It is the highest building of the country, whose shape is akin to a torch. This building is located near the city of sport, which has already hosted events such as the XII Pan Arab games and which will have a central role during the World Cup. Much of Doha, including places of worship such as the new mosque in the Qatar Faculty of Islamic studies, seems to be already in the future. Don't miss a visit to the Pearl, a futuristic artificial circular port which is being developed to the north of the city centre, and yet, as you will notice on your MSC excursion, the ancient heart of the city still beats strong. In the historical centre of Doha you will find a Suq where everything – from camels to gold – can be exchanged, and the Al Khoot fortress, dating back to the end of the nineteenth century and now converted into a museum. During your cruise to Doha with MSC Cruises, some excursions will lead you on the discovery of the north of the country and the history of this fascinating Emirate. In Ash Shamal the Al-Zubara fortress rises up from the middle of the desert and dates back to the thirties. The building, which at first sight seems an enormous sand castle, has been completely restored and transformed into a museum. Near the fortress you can also visit the archaeological remains of another, even older, defensive structure, Qal’ at Murair. Also you will find Zubara, a village of traders and pearl divers, a settlement which dates back to the nineteenth century, and later abandoned. Doha, Qatar port guide Search cruises visiting Doha, Qatar

Doha, Qatar photo — Day 5 Feb 9, 2028 Doha, Qatar 06:00 – 18:00 12.0 hrs ashore A journey to Qatar becomes special on an MSC cruise. A cruise to Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar will introduce you to Doha, the country's futuristic capital on The Gulf. The city is preparing to host the 2022 World Cup, enhancing its already awesome skyline with new super modern skyscrapers. The Aspire Tower in Doha (300 meters) dominates the skylines. It is the highest building of the country, whose shape is akin to a torch. This building is located near the city of sport, which has already hosted events such as the XII Pan Arab games and which will have a central role during the World Cup. Much of Doha, including places of worship such as the new mosque in the Qatar Faculty of Islamic studies, seems to be already in the future. Don't miss a visit to the Pearl, a futuristic artificial circular port which is being developed to the north of the city centre, and yet, as you will notice on your MSC excursion, the ancient heart of the city still beats strong. In the historical centre of Doha you will find a Suq where everything – from camels to gold – can be exchanged, and the Al Khoot fortress, dating back to the end of the nineteenth century and now converted into a museum. During your cruise to Doha with MSC Cruises, some excursions will lead you on the discovery of the north of the country and the history of this fascinating Emirate. In Ash Shamal the Al-Zubara fortress rises up from the middle of the desert and dates back to the thirties. The building, which at first sight seems an enormous sand castle, has been completely restored and transformed into a museum. Near the fortress you can also visit the archaeological remains of another, even older, defensive structure, Qal’ at Murair. Also you will find Zubara, a village of traders and pearl divers, a settlement which dates back to the nineteenth century, and later abandoned. Doha, Qatar port guide Search cruises visiting Doha, Qatar

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 90-day span: $4,200 · range $4,200–$5,745

Lower than 88% of peers This week-long sailing's from-price per night is lower than 88% of comparable sailings.

same cruise line and duration · from-price per night · as of Jun 22, 2026 · Broader cohort: same cruise line and duration, compared by from-price per night.

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

Not available

Oceanview

Not available

Balcony

Not available

Suite

from $4,305

$615 / night

Fare rows

Ocean Terrace Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,305

$615 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Ocean Terrace Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,520

$645 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Ocean Terrace Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,735

$676 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Ocean Terrace Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,845

$692 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Ocean Grand Terrace Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,950

$707 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Penthouse

Cabin grade

Available

from $6,230

$890 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Deluxe Penthouse

Cabin grade

Available

from $6,445

$920 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Premier Penthouse

Cabin grade

Available

from $6,660

$951 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Grand Penthouse

Cabin grade

Available

from $7,725

$1,103 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Cove Residence

Cabin grade

Available

from $8,580

$1,225 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Retreat Residence

Cabin grade

Available

from $9,690

$1,384 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Serenity Residence

Cabin grade

Available

from $14,850

$2,121 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Cocoon Residence

Cabin grade

Available

from $17,205

$2,457 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Owner's Residence

Cabin grade

Available

from $42,995

$6,142 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Prices verified Jun 22, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via Explora Journeys and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

Show all 15 cabin grades

Name	Supplier code	Type
Ocean Terrace Suite
Cove Residence	CO	Suite
Cocoon Residence	CR	Suite
Deluxe Penthouse	DP	Suite
Grand Penthouse	GP	Suite
Ocean Grand Terrace Suite	GT	Suite
Owner's Residence	OR	Suite
Ocean Terrace Suite	OT1	Suite
Ocean Terrace Suite	OT2	Suite
Ocean Terrace Suite	OT3	Suite
Ocean Terrace Suite	OT4	Suite
Penthouse	PH	Suite
Premier Penthouse	PP	Suite
Retreat Residence	RR	Suite
Serenity Residence	SR	Suite

Ship

Your ship EXPLORA I 5★ **63,900** GT **922** guests Built **2023** EXPLORA I, the first of four luxury best-in-class ships, will set sail in 2023, with the remaining ships ready to set sail in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Exquisitely designed with the guest and relaxed, home-like comfort in mind - and in partnership with the world’s foremost superyacht and luxury hospitality designers - the innovative ship will seamlessly blend elegant Swiss precision with modern European craftsmanship and vibrant design. With 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses and residences, guests will enjoy feeling closer to the sea and in port thanks to their floor-to-ceiling windows and personal private terrace. Suites will start at 35 sqm (377 sq ft) which makes them among the most spacious for the luxury cruise category. Fourteen decks will provide ample indoor public space, maximising guest choice and create areas of quiet seclusion and privacy. Generous outdoor decks will boast more than 2,500 sqm (26,909 sq ft) delivering stunning views of the sea, with 64 private cabanas across 3 outdoor pools. A fourth pool, with a retractable glass roof, will allow swimming and poolside relaxation in any weather. Combined with various indoor and outdoor whirlpools on the ship’s promenade deck, the ship has been designed with water as a real focal point of the onboard experience - helping our guests discover their ocean state of mind. Tailored to suit personal preferences, flexible dining times at nine distinct restaurants will provide unrivalled variety at sea. Each venue will celebrate global culinary talents, with a focus on provenance and wholesome ingredients sustainably sourced from local partners. To make sure guests are spoilt for choice, several indoor and outdoor bars and lounges will also be in place to unwind and relax. The wellbeing experience onboard was inspired by our love for the sea, with a spacious indoor/outdoor spa and fitness area on board. From treatment rooms to state-of-the-art fitness equipment, group workout classes to personal training appointments, tailor-made programmes make keeping well while on holiday effortless and enjoyable. Bespoke wellness experiences at each destination will make relaxation and rejuvenation easily accessible both onboard and ashore. EXPLORA I ship guide Search cruises on EXPLORA I

A Journey from Shimmering Skylines to the Gulf's Hidden Gems

Itinerary

Pricing

Current prices

Inside

Oceanview

Balcony

Suite

Price history

Ship

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