Monday, January 2, 2012

Oman Cruises

With a modern monarchy that welcomes tourists from all over the world, Oman is the place to see. It is a fact that a majority of the tourist inflow the country receives is through its international airports, especially the Muscat International Airport; but these days there is a new breed of explorers that discover the Sultanate’s beauty through its many harbours by embarking on Oman cruises. The country has quite a few luxury cruises and small ship cruises to offer and most halt at Khasab, Muscat and Salalah. There are a few cruises that also cover the whole of Musandam Peninsula, Khor Fakkan and Sur, but these usually small ship cruises. It is advisable to see Fjords of Musandam, Sur and Khor Fakkan aboard a traditional Omani Dhow.

Oman welcomes many international cruise ships to its shores all through the year. These visit the major ports of the Sultanate before carrying on their course. In fact, these days there are a lot of vacationers that book cruises and then additional shore excursions for the many ports, through local travel agencies. These travel agencies make tailor-made packages for big or small groups that disembark the big cruise ships, and show them the best of the city in about a few hours. This becomes a great way to explore the culture and architecture of a foreign land in a day or so, which would otherwise not be possible for an individual traveler. Many travel agencies also offer other services like arrangements for accommodation, day long tours, exclusive private activities, etc.

Most reputable and well-known travel agencies operate through the three major ports of Oman. These are Muscat, Salalah and Khasab. Each port is unique and exclusive in its own way, while also being an integral part of the great country. Muscat is the capital city of Oman and the commercial centre. The city is a unique blend of old and new. It is aesthetically beautiful with much architectural marvels, but also has every modern day amenity in store. There are many things to see in the city including the harbour, the famous Grand Mosque, the Sultan’s Al Alam Palace, the Bait Al Zubair Museum, the fish market, Mattrah Souq and the cornice.

On the other hand, Khasab is a small fishing village. Today the Capital of the Musandam Peninsula is best known across the world for the fjords. Things to do in this part of Oman include seeing the Khasab Fort, the pre-historical rock paintings at Wadi Tawi, see the fjords, and visit Birkhat Khalidiya Park. In Salalah one should not miss shopping for frankincense. So, the next time you are booking any Oman cruises, be sure to get in touch with a good travel agency and book other shore excursions as well.

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