Gain a remarkably in-depth understanding of the Qatari lifestyle through a variety of activities and attractions in and around the capital of Doha. For a historical perspective, you will browse two museums, one featuring rarities from a sheikh’s private collection. Doha’s vision for the future will be apparent while driving along the waterfront Corniche and pass the soaring skyscrapers downtown. Riding a camel through the desert and racing over the sand dunes in a 4WD vehicle will present the alluring juxtaposition of traditional and modern ways.
DAY 1
After flying into the Hamad International Airport, you will be met outside the Customs area and transferred to your hotel.
Check-in is at 3:00 pm. Although every effort will be made to have the rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed. Should your flight arrive very early in the morning you may wish to book an additional night.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with meals on your own.
DAY 2
After breakfast at your hotel, you will begin driving along one of Doha’s most iconic attractions, the Corniche, a long promenade overlooking the waterfront. With its crescent-shaped walkway around Doha Bay, the Corniche offers the best views of the city’s modern skyline, making it a favorite gathering place. You will stop to take in the impressive views of Doha’s skyline and watch the daily training procession of camels on the lawns in front of the Amiri Diwan governmental center.
Continuing on, you will pass the gleaming towers of West Bay and on to the Pearl Qatar, an island created with reclaimed land that now features marinas, hotels, shopping and restaurants. You will stop for photos at the Porto Arabia boardwalk overlooking the marina.
Afterwards, you will browse the National Museum of Qatar. The museum, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, draws its inspiration from and recreates the naturally occurring crystal formations of the desert rose. Built around Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani’s original palace, and the seat of government for 25 years, the National Museum of Qatar gives voice to Qatar’s heritage while celebrating its future.
Exhibits detail the formation of its earliest cities of Qatar and chart the country’s history and progress through the centuries by combining historical objects and contemporary pieces. Time will be allotted for a stop at the museum gift shop before a 3-course set menu lunch at Jiwan Restaurant at National Museum of Qatar.
Jiwan is named after the Qatari word for the “perfect pearl,” rose-tinted white, completely round with a luster so pure that it comes alive with radiance. Interiors are designed by renowned architect Koichi Takada, who was inspired by Qatar’s unique landscape and heritage. The outdoor terrace enjoys the most impressive views over Doha’s Corniche, giving you a closer connection to the sea. You can also look over the impressive architecture of the National Museum of Qatar and the newly restored Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani, which represents the heart of Qatari national identity.
After lunch, you will transfer to your hotel to relax during free time.
In the afternoon, you will drive from the hotel to Box Park in Dhow Harbor, where you will board a traditional wooden boat called a dhow. As you cruise Doha Bay, you will pass the city’s iconic Corniche waterfront as you head north to The Pearl, a modern and luxurious development on an island made of reclaimed land.
During the cruise, you will indulge in a sumptuous buffet dinner with refreshments. The gentle cruising speed allows for ample time to capture photographs of the city with its famous landmarks and spectacular skyline.
Following the cruise, you will drive back to the hotel for the evening.
DAY 3
After breakfast at the hotel, you will experience the Arabian culture, cuisine and desert. Upon arriving in the Sealine Beach area, you will race through the sand dunes in a 4-WD vehicle, an experience known as dune bashing. You will also ride through the desert on a camel before stopping for a traditional BBQ lunch at an authentic waterfront desert camp.
Afterwards, you will drive back to the hotel for the evening.
DAY 4
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and transfer to the port and embark the cruise ship.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Arrive at the Hamad International Airport
Meet and greet in Arrival Hall after Customs
Transfer to your hotel
3:00pm – check-in at your hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure
Meals are on your own
Overnight at Sheraton Grand Doha Hotel or similar
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
From 7:00am Breakfast at your hotel
9:00am Panoramic tour via Corniche with photo stop
9:30am Drive to Pearl Qatar passing by West Bay
9:50am Photo stop at Porto Arabia
10:10am Drive to Souq Waqif
10:40am Tour and free time at Souq Waqif
11:30am Drive to National Museum of Qatar
11:45am Tour National Museum of Qatar and gift shop
1:00pm Lunch at Jiwan Restaurant at National Museum of Qatar
2:30pm Drive back to your hotel
3:00pm Time to relax and refresh at the hotel
5:00pm Drive to Box Park
5:30pm Dhow cruise with dinner onboard
8:30pm Drive back to your hotel
Overnight at Sheraton Grand Doha or similar hotel
DAY 3
From 7:00am Breakfast at the hotel
10:00am Drive by Jeep to Sealine Beach area
10:45am Stop at Sealine Beach area
11:00am Sand dune bashing
11:30am Photo stop at the Arabian Gulf
11:45am Sand dune bashing to Khor Al Adeid, the Inland Sea
12:05pm Stop at Khor Al Adeid for photos
12:20pm Sand dune bashing to the desert camp
12:45pm Relax and enjoy Traditional barbecue lunch at the camp
3:15pm Rejoin the Jeep and drive back to your hotel
Overnight at Sheraton Grand Doha or similar hotel
DAY 4
From 7:00am Breakfast at the hotel
12:00pm Check out from the hotel
1:00pm Transfer to the port
1:30pm Arrive at the port for embarkation
Expected Weather
The average temperature in Doha in April ranges from a high of 88°F (31°C) to a low of 72°F (22°C).
What to Bring
Lightweight clothing, camera, sunscreen, comfortable footwear, adapter plug for electronics, hydration essentials, hat, sunglasses, swimwear, scarf or shawl.
Currency
Qatari riyals for cash payments. All international credit cards are widely accepted. Some shops or service providers might accept U.S. dollars.
Electricity
The standard voltage in Qatar is 240V. Power plugs and sockets are of types D and G. Adaptors might be available at hotels but in limited numbers, so it is recommended to bring your own adaptors.
Documents and Visa Requirements
All passengers travelling to Qatar must be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Qatar. U.S. passport holders get visa-free entry to Qatar. Please consult your local embassy for any visa requirements for your nationality.
Hotel:
Sheraton Grand Doha
Al Corniche Street, P.O. Box 6000, Doha, Qatar
Program Includes for guests
•3 nights at the Sheraton Grand Doha or similar hotel including breakfast
•Meet and greet at the airport
•Transfers to/from hotel on Day 1 and Day 4
•Discover Doha tour on Day 2 with lunch
•Dhow cruise on Day 2 with dinner
•Full-day Desert Safari and barbeque lunch on Day 3
•Meals as per the itinerary
•Entrance fees as per the itinerary
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests:
•Meals and beverages not listed above
•Gratuities to drivers and guides
•Portage at the airport and hotel
•Any personal expenses
•Visa fees if required
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. The pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.
Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program.
Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released. Arrangements for accommodation and transfers will be at the expense of guests.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.
