DAY 103---SALALAH, OMAN

 

        We arrived at the pilot station off shore at 7am so as to be docked by 8am.  However, a cargo ship was still docked at the pier we were to be at today.  It was about to complete its cargo loading.  Our pilot was to take the cargo ship out then bring us in.  After just an hour's delay we are now docking at 9am.  Our pier is the methanol & ammonia loading area along with LPG.  It is a sunny day and already 82 degrees at 9am.  It hit 89 degrees in the afternoon.

Historical/Background Info:

        We were here in 2013 and 2017 also.  Salalah is the capital of Oman’s Dhofar province.  It is located on the Arabian Sea in the southern corner of Oman, 50 miles from the border with Yemen.  DO NOT want to go there.  With a population of nearly 200,000 it is the second largest city in the country of Oman. The port here is the largest on the Arabian Peninsula and is an is an important transshipment hub for container shipping connecting to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.  It’s known for its bananas plantations, beaches, and sea life.  They also raise cattle and have coconut plantations.  Back in the 12^th to 19^th centuries it was important to the spice trade, especially incense (frankincense).  Even today it is also known as “the perfume capital of Arabia”.  Salalah is the only place in Oman where trees will grow because they do have a monsoon season.  The area is very mountainous.  They raise camels here for their milk and meat.  Nothing like a good camel burger!!!

LAST EVENING

                             My pan seared fole gras with figs and port wine reduction.

We both had the veal piccata with creamy polenta.  I also asked for a piece of the pan fried fresh dorade fish filet as wanted to taste it.

My lemon meringue tart

              Stage prior to show.  We are sitting at our usual front row seats to left of the stage.

                                           Captain Abhi about to introduce his senior officers.

L to R:  Captain Abhi, General Manager Nicki, Staff Captain Ivan, Chief Engineer Germain

Food & Beverage Manger Nino, Chief Purser Cielo, Executive Concierge Odul, Destination Manager Luke, Cruise Consultant Bea, Human Resources Manager Deborah, Head Housekeeper Annie, Environmental Officer Ariel, Restaurant Manager Vlada, Executive Chef Olek.

                                                       Our two favorites:  Nicki and Ivan

     Nik Page is without doubt the BEST male singer we have ever heard on a Regent cruise.

 Here he is doing "Bring Me Home" from Les Miserables.  Incredible!!!!  Can't wait for his second show.

TODAY

LPG stands for liquified petroleum gas.

         This is where is loaded on LPG carrying ships.  We are docked just down from it today.

                                                Tour buses lined up just below our balcony.

        We are docked at the end of a very long pier today.  There is no shuttle bus into town today but there is one that will take us to the port gate where taxis are.  We are 10 miles for downtown Salalah.

        We went to the fitness center at 9:30 for our treadmill hour.  We had a view out the window of the bus area while on the treadmills.  The tours were originally scheduled to depart starting at 8:15 but due to our late arrival the first buses started departing at 10am and the last ones were on their way by 8:20.

        The ship was scheduled to depart at 5pm but due to our late arrival the sailing is now delayed until 7pm.

        We were supposed to do a 4 hour tour this morning.  But for the following reasons we canceled it.

1)  They announced a couple days ago on the port description/info that the buses would be full at this port.  There are two other cruise ships in port today so all buses being used.  Normally there are only about 25 on the big buses but today there will be 40 to 50 on them.  Crowded buses could be a "spreader event" since there is a health problem again now on the ship.  We are trying to be VERY careful as our safari is on May 2rd to the 5th.  Do not want to miss it.

2)  The Omani authorities are requiring everyone on tours to wear masks.  Four hours with a mask on as hot as it is today is not doable.

3)  It is to be 90 hot and humid degrees here today.

4)  This is our 3rd time to call on this port and did tours the two previous times.

        So you can see this port I am adding the link to our 2013 visit and tour.  Again you can "cut & paste" it to your browser to open it.  I think you will enjoy it.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5238249282069659538/2626114531003568539

            Provisioning again today.  This truck was packed full of fresh fruits and vegetables.

 

One of our security officers is checking all the pallets for any hidden explosive devices.  I saw a whole pallet of fresh mushrooms, melons, leafy greens, bananas, celery, raspberries, blue berries, tomatoes, more greens, green beans, and a whole pallet of eggs.  I did not see all that came out of the truck.

I eat what most do not.  Blue cheese and anchovies.

Since fisherman platter with fried shrimp, I asked the La Veranda chef to make me a shrimp parmesan.

Not sure what this cruise ship is but it's big.

This is a MSC cruise ship.

                                                                  Container port area.

        Rebecca watches her soap "Bold & Beautiful" during breakfast and then watches "Young & Restless" after lunch.  Then we watched the movie, "The Great Gatsby" this afternoon also.

        We will head down to the Mariner Lounge shortly after 5:30 for our cocktail hour as we have a 6:30 Prime 7 reservation for dinner this evening.  Over 300 went on tours this morning and another over 100 going on tour this afternoon.  The morning tours will not be returning until after 2pm so they are keeping La Veranda restaurant open until 3pm today.  The afternoon tour will not get back until just prior to sailing at 7pm.  We're thinking Mariner Lounge will not be very busy this evening.

        The guest entertainer tonight is featuring Alan Kavanagh, a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Dublin, Ireland.  It should be another good show so will be attending.

        As I mentioned we will be sailing again at 7pm and will have 3 days at sea before reaching the Seychelles.