Bday cruising the Arabian Seas in Muscat + Shangri-la dinner!

By Nicole Brewer

Greetings globe-trotters! So my Bday is right around the corner, June 18th to be exact. I decided to celebrate that in addition to the time winding down here in Oman by having a Gemini Bday boat cruise with some of the amazing friends I’ve made here living in Oman the past 10 months! Exactly 2 weeks from today I’ll be flying back home to the States to Finally see my fam and friends after being abroad the past 16 straight months!! I’ve worked hard and played hard during this time in Oman and S. Korea collectively.

I booked a small speed boat through Sidab Sea Tours which allowed us to have a max capacity of 18 cruisers.  Nice cold beverages and a snack tray of fruit and muffins were provided complimentary.  At first I was slightly disappointed once they confirmed my reservations this past week to find out that my initial desire of the Traditional Omani Dhow boat was not going to be appointed. Nonetheless, considering the 40+C temps currently in Oman, we were happy to make due with the (somewhat) cool breezes that accompanied cruising on a speed boat ;-).  It was loads of fun!!

Afterwards, we headed over to the Italian restaurant Capri Court at the Shangri-La Resort which had a party room decked out in Gorgeous red interiors per my Bday dinner reservations.  As much as I was looking forward to having some pasta and a little wine, I decided on The most delicious duck dish that was on the menu…but still indulged in my glass of Chianti that reminded me of the heart of Tuscany, Italy.  Some of the party guest ordered a huge meat platter that consisted of duck, chicken, beef, quail and more. They seemed pretty happy with their choice.

After we finished stuffing our bellies we enjoyed the stunning Piano Bar lounge for a bit that is in the same hotel Al Bandar, apart of the resort which lays host to three different hotels in one stunning atmosphere! I’m such a huge fan of architecture and interior design. I thoroughly enjoyed walking through and seeing more of this illustrious resort before I depart these lands.

The night time views of the sea from the resort were breathtaking!  Take a peek through the below album to see the awe- strikingly beautiful sights of our sails and of the elaborate Shangri-La resort.  Enjoy globe-trotters!