Dubai: With a shopping promenade, restaurants, bars, nightclub, discotheque, cafes, lounges, ice-skating rink, cinema hall, swimming pools, ballrooms, spa, mini golf course, rock climbing wall, basketball court, casino and even a wedding chapel, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were in a modern city anywhere in the world.
Except that despite its Broadway-standard theatre, fitness centres and air-conditioned promenade, Voyager of the Seas is a cruise ship nearly large enough to house a mini city.
The liner, which docked for the first time in Dubai on Tuesday, is nearly the same in length (311 metres) as the Burj Al Arab is high!
It's the second-biggest cruise ship to dock at Dubai and during the time of its launch in 1999 was the largest ship in the world.
Sailing from Barcelona on April 30 via Egypt, the ship docked in Dubai for the day to pick up passengers before continuing to India and Singapore.
With 1,556 rooms of which 707 have private balconies, other onboard offerings include the Vitality Spa, four pools, a fitness centre with yoga and tai chi classes, and a variety of restaurants from Asian fusion to Italian and even a Johnny Rockets!
Voyager of the Seas became the largest cruise ship ever to come to Dubai after the Queen Mary 2 and arrived at Port Rashid amidst much fanfare.
Traditional Arabian hospitality was accorded to the passengers and crew of the 15-deck ship upon her arrival at Dubai as an Arabic band played traditional music and a heritage village set-up showcased handicrafts, henna application stalls and a display of falcons.
As guests enjoyed the hospitality, Emirati children distributed flowers and served Arabic coffee and dates to the passengers as the emerged from the vessel to explore the city.
