Day 37 - As we were eating breakfast in the upper buffet, we watched another ship pull into the space on the other side of the dock at Sir Bani Yas Island.
The island is around 170 kilometers southwest of Abu Dhabi. It has ruins as the first settlers came here several thousand years ago. More recently, in the early 1970s, it was set aside as a wildlife preserve by the first president of the new United Arab Emirates. The cruise industry only started coming to the island within the last decade. New facilities offer an easy day of beach and food here as well as ship excursions.
Our ship put on an enormous buffet ashore for passengers in specially built facilities. We spent our time in the sun and looked around at the few tourist shops.
We sailed towards Dubai before sunset.
The evening included free champagne at the special captain's party. Jay and I were on an eariler MSC cruise so the invite extended to the whole group. They aren't drinkers so I made sure to get the equivalent of their missed sparkling beverage.
Another interesting day ended with big variety show and an early goodbye from the staff of the MSC Opera.