Our Luxurious Dubai Banquet

by Janet Go
(Grand Junction, Colorado, USA)

Janet Go and Perry McGinnis at luxurious Madinat Jumeriah Hotel, Dubai

Hi, I'm Janet Go. Perry McGinnis and I sailed on the Wonders of the World Cruise on the Queen Elizabeth 2 in 2006. As part of the trip Cunard Line treated the World cruise passengers to a luxurious banquet in Dubai, United Arab Emerites on the Persian Gulf.

Oil was discovered in the sea off Dubai in 1967, and after that, the nation was transformed from an impoverished region to a sophisticated state with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. We discovered that Dubai has the tallest, largest, most modern anything in the world that money can buy. Our guide on a day sightseeing tour said it was cheaper to shower in oil than in water, which is desalinated from the sea.


The evening of the banquet, we went to the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel, where we were greeted by rows of men wearing white robes, red head scarves, and beating drums to announce our arrival. Young women sprinkled us with rose petals, and belly dancers performed on the stage of a huge ballroom, where baskets of red roses hung from million-dollar chandeliers from the ceiling. Set up outside the ballroom was a souq displaying spices, an artist painting flowers on womens' hands, and a falconer holding his magnificent bird.


We enjoyed a delicious meal that would choke a camel: duck-liver parfait served with port wine, poached figs, walnut bread, cold cream of tomato soup with basil and creme fraiche, herb-roasted fillet of beef on au gratin potatoes, Tahitian vanilla bean Bavarois with nutmet crepe, mango ice cream, and petit fours. Our glasses were constantly filled with fine French champagne. What Bliss!

I hope you enjoyed the story...with thanks Janet Go.