Arrive in Mumbai, India     April 4, 2010

Check into your included hotel. The evening is at your leisure. Mumbai is to the rest of India what New York is to the U.S.: a vibrant, fast-paced cosmopolitan city. Though the seven islands that now make up the city have a long history as a settlement, Mumbai began to take form as a major center of trade under the Portuguese in the late 15th century and flourished under British rule into the 20th century. The Indian independence movement flourished here as well, culminating in India’s emergence as a sovereign state in 1947.

Experience the highlights of Mumbai before transferring to your ship and beginning your voyage.

You’ll be visiting Mumbai's municipal laundry, or Dhobi Ghat, at Mhalaxmi, where some 5,000 men use rows of open-air troughs to clean the thousands of kilograms of soiled clothes brought from all over the city each day. The best view is from the bridge across the Mahalaxmi train station.

Next on our itinerary is a historic home, Mani Bhawan. Mahatma Gandhi lived in this quaint Gujarati-style house from 1917 to 1934, and it was herein November 1921 that he conducted a four-day fast in order to restore peace to the city. This quiet,three-story home now preserves the spirit of the man who selflessly put his nation first. There's a library of Gandhi-related works, as well as displays of photographs, posters, slogans, and other items that document Gandhi's legendary life; dioramas depicting major events and turning points in his fight for the nation's freedom draw particular attention to his devotion to the poor. You can see Gandhi's old charkha (spinning wheel), which in many ways symbolized the struggle for independence, and which now appears on the Indian flag. A visit to this tranquil spot makes a welcome change from the continuous hubbub of life in Mumbai. Be sure to go up to the roof to really appreciate the relative stillness of the surrounding Parsi neighborhood.

Then it’s off to Crawford Market. Named after Bombay's first municipal commissioner, Arthur Crawford, the Crawford Market is at the northern end of the old British part of the town, and faces the crowded inner city. An elegant covered market, it dominates the skyline with its clock tower and steeple. The cavernous spaces inside are divided into sections for fruits, vegetables and meat. The building, completed in 1869 was donated to the city by Cowasji Jehangir. The friezes on the outside walls and the stone fountains inside were designed by Lockwood Kipling.
 

Bandar Abbas, Iran     April 9, 2010

Travel back in time to the seat of the ancient Persian Empire. Your all-day adventure begins with a chartered flight from Bandar Abbas to Shiraz, the capital of the Fars Province, gateway to one of the most magnificent archeological sites in the world. From Shiraz you’ll travel by motorcoach to Persepolis, accompanied by an expert local guide who will be on hand throughout the day to explain the history and significance of these spectacular ruins as you encounter them.

Darius I (522-486 B.C.), the great Achaemenian King, unified an empire that in time was larger and more efficiently governed than any the ancient world had ever seen. Darius conceived of Persepolis as the spiritual hub of the empire. The building program he initiated, continued under his two immediate successors: Xerxes (486-465 B.C.), and Artaxerxes (465- 424 B.C.). Despite the ravages of foreign invaders and centuries of exposure, Persepolis remains a magnificent memorial to the achievements of the Achaemenid kings.

The most important buildings in Persepolis were crowded onto a terrace of natural rock (Takht-e-Jamshid) that rises 12 meters above the plain on three sides and abuts a low mountain on the forth side. There are about fifteen major buildings you can visit, including the Apadana, the Hall of Hundred Columns, the Gate House of Xerxes, the Treasury, the 'Harem', the so-called central building and the majestic palaces of Darius the Great, Xerxes, Artaxerxes I and Artaxerxes III.

It was in Persepolis that the Achaemenid kings celebrated the Iranian New Year (Now-Ruz), and the achievements of their ancestors in religious ceremonies, received foreign delegations, and were buried. That is, until 330 B.C., when this royal city was burned to the ground by Alexander the Great. The existing remains consist of stone columns with elaborate bases and capitals, stone door and window jambs, and facades and staircases, many with splendid bas-reliefs and relief sculptures. They make Persepolis one of the most impressive sites, not just in Iran, but in the whole of the ancient world.

Near Persepolis, we’ll visit Naqsh-e-Rostam, a necropolis. Archeologists believe that among the many kings buried here are Darius the Great, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, II and III, and Darius II.

When we return to Shiraz we’ll visit the Holy Shrine of Shah Cheraq. This sacred complex contains the tomb of brothers Amir Ahmad and Mir Muhammad. The Amir’s tomb is magnificent, with an enormous dome inlaid with hundreds of thousands of finely crafted tiles. Interior walls are covered with dazzling cut glass intermixed with multi-hued tiles. Our final stop is Vakil Mosque. Built in 1773, the mosque features 48 stone pillars, a dramatic ceiling and a marble altar considered to be a masterpiece of the Zandieh era.

After an eventful day exploring some of Iran’s, not to mention the world’s, greatest cultural treasures, you’ll board your return flight from Shiraz to Bandar Abbas and then transfer back to your ship.

Dubai     April 13, 2010

Musandam Peninsula, Oman      April 14, 2010

Go from your ship to the pier to your waiting motorized dhow (a traditional Arab sailing vessel) for a scenic cruise of some of the deepest fjords in the Musandam Peninsula. Your cruise will take you toward Musandam’s longest and most spectacular fjord, which is often referred to as the “Norway of Arabia.” Here calm, turquoise waters contrast with the creamy-white limestone cliffs. Pass spectacular scenery, small fishing villages, and you may even spot some friendly dolphins swimming alongside the dhow.

We’ll travel by Telegraph Island, where, in 1864, the British laid the first telegraph cable running from India to Basra, Iraq. The island was manned for some five years, but the station was so remote its staff succumbed to madness.

Just off Seeb Island, we’ll drop anchor allowing you to take a swim in the Gulf of Al ‘Gabaiyain, or just sit back and enjoy soft drinks, tea or coffee while admiring the breathtaking views of distant mountains rising over 2,000 feet out of the sea.

Sohar, Oman      April 16, 2010

Muscat, Oman      April 17, 2010