316 nautical miles at an average speed of 17 knots since we left Lisbon, we are now around 16 nautical miles from Spain, and have just been informed that the captain is available for any wedding ceremonies. Our last port of call, Lisbon yesterday, was a stark contrast to what we experienced in Malta last Friday mainly because of the seemingly omnipresent graffiti. Our day in Lisbon on an insiders tour led by Maria and Ramsay commenced with a walk from Arcadia to...

A quick update on our whirlwind tour of Athens today before Arcadia heads away, next stop Malta in two days. Our day started early with a quick breakfast on board before joining an excursion to The Acropolis and The Plaka, must sees in Athens for 'Green' Greece tourists like me. As it was in Petra, the Acropolis was almost overwhelmed by tourists, making it difficult to stop and admire and appreciate the magnificence of the scene. So sad to hear of the ongoing...

After four days at sea our party of four have settled into a comfortable routine; sleep until we are ready to face the day, Zumba for the girls, cricket for the boys and long lazy afternoons by the pool thanks to the weather. Tomorrow we arrive in Jordan and will spend a full day traveling to and from The Lost City of Petra, a highly anticipated visit for many on board Arcadia. We have been warned to anticipate a significantly lower daily temperature than we ha...

To be honest I was not looking forward to another day in Dubai, but after our excursion today I leave with a positive impression of United Arab Emirates. There is more to Dubai and the Emirates than the milestones and memorials; 231 nationalities according to the last census, buildings designed to reflect the heat using glass, household water produced in the local desalination plant, and pride, respect and reverence for the Emiratie people and what has been ach...

With memories of Mumbai still fresh in my mind even after two days at sea, I have to admit I was not prepared for the stark contrast of landscape and lifestyle that is UAE. Absolutely staggering displays of wealth and success are everywhere. From the Worlds Largest Indoor Theme Park, Ferrari World, to the Worlds Largest Shopping Mall here in Dubai, luxurious cars sprinkled with sand speeding through the city streets, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with 24-car...