Dinner Cruise at the Al Mansour Dhow in Radisson Blu

Mark and I do not really go out on "romantic" dates. You know, all the dressing up, dinner by candle light, slow soothing background music, and a romantic setting, it's just not our thing. Although I, I mean the hopeless romantic in me, must admit that from time to time I'd picture ourselves in that setting too. Ehem! Ehem!

It was also only once that I decided to arrange a "romantic" dinner for us via a dinner cruise along Manila Bay when Mark and I were still back home, but it was postponed once until it was finally put to a halt and never materialized because of the bad weather. You can read the story about it here and here. :) And since then, I decided to just let go of the idea and just stick with our usual dates. But I'm still not closing my doors. Hi Mark! Hahaha! :p

So imagine my delight when I got an invite from Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, for a dinner cruise on board their Al Mansour Dhow. And of course, the hopeless romantic in me suddenly awakened and got more excited too!

So there, last Friday, Mark and I finally experienced a dinner cruise that we never got to have back then. Seeing the Al Mansour Dhow as we were nearing the Dubai Creek already got me all giddy, more so when we mounted the vessel.

We were ushered to our seats at the upper deck where welcome drinks were also served. Boarding time is 30 minutes before the dhow sets on sail, so we got to roam around and check out the vessel.

Very evident is the all-wooden structure of the vessel which, although seemed to lack style and sleekness compared with the other dhows, still looked classy with its traditional look and charm.

The dhow has two decks, the lower deck where the buffet is also located, and the upper deck where a table was reserved for us. The lower deck is more well-lit and is enclosed and air-conditioned. This is also where the Oud player, who serenades guests with traditional music throughout the cruise, is situated.

Mr. Jamal, the ever joyful Oud Player :D

The the upper deck is open with a tarpaulin roof which is perfect for enjoying the cool breeze together with the great view. The lights at the upper deck are also dimmed which definitely add up to the romantic vibe.

This is also where the captain of the ship carefully maneuvers the dhow for a relaxing voyage.

The Captain of My Heart ♥

The buffet opens just right when the dhow sets sail. The Al Mansour Dhow offers a full-service bar and a sumptuous buffet of Arabic and international cuisines.

The spread was extensive and includes a variety of soups, breads, appetizers...

An array of beef, lamb, fish, chicken, and vegetable dishes...

And mouth-watering desserts from fruits, gelatin, and pastries; to dates, cakes, and mousse! :-p~

Our minds (and tummies) may have thought alike that, except for the rice, Mark and I got the same dishes!

My Hearty Plate

The chicken was just ordinary-tasting, perfect for kids, but I liked that it's not oily and I loved the garlic-yogurt sauce that came with it. The curry was a bit spicy for my palates and is best paired with paratha. The veggies were cooked just right but lacked flavor; while the roast beef, although fork-tender and juicy, was a little too salty for me. Mark loved it though.

Mark's Plate

The burger steak and roasted potatoes were a hit! The patty was tender and succulent. It was seasoned just right and was made more delectable with its mildly sweet and salty sauce. The potatoes though they looked bland, were very flavorful. It was not too salty and the taste of the chives were very evident.

We both loved the burger steak and roasted potatoes so much that we got another serving for sharing as we were halfway through the cruise. :p

We were all full from our hearty plates but we still got to squeeze some desserts.

The desserts were all eye-candies, but what stood out for me were the fresh fruits, dates, and those star-shaped pastries.

Aside from the scrumptious dinner which definitely satisfied our tummies, our hearts were also filled with fascination as we indulged in the picturesque view of the structures surrounding the Dubai Creek.

Service was also commendable. Five-star hospitality was very evident from all the staff, especially from Ghani who attended to us and made sure that we're having a good time.

With all the delectable food, commendable service, picturesque view, quaint structures, serene waters, cold breeze, and warm music, who wouldn't feel relaxed? Mark felt so relaxed that he fell asleep just minutes before we disembarked. Haha! :p

The 2-hour cruise was definitely worthwhile. The experience was so surreal. I knew that I'd get to experience the cruise which once didn't materialize, but I never thought that I'd experience it here, in no less than Dubai! Thank you so much, Radisson Blu, for having us! ♥

The Old Lady has just recently had it's revamp. With the a better ambience, new food choices, and the same 5-star Arabic hospitality, a dinner cruise on board the new Old Lady shouldn't be missed when in Dubai!

Ticket Price: 185 AED per person, inclusive of buffet dinner and soft drinks
For children 4-12yrs: 92.50 AED per child

(wine & fresh juices for an additional charge)

Booking Email Address: booking.diningdubaicreek@radissonblu.com

Booking Contact Number: 04 205 7033

Timings: 8:00pm – 10:30pm

Seating time for the Dhow is at 20:00 and the boat departs at 20:30 and sails for 2 hours.

For updates about Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, you can visit and like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RadissonBluDXB, or follow them on Twitter: @RadissonBluDXB, and on Instagram: @radissonbludxb. You can also visit their website at www.radissonblu.com/hotel-dubaideiracreek

AL MANSOUR DHOW in Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek
Bani Yas Road, P.O. Box 476
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 (4) 222 717
www.radissonblu.com/hotel-dubaideiracreek
Nearest Metro Station: Union (Green Line connecting to Red Line)

We were guests at the Al Mansour Dhow in Radisson Blu and our meal was complimentary, but as always, this post is sincerely written and all views and opinions are my own.