Tag: Yanbu

SATURDAY, 26 MARCH 2022 YANBU, SAUDI ARABIA Arrival: 8:00 AM All Aboard: 8:45 PM Departure: 9:15 PM
TODAY’S WEATHER Partly Cloudy High: 86°F 30°C Low: 66°F 19°C YANBU,
DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS
No shorts or flip flop type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues

YANBU, SAUDI ARABIA – “SPRING BY THE SEA”
Yanbu is a port city on the Red Sea coast of western Saudi Arabia. Its Al Nakheel area is known for Al Fairouz Park, with grassy lawns. Seafront Subh Park’s tree-lined walkways look toward the beaches of Oyster Island. North along the coast, the Al Bahr area has an old town and a waterfront corniche.

Nearby, sandy beaches line Sharm Yanbu Bay, with dive sites on the offshore coral reefs.

Yanbu was established thousands of years ago when early Egyptian traders crossed the Red Sea, establishing land routes into Jordan, to the north, and Jeddah, to the south. During the 1st millennium, BC Yanbu’ al Bahr was a stopping point for merchant caravans on the incense route that extended from Yemen to the Mediterranean Sea.

Later it also served as a resting site for Muslim pilgrims traveling to Mecca and Medina. In 1975 the Saudi government chose Yanbu and Al Jubayl, a small town on the Persian Gulf coast, to be developed as modern industrial cities. Both play a central role in diversifying Saudi Arabia’s economic base so that the country is not dependent solely on crude oil exports.

Twenty years ago, all that could be seen at Yanbu was an insignificant Red Sea fishing port, surrounded by an arid coastal plain. Today, Yanbu Industrial City together with its port ranks as one of the exporting giants of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The construction of this ultra-modern industrial base in such a short time must surely be counted as one of the Kingdom’s most astonishing achievements.

With beautiful waterfronts nearby, it is not surprising that sailing, fishing, and other water sports are popular at Yanbu.

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA HOUSE
Thomas Edward Lawrence Lawrence commonly known as Lawrence of Arabia was a British intelligence officer who assisted in the combat against the ottoman empire to the Saudis, British and French groups in World War I. Beautifully renovated, Lawrence of Arabia House is where he spent precious years of his life.

SIGHTS
• Lawrence of Arabia House
• Yanbu Old Town
• Yanbu Waterfront
• Yanbu Lake Park
• Souq Al-Lail (Night Market)
• Yanbu Al-Nakhl (heritage district)

Today’s Schedule

GOOD MORNING
7:00 Morning Walk (signup required) with Personal Trainer Nemanja Jogging Track (9)
8:00 Pathway to Yoga with Personal Trainer Nemanja Aerobics Room (10)
8:00 Silver Whisper is scheduled to dock in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
Once the vessel has been cleared by local authorities, your Cruise Director Fernando will give weather and gangway location information
8:30 Today’s Silver Quiz & Sudoku are available on request. Please ask at reception Reception (5)
9:00 Shuffleboard is available for your enjoyment throughout the day (unhosted – until 7:00 pm – weather permitting) Shuffleboard
10:00 The Library is open with a selection of books. (When returning books please place in the drop box not back on the shelves)
10:00 Board Games are available on request – please ask at reception Reception (5)
GOOD AFTERNOON
2:00 Cards & Board Games are available on request – please ask at reception Reception (5)
2:00 Bridge Play with your fellow Guests (unhosted) Conference Room (7)
4:00 Afternoon Teatime: music by Piano Vocalist Remon The Bar (5)
4:45 Team Trivia with Cruise Director Fernando and International Hostess for fun and prize points. Panorama Lounge (8)
5:00 Fab Abs Class with Personal Trainer Nemanja Aerobics Room (10)
5:30 Golf Putting Challenge with The Voices of Silversea. Prize points to be won! Lobby (4)
GOOD EVENING – DRESS CODE: CASUAL
6:30 Cocktail Pianist Alex and Piano Vocalist Remon captivate you with their beautiful music The Bar (5)
6:30 The Whisper Trio entertains you while you enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail Panorama Lounge (8)
7:00 Solo Travellers – Get Together with fellow guests and Gentlemen Hosts David and Tom Panorama Lounge (8)
8:45 All aboard! Silver Whisper prepares to sail
9:15 Silver Whisper sails for Aqaba, Jordan
9:15 The Whisper Trio plays for your listening and dancing pleasure Panorama Lounge (8)
9:30 Cocktail Pianist Alex and Piano Vocalist Remon play enchanting melodies for your listening and dancing pleasure The Bar

Today’s Excursion – Discover Medina, the Second Holiest City in Islam
Today’s excursion took us to Medina (Al-Madinah) the second holiest city in the Arab world after Mecca (Makkah).
We departed the pier for a 3-hour drive to Medina.

Upon arrival, we continued to the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (The Prophet’s Mosque) with its amazing massive architecture and beautifully arranged lights. It is built where the Islamic prophet Muhammad used to live and is currently buried. The exterior of the mosque is surrounded by countless hotels which have been built to accommodate all of the worshippers visiting the city in addition to restaurants and shops selling a variety of succulent dates, traditional prayer garbs, other Islamic clothing, and food items, and more. Many businesses remain open throughout the day and night making it known as a city that doesn’t sleep.

After lunch, we continued to a major pilgrimage site Mount Uhud the place where Muslim forces led by the Prophet Muhammad battled troops from Makkah.

We visited the Dar Al Madinah Museum a private museum to discover the city’s heritage and history. The museum hosted many collections and visual galleries including some rare cultural artifacts. The most important part of the museum shows the evolution of Masjid Nabawi from a house into the huge complex it is today.

Afterward, we saw the Quaba Mosque (outside visit only). On the migration from Mecca to Medina in 622, the Prophet Muhammad and his followers stopped in the village of Quba and put down the foundation stone of the world’s first mosque. Worshippers have gathered here ever since, though the current building is a more recent construction. Once outside the boundaries of Medina the mosque and the surrounding area have been fully absorbed by the city and Quba Mosque sees a steady stream of visitors.
Later we enjoyed some free time at the Quba City Market which sells dates, perfumes, and other local specialties.