Dubai

Dubai greets cruise passengers with a skyline that looks like it was built yesterday. The Burj Khalifa towers over everything, and the port at Dubai Harbour sits close enough to the Palm Jumeirah that you can see it from the terminal. The transition from ship to shore is quick, and the mix of saltwater air and faint spice smells from nearby souks hits you right away. The city runs on contrasts. You can go from a gold-plated shopping mall to a traditional dhow cruise on the Creek in under an hour. The souks in Deira sell everything from textiles to saffron, while the Dubai Mall has an aquarium, an ice rink, and more shops than you'll cover in a day. Taxis are cheap and metered, and the metro covers most tourist areas. Just dress modestly when visiting mosques or older neighbourhoods.