THE BIGGEST MOSQUE IN THE COUNTRY? MSC World Europa Episode 4: Abu Dhabi

Hi all!
Welcome to the fourth part of my vlog series from my recent 21-night cruise onboard MSC World Europa, one of the newest cruise ships from MSC Cruises. This cruise took me from Dubai (UAE) to Marseille (France), via the Suez Canal, so I have so much to show you!
In this episode, I'm going to take you ashore in Abu Dhabi, a place that I've been curious about for years. On the agenda for today is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, widely known as the largest mosque in the country. I've never visited a mosque before, so a little unsure what to expect - let me show you what it's like!
After going ashore, I'll take you back to the ship, show you the food in the Main Dining room, and some of the onboard facilities. In my next episode from this series, let me show you Sir Bani Yas Island - it's something very special!
If you're new to my channel, hello! I'm Fraser, and I want to use this channel to showcase to the world the cruise industry. I'm spending the rest of 2023 mostly living on cruise ships (as a passenger), and I hope to share my passion with you! So, for now, hit the subscribe button and let's go - I've got SO MUCH to show you!
Video chapters:
Introduction and view from the ship: 00:02
A few tips for cruising in the Middle East: 01:29
Disembarking MSC World Europa - how simple is it? 03:50
Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal: 05:54
The journey to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: 07:35
Entering the Mosque: 08:30
First impressions: 09:59
Going inside...: 11:58
Call to Prayer: 12:53
Leaving the Mosque - thoughts...: 15:32
Plan for the rest of today: 18:53
Downtown Abu Dhabi: 19:47
Paying for the taxi... Drama! 20:24
Boarding MSC World Europa: 21:48
Departing Abu Dhabi: 22:55
Still waiting... 25:35
Dinner (Main Dining Room): 28:28
Summarising today: 29:10
#cruise #msccruises #mscworldeuropa #mscworldcruise #msccrociere #cruiseship #cruisevlog #travel #travelvlog #travelvlogger

[@johnkean6852]

I did actually cry inside: the strength of their faith, awed at the site. The emotion in the air. Glad l experienced it.

[@FraserAtSea]

It's an amazing place, isn't it? I don't think I'll ever go back, but amazing to see it, and the demonstration of commitment surrounding it!

[@johnkean6852]

Loved the Island: Sir Bani Yas. We did this trip twice so saw the island twice!

[@marecianoble5826]

That mosque was stunning.

[@FraserAtSea]

Oh, agreed!

[@elizabethgillingham8781]

Thank you so much for showing us the mosque. It is stunning! Unfortunately when we cruised the emirates and stopped at Abu Dhabi the mosque was closed to visitors so we couldn’t get in to see it but it’s something that we would love to visit another time. Enjoy the rest of your time on World Europa.

[@FraserAtSea]

You’re so welcome - thanks for following along with me! It’s an absolute stunner, for sure - you must return and check it out!

[@jennib11]

Wow the Mosque is so beautiful. I love this series...cant wait to see the rest.

[@FraserAtSea]

Thanks, Jenni!

[@sibyllecurcio6591]

WOW so much Beauty❤

[@FraserAtSea]

Thanks for watching!

[@mariavano9616]

wow....I imagine the feeling of going inside and seeing it, is like going into Hassan II mosque in Casablanca.....you just get this...feeling, ya' know? And that tolerance path, way cool! You're right, the call to prayer in places such like this (the grand mosque, Hassan II, and the like) are like nowhere else. (and I just realized, I found the suez canal series!)

[@FraserAtSea]

Yeah, absolutely amazing - I’d love to experience it all over again. You sure have - you’ll need to watch them all - GOOD LUCK!!

[@mariavano9616]

@@FraserAtSea gimme time gimme time! You gots lots of 'em LOL (omg Opera is soooo tiny next to WE!)

[@shawnryan8345]

Very interesting to see the travels in that part of the world. The mosque complex looks beautiful & surreal. When ‘ur conveying info onboard some of the backgrounds looks absolutely stunning. Ty - 4 sharing “Cherri’O” 😀

[@jenniferpratt3854]

Wow ❤ enjoy

[@PollyAttwell]

Enjoyed your Great Mosque review thank you, makes me to travel there too

[@FraserAtSea]

Thanks, Polly!

[@tammy_oh_nevermind]

Thanks for this one! That was stunning! Quite the experience! I'm a bit surprised that on the sign going in it looked like women could wear pants! Head covering I expected. Too funny entry was in a mall.

[@FraserAtSea]

I couldn’t believe it was inside a mall - I got a McDonald’s when I was leaving… Haha!

[@tammy_oh_nevermind]

@Fraser at Sea oh that's choice! 😁

[@mayavandoorn261]

That was really a great tour in the mosque and great choice of music too. Was it music from a movie? Jewel of the nile? Sounded familiair. 🕌

[@FraserAtSea]

I’m not sure actually - just came across it and though it fitted well :)

[@johnkean6852]

My friend went to the nature reserve last trip. He said it was ok but he was not really impressed. We walked along the road past the barrier the first trip before covld and saw flamingoes way in the distance then got escorted back, as we were not allowed past that barrier, which l had priorly warned my Turkish friends but hey you can only LOL. Loved hat island l could have stayed longer. Food was cold though and a struggle to get it because everyone waa hungry at the same time.

[@FraserAtSea]

Ha, that's funny - love that you could see the flamingo's - I forgot they had a nature reserve there!

[@KirstyG64]

New to your channel...really enjoying this different itinerary. Makes a change to the usual Mediterranean/northern Europe vlogs. Looking forward to the rest of the series

[@FraserAtSea]

Hey Kirsty, welcome aboard! I’ll apologise in advance - you’ll need to put up with some European cruising after this - I promise it’ll get ‘different’ again soon!

[@KirstyG64]

@@FraserAtSea I'm sure the rest of your year at sea will be fantastic regardless of where it is!

[@johnkean6852]

First time we went to the island there was no pier we tendered.

[@FraserAtSea]

Oh wow - glad they'd built it up!

[@CruiseLife22]

Great update. Can I ask if you use epidemic sound? The music really pulls the Vlog together. 👍

[@FraserAtSea]

Thanks very much! I don’t actually - I use the KZbin audio library :) I’ve never got into epidemic sound…

[@CruiseLife22]

@@FraserAtSea I may have to check that out! Epidemic is good but takes forever to find the right kind of music for footage. Hope it's all going well!

[@VITRAVELINGTHEWORLD]

Not sure if you know about this but on cruise channels on Facebook, they have a creator corners for people to put their vlogs on the pages. You should do this. You have great vlogs it may help the channel

[@FraserAtSea]

Ah, thanks very much! Let me know if you know of any specific ones :)

[@johnkean6852]

Just started watching. They let us into the Mosque because we were wearing white. One of my Turkish friends was not and he had to wait in the Taxi.

[@FraserAtSea]

Oh, I didn't even know white would be a rule - that must depend on the day or time of year - I was in full back, and was ok!

[@johnkean6852]

NOT A COMPLAINT just an observation. You played: "Pray," * when you were on your swimming break. Maybe should've played that at the Mosque? : ) * l Shazammed it thats how l know : )

[@FraserAtSea]

Ahh, nice idea - one I can bank for future mosque tours, ha!

[@VITRAVELINGTHEWORLD]

At the beginning of the cruise, you said they hold your passport, so are you allowed to get your passport at each stop, and then are you required to give back to customer service because in that area I would want it with me just incase

[@FraserAtSea]

Hey! Indeed - the cruise line kept hold of them. We couldn’t get them back until later in the cruise, but were instead given a ‘landing card’ for any ports that we went ashore in. I’m not sure how it would work if something ‘went wrong’ - I assume the cruise line would need to leave your passport at the terminal if, for example, you missed the ship…