Sea Bird Cruise and Adventure’s tailor-made cruises off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah are growing in popularity among both tourists and UAE residents.
Founded three years ago by J P Cohen, a French national and tourism entrepreneur, Sea Bird Cruise and Adventure’s bespoke sea cruises include scuba diving, fishing, kayaking amongst the mangroves to see exotic marine life and even trekking to the UAE’s tallest mountain under an exciting ‘sea and desert’ package!The company currently operates two vessels – a 15-m catamaran christened Freedom and 25-m motor-sailer named Sea Bird – berthed at the Al Hamra marina in the emirate.Sea Bird is a traditional gulet (wooden sailing vessel) that has been motorized and retrofitted with four air-conditioned twin cabins. She is the vessel of choice for daily, weekend and holiday cruises. With a capacity up to 12 passengers, Sea Bird welcomes corporate teams, groups of friends and families celebrating a special event or simply getting together for the weekend. A sailing academy meanwhile, offered on board Freedom, offers the 'perfect way to learn more about this sport,' Cohen says.The one-day tour, which includes breakfast and lunch, sets sail in the morning to the mangroves where guests get to see amazing wildlife, from pink flamingos to tortoises, turtles, and sting rays. Those who want to get up close and personal can opt to kayak through the mangroves, scuba diving and marvel at the wildlife of the Indian Ocean, before returning at sunset.
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Interiors of the boat |
Add another day and guests will be taken on a trek to the 1,900-m-high Jebel Al Jais in Ras Al Khaimah for a safari.'It’s like being on the moon,' says Cohen, referring to the serenity of the otherworldly mountains and their beautiful rugged landscape.For an even longer adventure, Sea Bird Adventure & Cruise team will whisk you away to neighbouring Musandam in Oman, also home to dolphins and other exotic marine life. Aboard the Sea Bird, guests are entertained with whatever tickles their fancy, right down to their favourite beverage and cuisine, in line with the French reputation for fine dining.'The weekend packages have become very popular and we are now launching a ‘bed and breakfast’ night package,' says Cohen, pointing out that his guests are mostly Europeans – Germans, French and Britons – based in the Gulf.Very much a hands-on man, Cohen takes pride in being on board every cruise, which is run by an experienced captain and crew, and getting things right, down to the last detail. As he says: 'There is no secret recipe for success; it just involves a lot of preparation and hard work.'Both boats have all the necessary licenses, insurance and certifications and the company pays the utmost attention to their maintenance and seaworthiness.To expand his business, Cohen now wants to join hands with a hotel or beach resort in Dubai, where his boat can be moored, offering easier access to guests. Bahrain, too, is on his radar: 'The market is there,' he asserts.Commenting on the success of his cruises, Cohen says that their causal charm and conviviality together with the ocean’s unique wildlife make a 'winning combination'. Rates start from Dh1,000 ($272) an hour, depending on how guests tailor the cruise to their taste while the new ‘bed and breakfast’ offer costs Dh300 ($82) per person per night!
By Frankie Fernandez
