Splendour of the Seas has been sold to Thomsons for April 2016, but the ship was fine and no obvious sign of the ship under Royal Caribbean being run down.
Once we all found the Royal Caribbean rep, we were picked up from Dubai airport and taken by bus to Le Meridian Hotel (2 mins from airport) for ship-check in and a breakfast - that part was well organised. Then transferred in a 20 min journey to Port Rashid and to the ship, arriving at midday and cabin access was from circa 1.00pm onwards.
Cabin 8584 was a Junior Suite and it was great to great such an upgrade so late on (bath, seating for 4 and larger cabin). However we discovered that many passengers from England Germany and Ireland had booked late and got deals which were about a half to one third of what we paid. One couple claimed to have paid one fifth of our cost. Frustrating, but not much you an do about it when you book early.
Very good, plenty of space. A bath, good balcony, comfy seating for four, good bed and pillows and an amazing amount of storage space. But it is the last cabin on starboard side though.
Had visited Dubai on holiday a few times before, so only visited terminal building for wifi access.
Courtesy bus to post gates, walk 7 kins and at soug. Quite brilliant and great fun. Taxi to and from soug - $40 - yes, for 2 min car journey each way!
Courtesy bus to World Trade Centre Shopping Mall. Then took a taxi to Abu Dhabi Mall (10d) and then a taxi back to ship (11d).