Sailors assigned to the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group went on a dhow dinner cruise arranged by the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush's (CVN 77) (GHWB) Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), May 14.

The Sailors departed the port of Jebel Ali, UAE, and rode by bus to the center of Dubai city. Once the bus stopped and parked, they walked down the street to Dubai Creek where they boarded the small dhow where they would eat their dinner.

The boat rocked slowly and gently as it embarked upon the creek in the heart of Dubai. Waitstaff began offering pineapple and apple juices to the patrons and invited the Sailors, table by table, to help themselves to the buffet of salad and international cuisine.

The pace of the cruise on the small dhow was a remarkable difference to the pace of a warship on a 24/7 warpath to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

For Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Jonathon Dooley, who is temporarily assigned duty to supply department's S-5 division, the change of pace was a welcome one.

"I really enjoyed being able to come out to this tour," said Dooley. "It was nice to be out on the open water and take in the scenery of the skyline."

After sailing through the creek in the middle of the city, the dhow cruised out into the open water outside of Port Rashid where the Sailors were able to go out into the top deck of the boat and take pictures of the Dubai city skyline.

The dhow sailed around in the open water for a bit before returning to port where the Sailors soon disembarked and rode by bus back to GHWB.

The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests.

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