To learn about Fathom Cruises to the Dominican Republic, read our first article to get acquainted: http://jenisonajourney.com/2016/07/19/fathom-cruise-dominican-republic.html.

After learning about Fathom cruises to the Dominican Republic, booking our trip and planning our impact activities, day 3 arrived-a Tuesday and it was time to get to work.  After two and a half days at sea we pulled into port at Amber Cove.  The first impact activities start after 1pm, so you can wake up slow and get energized for your day with a meal or two.  Excitement begins brewing at breakfast and we were positively giddy by lunchtime, finding out who’ll be spending the day with in the field.  We grabbed some extra dry cereal boxes from the Conservatory to keep with us while off the ship, just in case.

Tickets are distributed and delivered to your cabin either the night before or the morning of your activities. Check your Soundings newsletter for important information regarding when and where to meet.  Because of a mixup on our Journey Planner and the onboard computers, we received our tickets in person at the Explorer’s Desk.  This is a great spot to become familiar with if you have any questions, haven’t received your tickets, or want to add/cancel any activities.

REFORESTATION and NURSERY

Our first of 3 impact activities from our Fathom cruise was Reforestation and Nursery in Puerto Plata.  We met up with our team leader in the Curzon Lounge and made sure we were on the list and were given stickers that indicate your bus assignment.  Your ticket is your pass to get on the bus so keep it handy, also you will need your cruise card/room key with you to both get off and get back on the ship and to show twice in Amber Cove.

Our day was overcast and about 85 degrees with high humidity. For nursery and field work, long pants are recommended as well as closed-toe shoes, breathable fabrics and hats help.  We brought sunscreen and bug spray (with Deet  for the Zika virus) and applied it before we left our cabin each day but your team leaders also carry it with them.  We walked off the boat and and in a few minutes you’re in the midst of Amber Cove–the pool, waterslides, and zipline to your right, and marketplace of shops to your left.  The Fathom Impact Center is available in this spot and offers  hands-on demos of activities and workshops, plus wi-fi is free in here with their password and it has A/C!

On a mission we made our way and found our bus.  On board you wait for all passengers to arrive and then you are introduced to members of IDDI (Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral) and they fill you in about their company as well as their overall mission for the activity.

IDDI is a Dominican based non-profit organization whose primary objective is to contribute to the socioeconomic transformation of individuals, families and communities, so that they, both collectively and individually, can have a reasonable opportunity to live a productive and healthy life, each in accordance to his/her needs, interests and potential.

Ezekiel not only was funny, but sincere as he spoke of his life and family in the Dominican Republic.  We arrived at the Nursery located in Isabel de Torres in about 25 minutes and were given some instruction on what to do.  We met up with a huge pile of fresh prime soil and as some bagged it, the other half of us were given seeds to plant in already packed and moist soil.  The first half hour was overwhelming because we were all so eager to help we were bumping into eachother and trying to find our groove.  Once we did we took our bags of soil, inserted the seed into moist dirt, repacked it with fresh soil and set them aside we were a well-oiled machine.  Until….we began hearing large cracks of thunder overhead, louder than I’ve ever experienced living in dry central California.  Lightning followed and we weren’t afraid of a little rain, but the storm got closer and then the lightning was posing too much of a threat that we had to stop what we were doing and immediately take cover.  As we walked back to the nursery office area, huge drops of water fell from the sky and it was kinda exciting because it was something I rarely experience but also it gave a reprieve from the heat.  The rain fell harder, the thunder got louder and suddenly we were in a deluge.  For 30 minutes we watched in awe as dirt turned to mud then mudslides around us. We were offered water, crackers, and fruit while we waited.  The rain fell in sheets and when there was no sign of letting up, our leaders made the executive decision to cancel the rest of the afternoon, it was just too dangerous to work.  Clearly disappointed we loaded the bus, wet and muddy and headed back to port.  The sights around Puerto Plata were shocking as water poured into homes, flooded streets, and made pools of mud in the yards of families.  It was a sad sight to see, though some still stood in their doorways and waved with smiles as we drove by.

CHOCAL WOMEN’S CHOCOLATE COOPERATIVE

Good morning Wednesday, up bright and early to meet in the Curzon Lounge for day 2!  Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday’s have an early start, but always check that Soundings newsletter and your ticket for ultimate confirmation. Another quick ride by bus to Altamira we arrived at Chocal.  This company was started by women who wanted to work to bring more money into the family as well as keeping a short distance between them and their children.  Run by all women, chocolate is made from the ground up quite literally to provide a delicious end product to consumers in the Dominican Republic.  From the cacao tree, seeds are extracted from their moist, juicy pod than grow and hang from the trunk of the tree.  Laid out in batches, they ferment and then are laid out to dry in the sunshine. Roasted they are then sorted by shape and size, nibs are then cleaned.

We aided in the sorting and cleaning process.  Jumping to chocolate molds, we stirred up the goodness and learned the method to properly filling the molds and releasing the air pockets. Milagros, a professional showed us how to do it properly and smiled at us even through our mistakes.  A few steps later found us in a room with the finished candy bars applying labels.  After a few hot glue gun burns, I think I got it just right with the proper information on the front and the nutritional value chart on the back.   Overall our few hours turned out very productive and we had a chance to visit their small store on site to shop for candy and even wine!  The women are loving and were patient with us, it felt good to put my Spanish speaking to use and communicating even put more smiles on their faces.  As a mom it was great to know these women were working for their families any great parent would and even in 3rd world countries, there is no difference in the human spirit.

This is a very popular activity and is often books full fast.  Because of our scheduling change we replaced another full activity with this one as two spaces opened up at the last minute.  If you can’t get into this activity you can sort cacao beans at Amber Cove’s Impact Center.  Lunch is provided next door with a chicken stew, some root vegetables, and of course ice-cold bottled water.

RESULT:  After 6  weeks working in the Dominican Republic Fathom helped increase production by sorting and getting 992 pounds of cacao nibs cleaned and we helped wrap 16,112 bars of chocolate!  Our help contributed to greater productivity and allowed the women to focus their time and resources on the more intricate processes to making chocolate!

REFORESTATION AND NURSERY TAKE TWO

Originally our Thursday activity was a snorkel sail. We had one day off from impact activities to do a little extra-curricular swim in the Atlantic planned, sounded fantastic and are happy to say we ended up hearing it was!  But, because of the weather and cancellation of our Nursery excursion on Tuesday, we felt like we had unfinished business to attend to.  Luckily we made a visit to the Explorer’s Desk on the ship and explained our situation and were able to cancel our snorkel sail and replace it with the Reforestation activity.  We felt good, the staff was fairly impressed with our decision and it came down to really what were we cruising for and it was to make an impact.  We can snorkel and sail another time.

Let me preface our experience with an important note.  If you get motion sick at all, wear sea bands and take Dramamine, period.  The drive to Yasica from the ship is about an hour and the road is windy.  My husband had been bragging about how well he’d done without medical help for his motion sickness on the airplane and so far on the ship.  Even our last two short bus rides were easy on him.  This was a different animal.  No sea bands or medication and he was feeling awful by the time we reached our destination.  Add the heat, the hike, and the labor, my husband was worn out pretty quickly.  The walk to our location was about 10 minutes and there was some steepness and uneven terrain to walk through.  We were in the rainforest, so it wasn’t a shock.  Three groups helped transport our prepared seedlings to spots where holes were dug and baby trees were planted.  Shade was nearby most at the time as was cold bottled water.  Long pants are helpful as are hats, long sleeves, and durable shoes.  Sunscreen and bug spray was carried by our IDDI leaders.  Again, once we got into a groove, we functioned as a great team.  My husband had to sit out towards the end in the shade as he was not feeling well, and I’d worried he was able to even walk back to the lunch spot.  He was offered a ride in their truck versus walking but he made the trek back.  After cooling down, drinking water, and eating some of the delicious lunch he pepped back up but the ride back got him severely nauseous again. He rested back on the ship the rest of the afternoon and thankfully had a productive and healthy rest of the trip.  Aside from this setback, I was so happy and so proud to have done this activity.  The scenery was incredible, the work was right in front of us and obvious immediately on the impact it was going to make.  We hope to head to that place again in 15 years to see some of those trees all grown up!

RESULT:  Our work had aided reforestation by providing new plants with more nutrient-rich soil, there was a reduction in soil loss, improvement in localized air and local water, increase in localized biodiversity and offered higher agricultural yields.  Following our our trip, 6359 seedlings had been planted in the Dominican rainforest!

STUDENT ENGLISH CONVERSATION and LEARNING

When I remember Puerto Plata and entering the community elementary school back in May, my eyes immediately well up with tears.  My career and passion before my three children were born was being a Kindergarten and first grade teacher.  I had classrooms of children that I taught, nurtured, and cared for and those memories, though overshadowed by 18 years with my own kids, still have place in my heart.  I became a stay-at-home mom when my first daughter was born and never went back to teaching but I’ve been a proponent for schools, teachers, and supporting the PTO ever since they began in the school system.  When I heard that one of the Fathom impact activities was actually entering a classroom of 10-12 year old children and teaching them English I knew that was going to be my favorite activity of the trip.  It was Friday, our last day in port, and there was only the morning activity available to all cruisers.  I dressed in a long skirt and sleeved top as the dress code requires women to have both their shoulders and knees covered in the schools. Earlier in the week I had taken a refresher Spanish class aboard the Adonia as well as an “Empowering English Tutoring” session to prepare for our time in the classroom.  We were working with the Entrena leaders whose mission has been to serve as a bridge between different cultures and in this case to empower English to students in the Dominican Republic.  Learning and speaking English from a young age is valuable in the DR as proficiency will ultimately lead to better jobs and increased income for the people in the community.Once we arrived, we were also shown the manual of lessons we were going to use in the classroom.  From numbers to colors, to the calendar and telling time, there were lesson plans at the ready along with flash cards, sample dialog, and cues to follow when working with the children.  This brought back memories and I felt excited and confident.  The first group of children entered the room and again my eyes filled with happy tears.  These kids were the age of our youngest daughter and I suddenly was homesick but also ready to meet these beautiful children. We learned right off the bat that this school was part of a newer program that allows students to attend school all day. This is important as through the governmental funds, they are given two meals a day and return home as their parents are returning from work.  This allows for both parents to work a proper work day and provide income to their families as well as the school providing one more meal that doesn’t have to be provided at home.  More money to families and the kids are in a safe environment as their parents are working.The children introduced themselves and we began with a song and dance that helped break the ice.  Personalities were similar to walking into a 4th or 5th grade classroom in California, again children are children no matter where in the world you are.  Shy students stared at us strangers and when our eyes met they looked away, it’s best to continue to smile.  Even with the short time you have to work with the kids, a trust must be developed in order for successful communication.

Posted on the board was our subject for our teaching lesson.  We were going to work with the students on saying the days of the week, months of the year, and talk about holidays and birthdays.  Then we met our student, Jeans, age 10.  Jeans was eager to work with us, only a little shy, but his bright eyes and smile let us know he was comfortable.  I tried my best to not use a lot of Spanish, but I knew that this helped me make a connection to him and also understand him better.  My husband and I took turns asking him questions and going over different skills.  The students do have some English instruction, but our fine tuning and pronunciation practice was more focused on this particular subject of the day.  I only wished for more space, we were in a classroom with probably 15 students and twice as many adults and it was loud.  Because of seating we were on the floor, which as a K-1 teacher I’ve done before, but it wasn’t carpeted and I was under the white board. 

After about maybe a half hour our students left and it was “recess” time.  We took a break, drank water, had a snack, and used the restroom.  While outside we saw the students playing and staring back at us, waving and smiling, we were now friends.  Back in the classroom a second wave of students entered to more dancing and singing and introductions.  We were working with Elsa next, a 12 year girl close to my height and much more shy than Jeans.  We talked about family, her pretty jewelry, and she too reminded me of a typical American pre-teen girl.  Once we started in the lesson she was very ready to learn and we laughed over practicing the hard “th” sound as you hear in the word Thursday. Here I am pointing to my tongue touching my top teeth and blowing air and trying to have her repeat that without spitting in such close quarters. Our time together went by way to fast and as a mother of two girls and a boy, the homesickness kicked in again.  We took photos and though we couldn’t get Elsa to crack a smile, I knew she could do it.  I boarded the bus on our way out in tears, again!  It was hard to think that I will probably never see Jeans or Elsa again.  Unlike our small California town where I hear about my former students and still run into them or their families now that they’re in their 20’s, I won’t ever know where Jeans or Elsa will take their lives.

When I heard one of the women in our group say that this was her impact activity the whole week sometimes twice in the day, I knew immediately that I wanted to return on another Fathom cruise and do the same.  I’m so glad I had this opportunity, I’m still in shock that this whole idea of impact travel, while cruising, is so new.  It’s amazing and is truly the best of both world, quite literally.

RESULT:  The numbers of children and learning hours increase each week Fathom sails and the amount of English instruction the students receives builds each week.  I believe between the community and student learners (by doing some math with metrics from a few months ago) close to 900 members of the Dominican Republic have been taught some basic English.

If I didn’t mention it enough in my first post (linked at the top of this one), a Fathom cruise must be on your bucket list!  I’ve had a conversation with my husband about returning and it’s a definite yes for him, our experiences and the people we met really changed our mindset on travel for the better.  He’d also love for us to be able to take our children as they would really benefit from this type of travel and learning how opening your heart for others really is special.   For more information on a Fathom cruise to the Dominican Republic or Cuba, visit Fathom.org, and you can get an additional $50-150 off by using my Insider’s Discount Code: Insider1509. Click here to register and claim your savings!

Our cruise was hosted, flight to Miami, taxes/gratuities, and 100% honest opinions were our own.

I’m addicted to cruising.  I’ve been on two whole cruises in my lifetime and I could easily do it monthly for the rest of time.  One of those cruises was a 3-day that was over before I thought it truly began.  At the end of May, we sailed on our first 7-day Fathom cruise to the Dominican Republic on the Adonia.  It wasn’t a typical cruise that had us packing our formal wear or ordering up beverage packages.  It was a trip that we would do again if we were asked today to sail tomorrow!  Our hearts grew and our minds were expanded. Our memories, still strong in our mind, have us recalling two very special 10 year olds eager to learn, and making chocolate in a woman’s cooperative. We remember the tremendous heat and humidity all the while planting seedlings high in the mountains of the rainforest.

Fathom is the newest brand in the Carnival Corporation family, a sister brand to P&O Cruises, it’s focus is to travel with a purpose and travel deeper into the community and deeper into yourself.  When in port in the Dominican Republic, travelers work side by side with local residents in existing programs that focus on improving the lives of children, families and communities.  Fathom is a different kind of cruise that combines the love of travel with the desire to make a difference in the world. When we heard about this opportunity we thought, “we HAVE to do this!”  We’ve traveled for ourselves, we’ve vacationed in the best resorts, we’ve spoiled our children in theme parks…we were ready to use our time and effort to give back.  Just weeks before we sailed, the Adonia took it’s inaugural voyage so we followed stories and listened intently to tips and tricks once our adventure began.  Here is all the info you need on why a Fathom cruise to the Dominican Republic should be on your bucket list.

The Adonia is a 704 passenger ship!  Yes, you read that right.  When we boarded, we heard there was about half capacity on our sailing and we could hardly believe it.  Immediately we could tell this was going to be a different experience than our 3000-person cruise to Mexico.  Just before we left the Port of Miami we had already crossed paths with the same people on the outer decks and in the elevators.  You can easily get acquainted with your fellow travelers and staff in a genuine way and know these are the people who share your commitment to deeper, more meaningful travel. Conversely, many times we’d be atop the Sky Deck and look around and see no one, like we had the ship to ourselves.  A smaller ship also means you find your way around sooner.  We made note which levels to find the restaurants, the Library, the rooms for our meetings, the Explorers Desk, etc. and made our way easier.

Soundings daily newsletter.   This may be standard across all cruise lines, types, and sizes, but this was even more pertinent to us on this cruise.  I carried the newsletter around with my phone/camera like another appendage each day, it was our best friend.  Arriving the evening before in your room mailbox (or sometimes in your room on the bed/desk), the Soundings had basic information like dining times for the restaurants/bars, movie and entertainment news and schedules daily.  More importantly we were assigned a cohort group number at check-in and throughout our week we were to meet with our team for workshops and training sessions preparing for our work on the ground.  Some workshops are repeated during the day and on alternating days, but main cohort meetings are once a day.  Often you can join another group if you miss your cohort session, but to respect your leaders time and effort, making your sessions are vital to the overall success of your experience.  Some of the entertainment activities (especially Wine & Paint night) require you sign up ahead of time, and some activities fill up within minutes.  I thank the Soundings newsletter for keeping up to date on our required and optional activities daily so we could make the best of our experience!

Porthole cabins.  Our first cruise spoiled us with a balcony cabin, falling asleep with the door open and warm sea air filling our room was delightful.  Those cabins exist on the Adonia, as well as suites and the most affordable interior rooms.  We were assigned a great outside cabin, B007 that was super spacious and had a 4ft diameter porthole with amazing unobstructed views.  I only missed the balcony for a minute.  Our king bed was comfortable and I loved that we had both a desk and a couch in the room to work and relax on.  We were stocked with coffee and tea plus a hot pot to boil water daily and the room was tended to twice a day by our friendly steward Naz.  The bathroom was plenty spacious for us and the shower always had great water pressure and enough hot water for comfort.  Fair CosmEthics are eco-friendly toiletries provided, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and a shower cap, replenished upon request.  We were at the forward of the ship and I’d heard that we’d feel lots of motion, but honestly only one evening when the weather was windy and wavy did I even notice movement in my cabin just as we were going off to bed.  I slept with sea bands that night and I was fine.

Activities.  Like I mentioned earlier, the ship is smaller and there are less people.  I’m overwhelmed in big crowds, lines, and noise and this ship spoils you with a lot of space, a lot of quiet, and a slower pace. Don’t get me wrong though, there are still plenty of things to do!  If you’re looking for health and fitness activities, Embody Spa and Gym offer the facials, massages, salon services, and fitness class that you seek at an additional cost. Some meditation and yoga classes are offered complimentary throughout the day, so the best thing is to check your Soundings newsletters for times, some you need to sign up ahead of time for.  The Sun Deck has a running/walking track that was used often and has the best views.  Entertainment starts as soon as we set sail from Miami with the Craze Band performing the latest musics plus classics by the pool (Crystal pool and two hot tubs are on the Lido Deck). This band is so versatile, they break off into solo performers at the piano, duos with a Latin flair, trios with a Jazz beat, and my favorite was when they played backup to guests singing “bandioke!”  Yes, it’s the only band on the ship, but they are really talented!  As this is a very family-friendly cruise (children ages 8-up) there are tons of games/activities available daily.  The Library (you’ll love the mural on the ceiling!) offers board games on a check-out basis, take them to your room, sit out on the deck, or remain in the library to enjoy.  Scavenger hunts, domino throwdown, life-size Jenga, cultural trivia, book club, and movie nights (Casablanca, Star Wars) are just some of the things to do with the whole family.  Adults can enjoy the super popular Wine and Paint evenings, cocktail class, or any of the 7 bars on the ship (one which is Raffles coffee bar).  Wine and Paint was on my radar from the get-go.  Those travel bloggers who attended before me filled me in on getting to the Explorer’s Desk early to sign up because they have limited spots.  What was great is that the staff recognized the popularity and offered the class a second time to allow for the need.  The canvas, paint, and instruction are included for the fun evening, you pay for your wine, cocktail, or drink of choice.  My favorite part is the “gallery walk” at the end of the session, it’s so neat to see everyone’s interpretation of the same artwork!  Our favorite bar was The Glass House.  A wine bar with great flight options was a spot we visited more than once.  Our first visit we chose the Robust Reds flight that included bold wines from Australia, Spain, and Argentina.  For about $15/person we enjoyed our drinks with a side of empenadas, nuts, and chips with an endless sea view.  Our waiter only had us to attend to so we engaged him in wonderful conversation as we learned about his life and family in the Philippines. Something we promise to do together next time (because there WILL BE a next time) is take dance lessons!  My daughters dance jazz, tap, ballet, and modern, if my husband and I came home to show them the dances of the DR and Cuba like Salsa an Rumba, they would be SO impressed! By the way, there isn’t a big showroom on board or a casino.  You may be realizing that this is a different style cruise and believe me they won’t be missed.

Wi-fi is available on the ship, I purchased two 250 minute packages at $62.50 each.  The connection in the room and in all the spots on the ship were pretty consistent.  You must login in AND OUT each session.  Don’t forget to log out because your minutes will continue to run!

Programs/Way of Thinking.  Along with the activities, you’re also encouraged to participate with your impact guides/cohort groups, impact education, impact activity training, and personal enrichment programs while sailing with Fathom.  First and foremost, this is a social impact cruise and the goal is to make a difference in the socio-economic, health, and educational structure of the Dominican Republic.  Core programming helps you connect to where you’re headed by educating passengers to culture, history, social norms, and customs.  Workshops allow you to get the most out of your experience in the DR and ultimately your life, help guide you through the storytelling process, and teach you how everyone can be a maker of change.  If this sounds deep, it is.  You’re “traveling deep,” deep into yourself, deep into the world, deep into another way of thinking.  When you leave the ship you’ll understand, it’s hard to put into words, but after your impact activities you’ll feel it.  My husband and I signed up for the same impact activities so we took the same workshops.  I loved that while we felt comfortable together, the classes gave us time apart and to meet and work with others to get outside our comfort zone a little at a time.  We looked forward most to working in the classroom with young children so we refreshed our Spanish as well as our tutoring skills with our guides.  Even though I grew up speaking Spanish and took 8 collective years in high school and college, if I don’t use it every day I struggle.  We were going to be working with 9-12 year olds, as easy as that may sound, communicating with them is crucial.  Just knowing basic Spanish phrases and learning how to build trust and empowering their English is important.  Just an hour a two per day, these should not be missed!

Impact Activities and Excursion in Port. This is the meat and potatoes of the trip, this is what hooked us in.  So, on Tuesday of your seven day adventure you will reach port in Amber Cove near the city of Puerto Plata. It’s is on ground alongside locals and partner organizations (Entrena and IDDI) where you’ll put your training to good use.  Here you teach, but you also learn.  There are eight Impact Activities to choose from during your four days in port, up to 3 are included with your cruise cost.  What you want to do is when you book your trip, you’ll have access to a Journey Planner to schedule your activities.  Book as soon as you can because each one fills up fast.  Some activities are offered daily, others only certain days.  There are morning and afternoon sessions and you can do both if the timing is right, but it’s highly suggestion you do only one per day.  Some activities take longer and are more strenuous, take that into account as well.  Here are your options and a brief description:

• Student English Conversation and Learning–Engage in games, simple vocabulary lessons, and small-group conversations that provide much-needed confidence in English proficiency.  This happens in the classroom in a local school.  Ages are appoximately 9-12.
  Community English Conversation and Learning–These small group programs take place within community centers or local homes, and include one-on-one conversation, English instruction, food preparation, and meal sharing.
  Creative Arts, Music, and Sports–Of course the kids enjoy summer vacation as well, so if you’re traveling during those months this program replaces the classroom opportunity. The well-planned programs include videos, joint dramatic presentations by students and Fathom travelers, hands-on arts and crafts activities, and a full day devoted to sports and nutrition.
  Water Filter Production–In the Dominican Republic alone, more than three million people have no access to piped water. For a surcharge of $20 you can participat in the entire filter-making process: gathering and mixing the raw materials, working the clay, shaping and firing the filters, testing the quality of the finished product, and distributing the finished filters to needy families.
  Reforestation and Nursery–Protecting and extending natural resources is vital to the people of the DR. Two different work days are offered, I didn’t realize until we were assigned our tickets.  In one location you can be implementing the simple potting of tree seedlings and transporting plants, also assisting local Dominicans with establishing and managing tree nurseries.  The more strenuous efforts of cultivation and planting is also an option after an hour’s bus trip.
  Cacao and Women’s Chocolate Cooperative–Founded by a group of women who wanted to both work and not travel too far from their families, Chocal was born. As a Fathom traveler, you can participate in the complete production cycle: from planting and cultivating the organic cacao trees, to preparing the raw materials, to producing and packaging the final product for sale.
  Recycled Paper and Crafts Entrepreneurship Similar to the chocolate cooperative, your support and input into the recycling process will increase productivity and ultimately increase business and income.
  Concrete Floors in Community Homes This activity also has a $20 surcharge per person. In the homes of poorer communities, the common basic dirt floors are a genuine health risk. Homes chosen will be given a concrete floor and the process is a bit on the strenuous side. You will work alongside the homeowners and other members of the surrounding community, including children and teenagers, and there are other opportunities at each site that may be more suited for members of the group if the labor is too much.

Once you board the ship, it’s a good idea to visit the Explorer’s Desk as soon as it opens to double check that you have the right activities assigned for your trip. You can choose as many or as few impact activities into your schedule, remember it is NOT a requirement to do them.  Because of the hot and humid weather, each Impact Activity provides plenty of bottled water, some even include lunch, most information will be available in your Journey Planner. Stay tuned to my blog, I’ll be writing another article on just our impact activities soon!

The port in Amber Cove sits on 25 acres and is a new 85 million dollar development making it the biggest Caribbean port. Packed with bars, restaurants, shops and a huge pool area with water slides, it is offered free of charge to cruise passengers. A zip line, private cabanas over water and water sports will keep you busy if you don’t venture into the city. Rental cars, tours, and plenty of traditional excursion activities are available.  Tours of Puerto Plata’s top ten most iconic attractions, the historical town of La Isabela, or the historical city of Puerto Plata and Fort Felipe will immerse you in Domincan culture. The countryside zipline, snorkel by sail, and power snorkel will satisfy your adventurous side.  Or if you want to just relax oceanside for the afternoon, the Playa Dorada beach escape is for you. Prices for the excursions range from $39 to over $1000 for private cabanas.  We originally had 3 impact activities plus a sail, another passenger literally signed up for the English tutoring for all her assignments, and as a former teacher that sounds like something I may consider on my next trip. The choice is yours.

Food Three meals a day are included with your cruise.  There are four main areas to dine, the conservatory Buffet, Pacific Restaurant, Ocean Grill, and the Lido Cafe.  The buffet is basically open all day from 6:30am-midnight.  Here you’ll find indoor and outside dining with a cafeteria style buffet offering a variety of cuisines throughout the week.  Breakfast has standard cereal, fruit, granola, yogurt and hot dishes like eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, french toast, and oatmeal just about every day.  Lunch and dinner include salad fixings, lunch meats, cheeses, and a variety of chicken, beef, pork, and even goat.  Some days there would be Chinese food dishes like sweet and sour and chow mein, other days pasta, Indian, and even some tasty Mexican food. Pizza and calzones was offered daily noon-about 5pm and they different flavors were great for us.  I don’t recall a standard pepperoni though, but it was nice for us to get out of our comfort zone even in the food department.  Our kids may have balked.  The Conservatory was our standard breakfast and lunch spot.  The food was good, but not spectacular.  Coffee, water, tea, and a few juices are included, sodas and cocktails/beer/wine were at an additional cost.  The Lido Cafe was outside near the pool and offered hot dogs, burgers, salads, french fries, and fruit.  We ate most of our dinners at the Pacific Restaurant, this food in my opinion was fantastic!  Here we had the choice to dine alone as a couple or join a table of eight in order to mingle with the other guests.  We alternated with both and just loved the nights we chatted with our fellow passengers especially sharing stories after long Impact activity days!  You’re assigned a waiter and they were all so very friendly.  The menus were specific each night with appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, and dessert.  Presentations were always beautiful and selections like jerked chicken, Alaskan snow crab tacos and dessert like creme de cacao chocolate pots were some of my favorites.Ocean Grill whose menu is created by Chef Emil Vega, emphasizes the flavors of Cuba and the Dominican Republic.  There is a $25 cover charge per person per meal and from what we heard is wonderful.  We opted to skip this choice, but would like to try it at least once our next trip.  Something to remember, you will be billed an automatic gratuities charge of $80.50 per person.  I’ve heard from other passengers that if you talk to reception you can waive that fee if you will be giving cash tips or adding them to your ship bills.

Take note:  room service is not available on this cruise.  On early mornings when I let my husband sleep a little longer I would walk to the Conservatory and grab a few bites and some juice and could bring it back to the room, some evenings we took our desserts to go.  You do have the option to leave a door hanger for breakfast delivery the next morning if you choose, there is a $5 tray charge for this amenity. Each dining location either had a staff member pumping hand sanitizer into your hands or a machine to use before and after each meal.  The ship was very conscientious about keeping you healthy with this protocol, notes and messages in your mailbox, as well as posting information in the public restrooms.  If at any time you need medical attention there is a medical center on board.Relax and Enjoy. I read an entire book on this cruise and it’s been years since I’ve done that!  In the end, the Fathom Cruise to the Dominican Republic was eye-opening, unique, wonderful, romantic, and a must-do experience. The people you meet in each and every activity, the children you interact with, the genuine hugs you receive, the smiles you see as they wave goodbye to you will be emblazoned in your heart forever.  Add it to your bucket list, because it’s one-of-a-kind adventure will impact your life and those you choose to enjoy it with I promise.

For more information on a Fathom cruise to the Dominican Republic or Cuba, visit Fathom.org, and you can get an additional $50-150 off by using my Insider’s Discount Code: Insider1509. Click here to register and claim your savings!

Our cruise was hosted, flight to Miami, taxes/gratuities, and 100% honest opinions were our own.