Whether or not dipping your toes in crystal-clear water or tasting native road meals, there’s little question that visiting new ports on a cruise ship is thrilling. Many cruisers, although, discover themselves in one in every of two conditions: glad with the actions of their port day or wishing that they had finished one thing else.
I just lately spent a cruise ship port day in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, a spot I had by no means been to earlier than. I knew little in regards to the port previous to my arrival, however I used to be decided to benefit from my port day by experiencing the nation’s tradition, delicacies, and historic websites in simply 7 hours.
From marveling on the port’s mountainous surroundings to observing native life-style on the metropolis’s public sq., I used to be glad with my day in port after I returned again to the ship later within the day.
Regardless of how a lot analysis you do forward of time, nonetheless, you’re sure to make a number of errors alongside the way in which, and I positively did.
Listed here are the highest 7 issues I did proper (and three errors I made!) on my current cruise ship port day.
Staying versatile
The very first thing I did proper was staying versatile.
“No refunds!” was what I heard as I entered Port Everglades on embarkation day. A employee was handing out a sheet of paper to each visitor, and I’ll admit I used to be a bit nervous about what it’d say.
Tropical storm Nicole was approaching the Bahamas, and I had doubts our Bahamas & Good Day cruise would go forward as scheduled. I used to be bringing my cousin Keli on her very first cruise, and I wished her to have the most effective expertise attainable. I used to be nervous the paper would possibly say we had all our stops canceled.
That wasn’t the case in any respect, although, and we realized our ship can be crusing to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic as a substitute of the Bahamas! Whereas I might have been upset that our itinerary wouldn’t go as deliberate, I used to be excited.
I had by no means been to the Dominican Republic earlier than, and it was such an surprising change that I couldn’t wait to see what Puerto Plata needed to supply.
After speaking to some different visitors, I noticed some passengers had been upset their plans didn’t go ahead as deliberate. It’s at all times essential to stay versatile when touring, however particularly on a cruise, so make sure you benefit from no matter surprising modifications could come up.
Not reserving a shore tour
Whereas I’ve booked Royal Caribbean shore excursions prior to now, I a lot want exploring independently. Regardless that organized excursions can deliver you to a port’s highlights with out worrying about any logistics your self, I discover that the cons outweigh the professionals.
Whether or not ready for visitors on the tour who’re operating late, being pressured into gross sales pitches at vacationer outlets, or touring in a gaggle of 30+ individuals, I’ve virtually at all times regretted after I’ve booked organized shore excursions over exploring independently.
As an alternative of a guided tour, we traveled round Puerto Plata with a taxi driver for the day for a similar worth a gaggle tour would have price. We had been privately escorted to a few of the port’s prime websites, together with Puerto Plata’s cable automotive and the Centro Histórico district.
Exploring with out the trouble of touring with a big group enhanced our port expertise immensely.
Researching the port upfront
As a result of our cruise itinerary was not initially supposed to go to Puerto Plata, I knew little or no in regards to the Puerto Plata cruise port after I boarded Liberty of the Seas. I had two days to grow to be acquainted with all the pieces the port has to supply.
I watched YouTube movies, learn articles, and spoke to some associates who had visited Puerto Plata prior to now. This was past helpful for giving me a greater thought of what to anticipate, deciding what I ought to do and never do, and making a common plan for my port day.
One of the crucial essential particulars I realized, for instance, was that taxis are costly in Puerto Plata. If I hadn’t learn this, I most likely would have skilled stronger sticker shock after I was quoted $70-100 for a taxi for the day.
It’s at all times useful to analysis a port earlier than arriving to grow to be acquainted with the port’s choices and the native space. I’m 100% sure that one of many causes we had such an exquisite day in port was because of the analysis I did forward of time.
Leaving the rapid port space
The Taino Bay cruise port in Puerto Plata is one in every of, if not the most effective, port space I’ve skilled to this point. It’s practically model new, immaculately clear, and has greater than sufficient to maintain you busy for an entire day.
A number of the port’s highlights embrace a big swimming pool, stylish bars, and eating places.
Don’t get me improper; I loved the port’s services and we even spent the final hour of our day hanging out within the port’s massive pool.
Nevertheless, I got here to the Dominican Republic to find the nation exterior of a gated port space, so I’m glad we ventured off right into a extra genuine a part of the town.
Hiring a neighborhood information
We ended up spending nearly all of our port day with a information and he was incredible—though we didn’t anticipate to have a information within the first place.
So as to get to lots of the metropolis’s prime points of interest, I needed to take a taxi. In Puerto Plata, nonetheless, taxis don’t simply drop you off at one location. Your taxi driver stays with you the whole day, ready for you at every location to take you to the following.
For $100 a day (plus a tip), we had been escorted round Puerto Plata by Ramon, a neighborhood man who was decided to indicate us the most effective that the port needed to supply. He has been working as a information in his nation for over ten years and already had a tentative itinerary set which we might customise to our liking.
Though I normally want exploring alone, it was a pleasant change to not have to fret a couple of single factor whereas in port. Ramon knew the place to deliver us, what to indicate us at every location, and he shared insights to his nation and metropolis alongside the way in which.
Contemplating Royal Caribbean was providing shore excursions for $50+ per particular person in a big tour group, spending $50 per particular person on a personal information for 5 hours appeared like a reasonably whole lot.
Making an attempt native delicacies
I’m at all times shocked to listen to that some cruisers received’t spend a single penny on native delicacies whereas in port, as a substitute opting to go again to their cruise ship each day for lunch.
Whereas I perceive that there’s meals you already paid for onboard the ship, I consider tasting native delicacies is a crucial a part of touring to new places. Whether or not conch fritters in Nassau or tacos in Mexico, attempting native delicacies is a should for me in any cruise port.
Our information introduced us to Cosita Rica, a waterfront restaurant serving native delicacies for lunch. Making an attempt Dominican meals was excessive on my listing, and we loved a meal of fish, hen, rice, habichuela (beans), empanadas, and tostones (plantains).
I like the included meals on a Royal Caribbean cruise, however what number of instances do I’ve the chance to eat conventional Dominican meals close to the seashore within the Dominican Republic?
Planning a wide range of actions
I might have simply spent my whole day in Puerto Plata lounging on a seashore chair and sipping cocktails, however I’m certain glad I didn’t. I like the seashore, however there have been so many actions out there in Puerto Plata that I couldn’t move all of them up in favor of a seashore day.
There’s nothing improper with spending 8 hours on a seashore chair, however I knew I wished to expertise tradition, meals, surroundings, and the seashore in simply someday.
We deliberate our day as follows:
- Half One: cable automotive journey to Isabel de Torres Nationwide Park for scenic views and nature walks
- Half Two: strolling and purchasing in Puerto Plata’s historic district
- Half Three: lunch at a waterfront restaurant adopted by a stroll on the seashore
- Half 4: exploring the Fortaleza de San Felipe
The mixture of those actions made for a busy but insightful day in port, and I’m glad we selected to expertise a number of kinds of actions in someday versus selecting one factor over one other.
Now that we’ve realized in regards to the 7 issues I did proper on my current port day, let’s check out our greatest errors of the day.
Leaving a cellphone in a taxi
On the finish of our port day, our driver Ramon dropped us again off on the Taino Bay cruise port and we mentioned farewell.
Two minutes later, my cousin Keli realized she left her cellphone within the again seat of his automotive. Whereas I had little question that our pleasant information Ramon would return her telephone, I used to be nervous he wouldn’t notice it was in his automotive till we had already left Puerto Plata.
Fortunately I had gotten Ramon’s telephone quantity earlier within the day, so myself and some staff in port tried calling his telephone, but it surely gave the impression to be off. We saved attempting to name till a couple of minutes later when Ramon appeared on his bike to return Keli’s telephone. Phew!
Whereas this may occasionally look like a rookie transfer, it’s simple to get distracted when exploring a brand new place for the primary time. You should definitely at all times examine to be sure you didn’t depart something behind.
Not attempting extra number of native meals
Trying again at our day in Puerto Plata, one different change we might have made can be to attempt extra native delicacies.
Whereas we had a incredible lunch by the seashore, it was undoubtedly a restaurant catered virtually completely to vacationers. I’ll admit I didn’t let our information know I might relatively eat at a hole-in-the-wall native joint, however I discovered myself wishing I attempted meals from a wide range of spots in Puerto Plata.
Whether or not a road meals stall or pastry store, it could have been good to see what native meals may be discovered within the metropolis exterior of tourist-centric eating places.
Plus, we definitely paid extra for our lunch than meals we might have discovered at a non-touristy restaurant. Though I don’t essentially remorse consuming on the vacationer restaurant as a result of the meals was scrumptious, I want I might have eaten the place native Dominicans eat versus simply vacationers.
Not staying extra hydrated
Our day in Puerto Plata was beautiful with sunny skies and heat temperatures, however we didn’t drink practically as a lot water as we must always have.
Staying hydrated is at all times essential, however particularly so when exploring a tropical vacation spot the place you’ll, most certainly, be continually sweating!
With all the thrill of discovering Puerto Plata, we forgot to remain hydrated and located ourselves parched later within the day. Fortunately, a recent coconut water saved the day.
You should definitely at all times hold a water bottle in your daypack to remain refreshed all through the day to keep away from any issues down the road.
