LA ROMANA DR

We were in port from 9:30-4:30pm

Now last time we were here, we did an excursion that went to Saoma Island. It was a nice day, just nearly not enough time to enjoy that island. While we were off at Saoma, our cruise friend (Kia and family) were going on a off-road buggy ride. We found out later that day that they never made the trip and were too late arriving. But, she had told me about it and it sounded like a lot of fun. We really wanted to do something "different" and thought this is definitely different than a beach. Sakari, of course, was unsure of it...well, because it didn't involve the beach of course. 

I did a little bit of research and decided to book with Pro Excursions. The price was $69 per adult and $35 per child. The name of the tour is called "Pro Buggy for Cruisers" tour. 

The tour will only take up to 20 people and they do require a $100 deposit (well, at least for us). You also add in $15 pp for transportation to the taxi's round trip (which was the same as the last time we were here going to Saoma Island). 

Interesting facts for your tours' safety & total pleasure:

Pro Excursions sets the standards in Bayahibe in the matter of safety and reliability so that you can enjoy to the fullest your tour with us in the Dominican Republic. This is what you don't know and that you should know so you can appreciate all the extra measures we took during your stop in La Romana...

• There are taxis waiting at relay points. If there is a mechanical problem it usually will take no more than 5 minutes to change taxi to continue and  the drivers are always in communication. So your road trip is secured.

• The tour is scheduled to bring you back at Bayahibe at least 1  hour before ship departure. This leaves plenty of time to bring you back to port. So if any delays occur during the tour we have plenty of loose time, all events have been calculated.

• There is a complete first aid kit with people who know how to use it.

• A tour will be cancelled in case of extreme weather forecast or if ship skips dock.  Deposit refunded.

• If  a tour is cancelled for other reasons you will be notified at least before your Cruise vacation starts. Deposit refunded

The buggy's come in 2 or 4 seaters. We rented 2 four-seaters. 

Here's the description online:

Exclusive & Authentic!

Pro Buggy Expedition for Cruisers is a real Safari activity of high quality, driving your own all terrain Buggy. Get away from the crowd, maximum 20 people! This is a Special Edition program only for Cruisers! Pick-up at 9:15 and return to Port before 3:00 PM guaranteed.

From the charming village of Bayahibe, aboard our Safari truck, we will set course to the outback country of Benerito.  Arriving at our authentic ranch  your buggy awaits! At the wheel of your all terrain speedster we are riding towards the sugar cane fields in which you will learn all about this important industry. Eat some freshly cut, sweet & juicy sugar cane.

Then we will set course to reach GATO, at this colorful village the children and habitants will run in the streets to greet us and exchange!! If you have things you would want to give…this is the place. An experience you will never forget and will surely make you wonder!

Leaving Gato, let’s take a new direction via the jungle to meet with a Cultivator on his beautiful plantation. There freshly cooked from his wood stove he will serve us some specialties of his garden.  While at the plantation get wet in the famous river of Chavon in its most secluded area. This river offers a mesmerizing view. Hollywood even shot films in that area… Films like Anaconda, Rambo and Apocalypse Now, just to name a few. During your time at the river, lets make a refreshing swim stop on a bed of river pebbles far from civilization surrounded by the Tropical forest.

Sounds like a great day right? I knew we had to book it! And we did!

I set the alarm for 7am, but everyone else woke up around 7:45am.

We headed up to the buffet for breakfast. 

We were pulling in at 8:45am. What a beautiful site. 

They cleared the ship at a few minutes after 9am and we headed off the ship. 

Time for our obligatory picture in port

We would wind our way around the twist and turns of the port, trying to make it out to the taxi stands and avoiding all the souvenir shops, then I remembered this imposter from the last time we were here.

The taxi area was within sight and my legs were relieved. 

We inquired where we needed to go and they took us outside of the gates and put us in a taxi van and off we went. 

To read our awesome adventurous day, click the following link:

After our excursion, we did a little port shopping when we got back and Kendra and I decided to buy these little things made out of sugar cane since that's what we had done that day. Now, this lady was really pushing for a sale. "I give you deal. Buy more than one and I give you deal". Well, the one I wanted was $15 and Kendra's was $10. So I know I was in a drunken state of mind but I can add, even if it took me a hot minute. That equals $25. She said, "buy both and I give them to you for $28". Um, say what? Wait, let me add this again. No, that's not a "deal". Ok, we'll buy them separate then.   I started correcting her math and she finally said $23 for both. Ok, we are saving an entire $2...oh gosh, where will we spend it all? 😉

Kendra saw some monkeys and parrots and wanted to have the kids take pictures with them. Why in the world would she want to do this when she has a monkey of her own at home??? So, she did the parrots. But she's had plenty of parrots as well. I don't get it.  They were $15 each and she got 2 of them. I gave her $6 because she was short and I told her to just let me have one to take a picture of it for the review. Well, I still don't have that picture. Does anyone want to guess why? BECAUSE SHE HASN'T EVEN EMPTIED HER SUITCASES YET! Now this shouldn't come as a surprise to most because the last cruise Kendra was on was last November 2017 and when she opened up her suitcases to pack for this cruise, everything was still in it from back then. #seriouslyrollingmyeyesx2  I swear that girl. I have no idea where she gets this stuff from!

We headed back to the ship and ran for the showers. Ahhhh clean at last. Every nook and cranny had mud in it. 

Nothing was open to eat but pizza and deli when we went upstairs so I opted for the pizza. I hadn't been there yet and that was fine with me. I love the pizza with the white sauce.

We topped it off with some ice cream and a sunset.

The kids wanted to go play some basketball since it was open. I was extremely tired at this point and the hubby had gained a new life. He said he'd stay with the kids while they played and Kendra, Kam and myself headed back to the room for a nap. The hubby said he would take the kids to the kids club at 7pm and then I told him to come wake me up.

At 7 he came back to the room to wake me up after dropping off the munchkins.

We headed out and caught the Love and Marriage Show. It was hilarious and these people were celebrities during the rest of the cruise. Of course they always have that one couple that has been married for 50 years and of course, they were the best with the crazy answers! We would run into them the entire cruise after that and she talked to everyone. I want to be her when I grow up.

We knew this was the last night for one of the comedians to be on the ship and we wanted to catch that rated R show. So it was off to stand in the VERY LONG line. We were way back and still managed to get in. It was a great night and funny.

Tonight was the Electric White Night party. I guess something like the White Hot party that NCL does. However, they have this IN THE ATRIUM! Yikes. It was packed but a lot of fun and a lot of good music. Sakari had already decided she didn't want to stay at the kids club and checked herself out and went back to the room. I went back and told her that we would be picking her up after the comedy show for the white hot party and they had balloons.

VIDEO

I tried several times messaging Kendra with no response. She would have liked the music and party but I guess sleeping got the best of her.

After the party, Sakari wanted to go back to the room because she was tired and wanted to draw and we decided we would head to our first Quest show. I've heard a lot about them in the past and wasn't sure I wanted to go but the hubby was very social this cruise and several friends he kept running into told him "you must go" and go we did.

It was hilarious, fun and very entertaining. We laughed and laughed and OUR TEAM WON!

There was supposed to be a midnight buffet, but we got there a little after 1am and there was nothing. Maybe it doesn't last long and we hadn't really had an official "dinner" and was on the prowl for food...pizza again. Geesh. Sakari was asleep and we had a pet frog tonight. 

Sakari had drawn a picture of her bird on her phone (Candy Cane)

I believe we went to bed at 3am. Thank goodness tomorrow is a late arrival day in Curacao (1:30pm). 💤