Caribbean Cruise...Day 3

Day 3 – April 6, 2008
Location: Samana, Dominican Republic
Weather: partly cloudy, 79 degrees, rough seas
Excursion: Cayo Levantado Island
Distance sailed from Miami: 718 nautical miles

Today is our first port day. We are stopping in Samana, Dominican Republic. Last night, the wind was quite strong (Force 7, near gale, according to the Captain’s log!) and you could definitely tell by the way the boat was rocking to and fro. Luckily, still no seasickness or anything. How nice it is not to have to worry about that!!!

We anchored at this port, as it is a developing port and don’t have a well-established place for cruise ships to dock, I guess. So we had to take a tender (aka water shuttle) to the beach. What it was is an island that NCL has contracted with to allow their guests to use the beachfront. It was the most amazing beach I’ve ever seen. As we were taking the speed racer tender (on which I chose the way wrong seat in the whole boat……...I was completely soaked by the time we got to the island) I was amazed at the color of the water and the amazing scene that was unfolding. Once we got to the dock and headed to the beach, I told Kerry that we finally found the picture postcard beach I’ve always dreamed about and only seen in books. It really does exist!!! I have proof!!!

We played on the white sandy beach and swam in the amazingly blue ocean for a few hours. There were a lot of “vendors” on the beach trying to sell us a massage or braids for your hair. It got kind of annoying after a while. We walked around and checked out the jewelry and trinkets that everyone was selling. I had a tasty pina colada in a real pineapple. It was delish!!

After enough of the sun, we headed back to catch the tender back to the ship. We had the same speed demon driver, but he must have gotten in trouble, because he went so slow on the way back. I could have swum faster!! After we got cleaned up from the beach, we laid down. Next thing I know it is 3 hours later!! It’s amazing how much energy the sun drains from you. Oh well. That’s what a good vacation is for. Napping! We kind of slept through the turn-down service, so no towel animal tonight.

Dinner was at Teppanyaki. It’s a Bennihana-like place where you sit in a group around a grill and the chef prepares your dinner. It was very good. I tried a few new things. Edemame was the appetizer, along with a seaweed and cabbage salad. Both were very good. Well, I only tried a piece of the seaweed, but the rest of the salad was good! My main course was the filet and shrimp. It was amazing to watch the chef make everything. He made it all look so easy! And everything was so good. I had coconut ice cream for dessert. Yummy!!!

After dinner, we went to the casino to spend a little cash. Of course Kerry found a poker game right away, so I headed to the slots. After about $35. I was ready to call it quits, then I hit a 600 credit (quarters) jackpot. So then I was really done!! I cashed out, told Kerry I was heading to bed, and started out of the casino. But on the way, I had just one more $5 bill so I put it in a machine and got $30 on the first try. I cashed out and hit the road!! Figured I better not push my luck!!

Tomorrow we are head to the British Virgin Islands.