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What's it Like on a Fathom Travel Trip to the Dominican Republic?

6/27/2016

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Planting trees with Fathom Travel in the Dominican Republic
Travelers who like to help while visiting a destination can do things like planting trees in the Dominican Republic when on a trip with Fathom Travel.
By John Roberts 
The world is full of people who want to help others. Many travelers can be especially wired that way. Carnival Corp.'s new cruise line Fathom Travel is hoping to connect these world explorers who strive to make an impact with the destinations and people around the globe who could use a helping hand. 

Fathom's method of delivering these kind souls who seek to travel with a purpose is a cruise. If this sounds a little different, that's because it is. Cruising has not been the usual means of getting from place to place for the "voluntourist." But Carnival and Fathom are looking to change the perception of what a cruise experience can be, giving you a new sense of how you might want to spend your vacation. 

I went with Fathom Travel on its very first voyage, to the Dominican Republic, to see how it all works. We departed from Miami on April 17 for the weeklong itinerary on the cruise ship Adonia. 

The Ship 
Adonia has lived a long life as a traditional cruise ship among several lines before it became Fathom's vessel. The 704-passenger ship came straight to Miami from Europe and is distinctly British in its decor, with Fathom accents and features now retrofitted into the spaces. If you're a regular cruiser and are especially familiar with the 3,000- to 4,000-passenger mega-ships on the seas these days, Fathom Adonia is not likely to impress you with its size or other typical wow factors, but all the basics are there that you need. Plus, I find the size nice for the purpose, and makes it easy to navigate all 11 decks.  

If you've never been on a cruise before, you'll be fully impressed by almost everything, I suppose. That's just how it goes for first-time cruisers. This ship will seem large and impressive. There is one pool and two hot tubs. We had about 400-plus people onboard and there was always plenty of space to grab a poolside lounger and take a dip whenever you wanted during the week.  

The fitness center is adequate, with treadmills, dumbbells, bikes, ellipticals and resistance-training stations and classes like yoga and spinning. Next to the gym is the spa, where you can get a massage to work out the kinks in your back after days spent pouring concrete floors or planting trees in the forest. A small running track is on Deck 10 overlooking the pool below (14.5 laps/mile). 

I found the food to be mostly adequate and sometimes fantastic. The buffet on Deck 9 didn't have enough variety for my tastes. I tended to grab an omelet there and a few strips of bacon each morning for breakfast. I packed my Nutribullet blender and protein powder so that I could supplement my meals. I grabbed a couple bananas, pumpkin seeds, skim milk, oats, honey and ice from the buffet, and I had a tasty and satisfying shake each day. 

The Lido Grill out by the pool on Deck 9 offers juicy burgers, Cuban sandwiches, hot dogs, french fries, small salads and a delicious spicy red bean burger. We ate lunch outside there when we were on the ship in the afternoon. 

The first two days of your Fathom cruise are spent sailing south toward Puerto Plata, where Carnival's brand-new Amber Cove private resort sits on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. During these days, you are assigned a cohort group and attend orientation sessions led by impact guides to discuss what you will be seeing and doing once you arrive. When you book your Fathom cruise, you are asked to pick your "impact activities" online ahead of time. You might be able to change around some of the activities once onboard, but some of these excursions have limited space.  

Entertainment onboard consists of live music in the lounges or dance parties and games on the pool deck in the evenings after dinner. You also can attend sessions that focus on storytelling, personal enrichment through philanthropy or building a new business. Other activities include trivia games and scavenger hunts. 

The main theme for many of the activities around the ship are meant to prod you into thinking about what you want to get out of your travel experience and how you will grow. Yes, it can seem like very touchy-feely stuff, but it aims to get you out of your comfort zone. You are free to participate in as much or as little of these types of things as you like. 

The Destination 
Amber Cove is a spectacular private port area and will be used by all of the Carnival brand ships, so it's typical of a luxury resort that you might see on a typical vacation getaway in the Caribbean. The sprawling area features over-water bungalows for rent in the lagoon, a swimup bar area in a winding lazy-river-style pool, ziplines, waterslides and shops and restaurants. Even if you don't hang out on a lounger and racing on the ziplines ($12 all-day use) and waterslides (free) all day, make sure to walk up to the Sky Bar rising above the resort for a cocktail and stunning views of your ship at sunset. Also, drop by the "Mercado" shopping facility to make a deal with the vendors selling hand-made jewelry, organic chocolate and other goodies. 

You pass through Amber Cove each day on the way out into the villages and towns for your impact activities. This is where the Fathom Travel program shines. On the ground, helping people. You can choose projects that work with youth sports or teaching English at a children's school or to community members in general. How about helping to put in concrete floors so a family doesn't have to live on dirt and mud in their home? Or you can plant mangrove trees in the reforestation program or construct clay water filters to provide clean drinking water. Other fun impact activities include making paper from recycled materials alongside 16 women who run the co-op or whipping up batches of organic chocolate bars with a different women's co-op. 

All of this work "alongside" the residents can have a significant impact in their lives, Fathom believes. Here are the numbers we were given from our journey. 


Fathom's inaugural voyage was a major success as hundreds of guests joined Fathom for a unique weeklong journey that left a lasting impact on each of them, as well as an immediate impact on people in need in  the Dominican Republic. Fathom and its guests in less than one week's time, made an immediate impact including: 
   
   Student English Conversation and Learning / Community English Conversation and Learning 
Impact: Nearly 650 students and community members benefited from effective foreign language interaction with native English speakers. 
Why It Matters: English proficiency is the largest driver of employment success in the Dominican Republic economy. 

   Reforestation and Nursery 
Impact: Planted more than 2,400 trees. 
Why It Matters: With time, this will lead to more nutrient-rich soil, reduction in soil loss, improved localized air and water quality, an increase in localized biodiversity, and higher agricultural yields. 

   Water Filter Production 
Impact: Produced 50 water filters. 
Why It Matters: In the Dominican Republic, more than 3 million residents do not have access to piped water. This access provides a significant reduction in waterborne illness instances, and indirect benefits include better work and school attendance. 

   Cacao and Women’s Chocolate Cooperative 
Impact: Cleaned more than 200 pounds of cacao nibs and wrapped more than 6,000 chocolate bars. 
Why It Matters: By helping improve production and increase sales, it allows the organization to hire more local women, and provide critical income in a region with limited employment opportunities. 

   Recycled Paper and Crafts Entrepreneurship 
Impact: Nearly 600 sheets of paper produced. 
Why It Matters: Support helps provide critical income to the women and ultimately allows them to expand their business. It also helps overall employee morale. 
Concrete Floors in Community Homes  
Impact: Poured concrete floors for two homes directly positively affecting 20 people. 
Why It Matters: In the homes of poorer communities, the common basic dirt floors are a genuine health risk. The new floors provided a healthier and safer living environment for families." 

 
The Bottom Line 
A Fathom Travel cruise is a true hybrid experience, and the company says it is still getting feedback from passengers and media to discover what works and what doesn't and what improvements can be made. The voyage is not the typical cruise (of course) and not a your standard vacation. You will feel like you have made a difference for the Dominicans you meet and work alongside, but you won't really be sure how much. 

You feel like you are having a vacation but not as carefree as most of your previous getaways. The impact activities are important – this is why you picked this type of vacation, right? -- but you'll find plenty of other excursions available to try, too. You can go on tours of the city, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, beach days, horseback riding, deep-sea fishing, catamaran rides and more. 

I think the best part of the whole adventure was how much you will continue to think about the people you meet and the activities you have done. You will wonder how the life will turn out for that smiling teenager you met who greeted you with songs and smiles and even a hug.

You will gain perspective on how fortunate you might be compared with some others around the world. And you might even learn a thing or two about what is truly important, like friends and family 
and health and happiness and having experiences instead of things. Well, those are just some of the things Colleen and I have been thinking about, and I think it makes this type of travel a winner just for that. Fathom wants to get travelers to think more deeply about the destinations they visit and about how the interactions can positively affect both us and the residents we aim to help. Now, that's impact. 
 
INTERESTED?: Use this discount code from Fathom that gives you savings of up to $150 off of cruises to the Dominican Republic with Fathom. Click here to book the discounts, which can be combined with other offers and discounts on these cruises. If you are interested in this type of "impact cruising," this is a good way to save a few bucks and help me out a little too. As an affiliate, I get a commission for any bookings you make at this page. Thanks and always travel happy! 
 

JR
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A Look at Carnival's Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic 

5/16/2016

7 Comments

 
Carnival Cruise's Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic at Puerto Plata
By John Roberts 

Amber Cove is Carnival Corp.'s new private port destination in the Dominican Republic. This place is an impressive destination that serves as a new entryway to explore the Caribbean country's gorgeous and unspoiled north coast. But it's also noteworthy in that it's unlike the other private beaches cruise lines have built, mainly on remote island locations like in the Bahamas -- Castaway Cay, Half Moon Cay and Perfect Day at CoCoCay, for examples. 

Don't get me wrong. Those places are perfectly gorgeous spots for a day of relaxation in the sun or playing in the waters. But Amber Cove, which opened in October 2015, offers all of that and so much more to cruisers who arrive on Carnival Corp. ships. Amber Cove will receive visits from passengers arriving on ships from seven lines: Carnival Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises and Cunard.  

I went to Amber Cove on Fathom Travel's inaugural voyage. Fathom sails to the Dominican Republic to bring passengers who want to combine their vacations with time spent helping community members. This "social impact travel" or "cruising with a purpose" mission is new in the cruise industry, and you'll see Fathom's presence at Amber Cove (like at the reforestation nursery or Fathom Impact Center) if you want to learn more when you visit with other cruise ships. (Note: The Fathom brand is no longer in existence. It was a wonderful idea from Carnival that never really took off.) 

The port overall will please any type of traveler, though. Amber Cove, which can receive two ships at a time, is connected to the mainland allowing passengers to stay and play all day at the secure and secluded resort area or venture inland for excursions. You'll probably find a way to do both. The port is located just outside Puerto Plata's historical downtown area, and dozens of active excursions and sightseeing options are available, such as beach getaways, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, catamaran rides, waterfall hikes, horseback riding and museum tours.


However, if you want to just hang around Amber Cove, I found five things that you'll love to do when you book a cruise that includes a stop in Amber Cove.
Amber Cove Dominican Republic pool area
1. The Pool. The swimming pool snakes, lazy-river style throughout the property, winding under small pedestrian bridges and past hundreds of loungers and chairs (some loungers are set in the pool itself). A small children's waterslide and playground is nearby, as well as large restroom facility. The pool and loungers are free to use and connect to a restaurant, from which staffers will take drink and food orders. You'll love the swimup bar! 
Amber Cove Dominican Republic water slide
2. The Zip-Line. Pay $12 and ride as much as you want. Race your friends on these side-by-side ziplines that swoosh over the pool area below and out toward the scenic lagoon. 

3. The Waterslide. This is free and faster and longer than you might initially think as you pull yourself into the chute. Wheeeee! This also has two side-by-side choices, so you can race (who's not at least a little competitive?).
 
A Coco Cana Bar is located right at the pool area and offers a swimup bar attached.
Coco Cana restaurant and bar is located right at the pool area and offers a swimup bar attached.
4. The Shopping. You'll find the standard duty free main store, pharmacy and Diamonds International offerings in the colorful new storefronts arranged around the square as you exit your ship, walk along the pier and enter Amber Cove. But the highlight of the complex is the Mercado, which features rows of stalls operated by Dominican residents selling hand-crafted jewelry, chocolates, lotions and other items that make fantastic mementos of your trip. Feel free to wheel and deal a little as you get to know the friendly vendors. 

5. The Bars. I already mentioned the swimup bar, and if you can drag yourself out of the pool, you might settle in for a drink at one of the other attractive watering holes at Amber Cove. The property has two Coco Cana bar/restaurants. One is right next to the pool (it operates the swimup bar, too) and the other is past the shopping area at the opposite end of Amber Cove. Take a stroll out to this CoCo Cana location to get the perfect photo of your ship at the pier (Carnival smartly placed a funky Amber Cove sign there to help create your postcard shots). Around sunset, head up the hill to SkyBar -- up past the water slide entry and zip-line start. In fact, if you start your day up there settled at the inviting star-shaped wooden bar, you might never want to head back down.

Amber Cove offers a cafe with great Wi-Fi (just grab a coffee and surf the Internet for free) and two bar/restaurants. You also can rent cabanas for a little pampering and privacy (choose overwater cabanas or those tucked on the hillside by the pool). Unlike cruise line private islands you might have visited before, there is no included barbecue lunch, and you have to pay with cash or credit card for purchases (your seapass will not work).
 
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What Fathom Travel Means to the Dominican Republic ... and Us

4/28/2016

4 Comments

 
Dominican Republic women's co-op RePapel is known for its high-energy work environment
The ladies of RePapel pick the perfect time to take a dance break at the paper-recyling factory.
By John Roberts 

The smiles tell you that this is important. And the hugs ... so many hugs. 

About 50 of us had arrived to a tiny town just outside of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic to take part in an "impact activity" at RePapel, a co-op of 16 women who produce recycled paper products. 

We filed off two buses that had crept as close as they could to the factory (a small home, really) along narrow streets in the tiny neighborhood and began walking toward the rising sounds of singing women.  

It was obvious we were in the right place -- and were about to have an experience to remember. The entire staff greeted our arrival -- clapping, dancing and smiling. 
We were the first groups to come with Carnival's Fathom Travel during the new cruise line's debut in the Dominican Republic touting a new way to travel with a purpose.  

The weeklong cruise experience is certainly groundbreaking. But the question kept arising among fellow travelers as we made our way down to the Caribbean island during two days of sailing out of Miami: What will be the real impact? 

During the journey, we sailed for two days to reach Amber Cove, Carnival Corp.'s new private cruise port at Puerto Plata. 
Once we arrived, we set out for three and half days of interactions known as the impact activities that aim to help lift the conditions of selected businesses, projects and community members in this region along the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. 
Planting mangrove trees in the Dominican Republic
We spent one sweaty day planting more than 350 mangrove trees in a national park in the mountains.
Cruisers partake in orientation activities onboard the 704-passenger ship (there are about 450 people on the inaugural sailing) and then hit the ground ready to make a difference doing things like teaching English at a school, manufacturing clay water filters, reforesting mangroves in a protected park, laying concrete floors for homes, producing chocolate or creating recycled paper. 

The long-term effects of these passenger visits and interactions will be tracked to measure their effectiveness. Our group planted 351 mangrove trees for instance, and we manufactured 27 water filters and processed 35 sheets of paper. 

But the level of excitement from the people we met at their businesses and projects was overwhelmingly positive; they were excited about the prospects of having cruisers who want to come and use their valuable time to help out in their communities. This pride and hope also reached the resident facilitators and guides who met us each morning as we loaded up on our buses to head out to our various projects. Group sizes were limited each day, but most experiences were available on all days so people could rotate and try as many as possible. 


Fathom shies away from using the word voluntourism to describe what the company is striving for, instead focusing on trying to generate an impact that is systemic and sustainable.


UPDATE and CRUISE SAVINGS: I have just been given an affiliate link from Fathom that gives you savings of up to $150 off of cruises to the Dominican Republic with Fathom. Click here to book the discounts, which can be combined with other offers and discounts on these cruises. If you are interested in this type of "impact cruising" and checking out the beautiful new Amber Cove port in the Dominican Republic this is a good way to save a few bucks and help me out a little too. As an affiliate, I get a commission for any bookings you make at this page. Thanks and always travel happy!
Making clay pot water filters at Wine to Water's facility in the Dominican Republic
It was fun and rewarding work to see the clay water filters take shape. Each filter will help provide clean water for a family of five.
When the people of the Dominican Republic tell you over and over again -- as you visit with dozens each day in a new place and under different working conditions -- that our being there is important to them and is helping greatly, then, we know we really can be confident that we are having an impact. 

Although, it probably has little to do with how many holes we were able to dig to plant a row of mangrove trees. Or how many sheets of paper we were able to clumsily shape out of pulp and roll into sheets or how many water filters we eventually were able to beat into shape out of clumps of clay and other raw materials. 

Sure, we chipped in some labor and had a lot of fun. But we never were sure that the time it took to teach us the process wasn't slowing things down more than the benefits our work might provide. I came to realize, however, we were making a big difference by being able to interact and engage with the people of the Dominican Republic. 

The country, especially the region where Fathom Travel is helping, is extremely poor. But they might prefer to think of themselves as humble. They don't seek pity and are immensely grateful for the assistance they receive.  

When we travel to help, we give legitimacy to the work these people are doing. If it's important enough for people to come from far away to help plant seedlings to help reforestation, then residents who see us doing so will start to realize that they should have a greater interest in conservation in their neighborhoods, in order to improve their living conditions and health. 

If a group of Americans is spending money and time to help manufacture clay water filters to provide to families, these communities will learn more about the need for clean drinking water. The impact goes both ways, too. Not only will Dominicans broaden their world view by learning about us, we will take our experiences back home and consider what we have seen, what it might inspire in us as far as ideas for how to donate more time or live in a different way. Or simply be appreciative for what we have. "This is what Fathom is about," Carnival Corp. President and CEO Arnold Donald said. "People who travel bring the world closer."
 
Forming pulp into a sheet of paper at RePapel in the Dominican Republic
Look at that. I made a sheet of paper from pulp. One swift move of the screen form leaves behind the recycled material that will be used as paper for birthday cards, menus or other goods.
As we worked alongside the women at RePapel, they constantly broke out in songs (familiar tunes like "La Bamba" tweaked to include lyrics that tell the story of their business). This perpetual festive atmosphere in the garage-space-turned-recycling-plant ensured there was no monotony involved, even with the mundane tasks of tearing and separating tiny scraps of paper, washing them (in a clothes washer), chopping them in a food blender, forming the pulp on screens and squeezing and pressing the formed pulp with simple rollers or peanut butter jars filled with sand. 

We all joined in the song and dance routine as we completed our work, and when it was time to go, it was time for more hugs, a group photo and one last song. The people we met in the Dominican Republic might have a humble existence, but I saw that their lives overflow with energy, spirit, love, smiles and those friendly embraces. 

Thanks for reading and 
Travel happy!
JR

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