While many of us struggle with classifications, if prodded I would have to admit I’m a solo or small group traveler. A cruise isn’t something that’s in my field of vision. So, it was with a fair amount of trepidation that I boarded the 700 passenger Adonia in Fort Lauderdale with a one week itinerary in the Dominican Republic.
The lure was Fathom, a new concept introducing “Impact Travel” to the cruising set. A division of Celebrity Cruises, the company has partnered with two local educational and environmental NGOs, Etrena and IDDI, organizations who have been working in the area for 20 years. Specially designed programs immerse travelers in cultural experiences centered around volunteer work in the local communities of Puerto Plata, a tourist hub on the north coast. Passengers are invited to choose Impact Activities ranging from teaching English to volunteering in women’s cooperatives. Mostly I was expecting an overly commercial packaged version of adventure travel but I was still intrigued enough to give it a chance.
Onboard there is the usual fare to entertain passengers – live music, restaurants, games, and bar and pool action. However, Fathom journeys are “no booze” cruises. On the crossing to the Dominican Republic, the main activities centered on preparing travelers for their on the ground volunteer experience.
Highly trained, energetic Impact Guides hold a series of workshops where attendees learn about the Dominican history, culture and local customs. Other sessions include rudimentary Spanish and a lesson on teaching English, familiarizing participants with Etrena’s well-designed teaching materials.
The ship docks at its newly built Amber Cove complex in Puerto Plata where a large pool with cabanas and waterslide awaits passengers along with a network of restaurants and shops. Passengers don’t have to venture any further from here, but participating in the impact activities and connecting with the locals is what takes this trip from a great vacation to an extraordinary one.
Here are five activities I never thought were possible on a cruise vacation.
#1 Rehabbing the Rainforest
Day one was spent working at the lush tropical base of Mount Isabel de Torres. Rising 2,600 feet above sea level, the mountain is known for its enormous statue of Christ. Under the supervision of IDDI and members of the Forest Ministry, forty of us got down and dirty digging up and transplanting seedlings. Deforestation is the result of over farming and this reforestation project aims to offset the damage. We learned the government only has enough funds to pay workers for a few hours a day to do these jobs. Consequently, the volunteers from the Fathom cruise provided a huge push in productivity. At the end of the day, we were sweaty and tired but energized. Once all our cruise groups had cycled through the week, we had planted a staggering 6,060 mahogany, oak and cedar seedlings!
#2 Crafting Paper, Jewelry, Candles & Coasters
The next day I visited Repapel, a recycled paper cooperative located in a residential neighborhood in Puerto Plata. With flowers tucked in their hair and bright smiles, the workers were gathered outside in front of the cooperative to welcome the group with a song. Their joyous spirit washed over us and carried us through the day. These women who formed the cooperative formerly had to travel three to four hours each way to work as domestics in other cities. Now they can stay close to home, creating a positive ripple effect on their families and communities.
We spent the day rotating stations, making coasters, jewelry, candles and learning how to make paper from recycled paper. As we worked, the IDDI guides facilitated conversations between the travelers and the women, translating where needed. Lots of singing and dancing and hugs throughout the day made the work way less tedious. We managed to buy out the gift shop before boarding the bus back to the ship. Our group created 80 candles and 65 coasters as well as a significant amount of jewelry. The week’s grand total for paper was 2,091 sheets.
#3 Chocolate Immersion
I did double duty on the following day. In the morning I worked in Chocal, a women’s chocolate cooperative whose goods are sold in a major supermarket chain in the Dominican Republic. The cooperative purchases 25% of the country’s cocoa bean crop. We sorted beans, poured chocolate into molds, wrapped bars and learned everything about the bean to bar process. Taking on these menial jobs helped free up the workers so they could focus on performing the most skilled tasks. A sumptuous Dominican lunch was provided which proved to be the best meal of the trip. In all, 708.75 lbs. of cacao nibs and 12,733 chocolate bars were wrapped that week. Wow!
#4 Community Connecting
In the afternoon my group took a very bumpy hour and a half ride up to the village of Cupay to teach English in a community of 4,000. We were greeted by the participants, ranging in age from 8 to 100 years old, at a community center. After welcoming us, we were split-up among individuals who brought us to their homes.
Inspired and impressed by my student Rosa who at 67 years of age is learning English, we laughed and high-fived each other as we worked together. I may or may not have screamed “Tequila for everyone!” a few times when she rocked a lesson. Her adorable grandson kept interrupting to show me he could name several colors in English. We took a few breaks so I could give him a side lesson.
Mostly, I taught how to tell time in English and our own time together flew by quickly. I felt terribly sad leaving new friends so soon. By the end of the week, our cruisers had connected with 728 community members and each one had received an average 7.5 hours of English instruction.
#5 Back to School English
Our final day in Puerto Plata was spent teaching in a middle school where English was already a part of the curriculum. However, studies show big educational benefits result from spending time with native speakers when learning a new language. We started by singing and dancing with the kids and then split-up, each of us taking between one and three students. Teaching in two shifts with two sets of fifth graders, we worked with the kids on the next lesson and wrote notes in their books for the next volunteer. English proficiency is the largest driver to employment success in the Dominican Republic. We had a fantastic time with the kids and left with a new understanding of the value of our interaction on their future.
In addition to the impact activities, most of which are free of charge, there are the usual ground tours available. Touristy trips to the fort, rum factory and the city are all reasonably priced. Shops aboard the ship carry a large selection of lovely, duty free items so you can make a difference with your credit card without even leaving the ship.
I started this journey a skeptic and what changed my mind was observing my fellow passengers. At first many were intimidated and fearful of stepping outside their cruising comfort zone. Over the course of the trip, I watched them blossom into enthusiastic converts. Bridging the gap between resort/cruise ship isolation and local interaction in traveling helps you understand the world better. The Fathom experience is a great start.