Let's Get Off

As beautiful as the Valiant Lady is, we did get off the ship to explore the ports. Instead of opting for an independent exploration day, we participated in the Chocolate, Rum, and Rancho Don Fernando Tour. You already know if rum is involved, I’m going to see what it’s about. 

We ported in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic a little before 10AM. Unlike other ocean cruise lines, Virgin is more lax on arriving at the ports. Virgin Voyages prefers to focus on experiences curated around local businesses, cultural immersion, and some thrills sprinkled in there too. Did you know Puerto Plata has 26 beaches?

The tour started with seven shots of Macorix rum….yes seven shots at 10:30 AM. What a way to wake up your sailors. There was a short tour of the Ron Macorix House of Rum distillery and a video of its beginnings. The best shot was the coconut water flavor…refreshing and light. I typically buy a bottle of rum when I travel, but it’s my understanding that Macorix is sold in the States, so I just need to find a store. We did learn how to mix the popular drink in the area, Mama  Juana. If you have a jug, it would be four-finger width of rum, four-finger width of wine, and two-finger width of honey. It tasted like a sangria, I might try it one day. 

After the rum tour, we had lunch at a local establishment. The menu was a mix of American and Dominican with the Caribbean staple rice and beans, fried chicken, spaghetti, various salads, and fruits. Guess what was for drinks…rum…yep either with Coke or Spirit. You could order without the rum, but you’re on a rum tour. While we ate, there was entertainment of traditional dancing and music. 

Then things took a strange turn. The tour went up into the mountains. There we went from leisure to hiking. It was a garden/ nursery of some sort. Lots of trees and flowers…from avocados, and citrus fruit, to aloe plants. A variety of life in plant form. Why I say it took a turn is because no one was familiar with this being part of the description of the tour. Luckily everyone was physically able to do the mild hike but no one was aware of the activity.

Trekking down the mountain we headed back towards the port to tour the chocolate factory, Del Oro. Instead of rum, we were greeted with hot chocolate. After tasting that delicious treat, I knew I was leaving home with a package. They also gave us a bite of a brownie…they sold the brownie mix but I purchased the cocoa to make a variety of things. During the tour, the guide explained the process from bean to chocolate, they also had a short video. Only fermented beans can make chocolate, and the fermentation takes 4-6 days. Part of the process separates the oil and paste, the coco paste is for milk and dark chocolate while the oil is for white chocolate. My sister and her family are tea drinkers, so when I see a unique variation, I purchase it for them as a souvenir. 

After the tour, we returned to the port where there is a water park. I must have been too focused on getting to my shore excursion because I don’t remember seeing any of it when we arrived that morning. Regardless, if you don’t want to take a shore excursion or venture on your own, you can stay at the port and take advantage of the free water park. There is a lazy river, a surfing simulator, and more. My two friends stayed back and did that on the port day and had a blast. 

The other port day was to Bimini, Bahama to the private Virgin Voyages Bimini Beach Club. Bimini is seven miles long with beaches, shopping, private residences, hotels, and more. Again I didn’t do much off the beaten path, but you have the availability to rent golf carts for the day or take a taxi to tour the island. I stayed at the beach club the whole time. Once you get to the port there is a tram that will take you to the beach club but in my case, I was a Rockstar, and we got a private golf cart to shuttle us to the club. 

Once we arrived at the beach club, we walked the grounds. There are two swimming pools, cabanas for reservation, oceanfront seating, bars, a DJ area, and seating for eating. We ended up at the Richard’s Rockstar area. The Rockstar area also has cabanas, oceanfront seating, and a bar but there are no swimming pools. Therefore, if you want to swim in a pool you would need to go to the general public side of the club. I knew the cruise was kid-free but it didn’t register to me that the beach would be as well since it was Virgin Voyages. I’ve never been to a beach with no kids in sight. Though the DJ is in the general area, the speaker system is great and you can hear the music while you are in the ocean. 

The weather was great, the food was scrumptious, and the drinks were refreshing. A great day at the beach.