If you’re a fan of fun, worry-free vacations, here’s an opportunity you can’t pass up. When you take an overnight “mini-cruise” to the Dominican Republic aboard Ferries del Caribe your vacation begins the moment you step on board. Great food, excellent drink and entertainment to the wee hours of the night await you on this unique experience. Best of all Ferries del Caribe is more than just a transportation solution, they offer amazingly affordable all-inclusive vacation packages and tour arrangements with all transportation included. This is a vacation where your only worries will be how much sunscreen should you put on.
The Dominican Republic is known for great, all-inclusive resort hotels that range from luxurious golf resorts to affordable beachside experiences. Ferries del Caribe offers an extensive list of resorts all over the DR at all price ranges. Your daily rate includes food, drink, use of the facilities and select amenities. The exchange rate favors the dollar and the euro so the costs of your Dominican adventure are quite reasonable.
Great vacation packages
Every month Ferries del Caribe puts together specially priced vacation packages at select properties all over the Dominican Republic, from the historic area of Puerto Plata to the amazing beaches of Punta Cana and the ecolodges of Samaná. Most are 3 to 7 night round-trip packages that include two-way ferry tickets with an overnight cabin, transfers to and from the hotel and your stay in the Dominican Republic. You can even arrange special tours and unique experiences in advance with them such as historical tours or even caves with petroglyphs and amazing waterfalls. Every month they offer different specials at very reasonable rates on their website ferriesdelcaribe.com
Take a mini-cruise
Traveling by ship is always a unique experience. As you leave you get to sail past the impressive el Morro Fort and see Old San Juan just as the original Spaniards did centuries ago. You also get to see the entire northern coastline of the island. The ferry departs San Juan at 6pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and departs Santo Domingo at the same time on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. It arrives at the capital of Santo Domingo around 7 am at the Terminal Don Diego. This puts you just steps away from this nice Spanish colonial city established in 1502. This was the first European foothold in the New World and features the oldest church and fort of the hemisphere along with cobblestone streets and original Spanish architecture. There’s plenty of restaurants, outdoor cafés, a great promenade full of stores, museums hotels and more.
Plenty of shipboard fun
Onboard Ferries del Caribe you will find a casino area with video slot machines, a small store, a couple of bars with light food menus and entertainment, a buffet, an a la carte style restaurant and even a beauty salon and spa. Service onboard is top-notch, cruise-ship style with plenty of smiles and helpful people around making sure you have a good time form the moment you arrive a at the pier for boarding.
How long does it take?
The trip itself lasts 11 hours from port to port but there’s really little time to be bored. Throughout the voyage there’s entertainment in the upper deck outdoor bar and lounge open till 12 midnight and in the 24 hour bar and social lounge downstairs. Live music, comedians, the ever popular karaoke and other shows are held every night. The ferry is an inexpensive travel option, priced below many airline flights. It’s also a great way to take your vehicle with you on your trip. A great majority of travelers use it for vacation purposes, so true to the Caribbean-latin spirit, a good time is had by all.
What about the food and drink?
For dinner and breakfast there’s reasonably priced meal packages that include an all you can eat buffet. Dinner selections include 2 proteins and fish along with vegetables, different rice dishes, a salad bar and of a selection of desserts. There’s also an a la carte option available with more fine dinning selections such as filet mignon and shrimp stuffed snapper filet in a coconut sauce.
There are several bar packages that you can prepay along with your fare. Both bars, buffets and the a la carte restaurant accept cash and credit cards, but you get a special price when you purchase your food and bar packages in advance.
Where will I sleep?
When you pay for your passage you have several accommodation choices. There are both ocean view and interior cabins that can sleep from 1 to 4 people. The rates are per cabin not per passenger so four can share for the same rate. All have an in-suite bathroom and a tv with on-board channels. Since the ferry is pet friendly there are special suites that you can reserve. A less expensive option to choose is the passenger seating area that has rows of reclinable, airline style seats (although a bit larger). All passengers are allowed unlimited luggage with the first three pieces free of charge. If you stay in a cabin you are allowed one piece of luggage per person on board with you the rest is transported in the hold. All passengers can also bring a small carry-on on board.
The ferry itself, the M/V Kydon is 627 feet long and can transport up to 1750 passengers and crew and 70 cars. This stabilized ship can reach speeds of 25 knots.
Take off at any time.
It’s best to reserve your trip even if it’s just hours before boarding to guarantee your space on board. However you could just grab your passport and head to the Panamerican pier any Monday, Wednesday or Friday before 4pm. You can buy tickets at the pier side booth and you’re off to adventure. There’s usually availabilities except for the very peak season.
For vacation packages, more information and booking:
http://ferriesdelcaribe.com/
Ticket office in Puerto Rico- 787-622-4800
