Wednesday, Day 5 - Amber Cove, Dominican Republic

Only ten days before our cruise, we got the following email from Holland America (via our travel agent):

Due to slower than expected recovery of Frederiksted, St. Croix, the 11/01/2017 call has now been replaced with a call to Amber Cove, Dominican Republic.

Amber Cove, on the north central coast of the island near Puerta Plata, is a new (2 years old) port developed by the Carnival Corporation. The complex offers a variety of activities...shopping; zip line and water sports; a pool with water slides, a lazy river and a swim-up bar; and cabanas. The port can also be a starting point for tours and excursions to the surrounding area.

The distance from our previous port, Cap Cana, to Amber Cove is about 170 miles as the crow flies...an easy overnight sail.

However...because Amber Cove was added at the last minute, no tours were ever offered online prior to the cruise. I debated about trying to find some independent tour in advance but decided after our excursion in Cap Cana the previous day, that a more relaxed day sounded good.

No alarm was set and when I awoke around 8 am, the room seemed dark and my first thought was that it must be very cloudy. When I pulled back the drapes I was surprised to see the sun was being blocked by the Carnival Victory which was docked right next to the Nieuw Amsterdam...and I mean RIGHT next to us!!

No wonder the room seemed dark!

I also caught a glimpse of an ambulance driving down the dock with lights flashing. I am no stranger to ambulances...my husband is a paramedic...and I was very aware that those flashing lights were an indication that some one's life had just taken a drastic turn for the worse.

Breakfast was in the buffet...made to order blueberry pancakes. They required just a little wait, but oh they were so good compared to ones on other cruises that had been made ahead and left to dry out under the warming lights.

Our plan was to get off the ship and walk around the shopping area of Amber Cove, return to the ship for lunch and then spend the afternoon at the large pool at the port...a leisurely, no-cost day! Getting from ship to shore was a bit of a walk down the long dock. There were lots of pedicabs available and for the price of a tip you could avoid the long trek.

Some photos taken from the lido deck...

Bungalows that can be rented at Amber Cove.

Water toys for rent.

The hazy mountains around Amber Cove.

No transportation for us and by the time we reached the end of the dock and entered the port complex I was already starting to wilt. I don't tolerate the heat well (too many years of living in Minnesota) and combined with the oppressive humidity I felt like I was in a sauna.

Before browsing the shops, I suggested we take a look at the pool area where I wanted to return to in the afternoon. Tables were set across the walkway and people appeared to be checking in. Bob asked if we had to pay to enter and I assured him that the pool was FREE for ALL. BUT...when we started to walk past, we were stopped by an official looking guy with a clip board who wanted to know which ship we were from. I flashed my Holland America key card which I figured was my ticket to enter. Instead he replied..."Carnival has reserved the whole pool area. You are not able to get in." He must have figured I was deaf...or not very smart because I repeated his words back at him as a question..."Carnival has reserved the whole area and we can't get in?!?"

Later we found out that the Carnival Victory was a chartered "Salsa Dancing" cruise and they indeed had reserved the pool area for their guests only and were selling food and drink packages for the day.

This was too much. I understood when the original ports were destroyed by the hurricanes...even though they were the reason we had booked the cruise in the first place. And I know it must have been difficult to rearrange our itinerary...not once...not twice...but finally a third time. And then we still lost one of the new ports while trying to outrun Tropical Storm Philippe. But to knowingly plan a stop at Amber Cove when the majority of the benefits would not be available...and not tell us in advance. Yes. Too much.

I fumed as we walked around glancing in the shops. I'm not sure which was worse...the high temperature and humidity or the heat that I was feeling from anger. We ran into a lady that we had met on the tour the day before and she said that she had tried to book a tour at the excursion booth but most were already filled by Carnival passengers. She was equally as mad.

We spent less than an hour onshore at Amber Cove, but that was enough. My plan to spend a day at the pool would have to be accomplished back on the ship.

Back onboard, I changed into my swimsuit and went to the adults only aft pool. I had my choice of chairs, towels were provided and free beverages were just inside the door at the lido buffet. After a refreshing dip in the pool, I started to have an attitude adjustment. Maybe spending the day on a quiet ship was a better alternative than fighting for space with a couple of thousand salsa dancers at the Amber Cove pool!

Bob chose to spend the rest of his morning working out in the gym and it was around noon by the time he met up with me by the pool. Lunch was a hurried affair because we wanted to get to the screening room for the BBC Earth movie "Inside Earth: The Waiting Game." The film focused on the patience required for photographers to capture the incredible footage that is in the BBC Earth videos...sometimes waiting for days and weeks just to record a few seconds of footage! Amazing.

Following the BBC Earth movie we parted ways. Bob went to the theater for the Spiderman movie (even though he had watched part of it on the cabin TV the night before) and I returned to the cabin for some balcony time. I made an attempt at using my cell phone with Sprint's Open World plan and surprise, surprise...my sister in St. Louis answered immediately! We had a nice visit and I crossed my fingers that I wouldn't find a ginormous bill waiting when I returned home. (And I didn't! 😀)

Not wanting to stay cooped up in the cabin, I took my iPad and went to the Ocean Bar where tables were set for afternoon tea. I found a spot next to a window and enjoyed my time as I nibbled on the little goodies that were passed around and sipped my cup of tea. Such a spoiled life I lead when I'm on a cruise!!

Needing to move, I did a couple of laps around the promenade deck. Brief showers were going over and produced a beautiful rainbow!

In the back corner of the promenade deck was the doggy relief area. There was one passenger onboard who had a small dog with him which I assume was some type of service dog. Hopefully his cabin was not too far away!

Bob and I returned to the cabin at almost the same time. I amused myself by watching the masses of Carnival passengers returning to their ship. Their double line stretched far down the length of the dock while the Holland America line was non-existent. With their last minute return to the ship I can only assume they must have enjoyed their day at Amber Cove.  <said with jealousy>  At one point a cloudburst soaked everyone and I couldn't help but think maybe justice had been served! (Shame on me!!)

The Victory pulled away from the dock first...

And then we watched the sunset as the Nieuw Amsterdam followed.

I hadn't even tried making a reservation, but there was no problem getting a table for two in the dining room. Here is the menu for the night with our choices noted...and once again our choices were pretty much the same!

STARTERS - SOUPS - SALADS

Watermelon and Feta Cheese

mint, orange, arugula

Burrata Salad

tomato, asparagus, prosciutto, balsamic vinaigrette

Crispy Seafood Spring Roll (M & B)

bay shrimp, surimi, sweet red chili sauce

Caribbean Fish Chowder

roasted red bell pepper, cream, potato, celery, diced pumpkin

Red Bean and Chorizo Soup

pork belly, leeks, beef broth

Chilled Watermelon Gazpacho (M)

lemon sorbet, lime leaves

Boston Bibb Lettuce

roasted tomato, bell pepper, organiz mixed seeds

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE SIGNATURES

French Onion Soup "Les Halles" (B)

Gruyere cheese crouton

Classic Caesar Salad

Parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, anchovies

MAINS

Spaghetti Chitarra, Bacon and Kale

zucchini, squash, tomato, Parmesan, pine nuts

Sesame Steak Salad

romaine, soy-glazed oyster mushrooms

Grilled Corvina with Olives, Onions and Peppers

creamy mascarpone polenta, green beans

Creole Catfish Vol-Au-Vent

saffron rice, collard greens

Red Wine-Braised Brisket (M & B)

paprika onions, mashed potatoes, snow peas, carrots, broccoli

Caribbean Curried Lamb

rice and beans, fried okra

CLASSIC: Southern Fried Chicken

corn on the cob, green beans, mashed potatoes, country gravy

Chana Masala

chickpeas, onion, tomato, turmeric, garlic, chili, garam masala, basmati rice, naan

HOLLAND AMERIC LINE SIGNATURES

Grilled Salmon with Ginger-Cilantro Pesto

basmati rice, Swiss chard, garlic cherry tomatoes

Broiled New York Strip Loin

red skin mashed potato, cauliflower gratin, green peppercorn sauce

Oven-Roasted Chicken

quinoa pilaf, herb roasted vegetables, jus

DESSERTS

Chocolate Fudge Tartlet

roasted pistachios

Mango Cream Horn

chocolate, tropical fruit tartare, ginger, Tahitian vanilla

White Chocolate and Lime Pop

mango gel, crushed meringue

Creme Brulee

Grand Marnier-scented custard, caramelized sugar

Pineapple Crisp

French vanilla ice cream

Cheese and Fruit

Maytag Blue, Brie de Nagis, Beecher's Flagship Reserve, Leiden

Sliced Fruit Plate

selection of fresh fruit

Sugar Free Chocolate Delight (M & B)

chocolate cake, dark chocolate ganache, white chocolate mousse, chocolate shavings

Blueberry Sundae

vanilla ice cream, blueberry sauce

Ice Cream

Vanilla - Tiramisu - Watermelon Sorbet - Raspberry Frozen Yogurt

Sugar Free Vanilla & Strawberry

A cart was set up as we exited the dining room with a crew member offering a selection of dried dates, figs, mints, or candied ginger. Once again I felt so pampered as he folded a napking into a tiny cone and using a pair of tongs selected a piece of ginger to give to me. Just one of the nicer touches that set this Holland America cruise a notch above Norwegian or Carnival.

The main show in the theater was "One Man, Many Voices" with impressionist Tyler Bryce. His repertoire included over 200 voices which he showcased with songs and comedy. I thought he was quite good.

BB Kings All Stars had the night off and in its place was a game show hosted by the assistant cruise director..."Call My Bluff." The game show panel consisted of the cruise director, the shore excursion host and the dance team manager. A word was given and each of the panelists tried to convince the audience that their definition was the correct one. We joined another couple as a team and actually tied for first place by choosing all but one correct answer!

A few of the words used in the game..."tittup" (move with jerky or exaggerated movements); "crapulence" (feeling too full); and "erecterine" (a long wooden musical instrument.)

After the show we made one lap around the ship on the promenade deck and then back to the cabin for the night. Bob found a movie to watch on TV while I updated my blog notes...activities that were fast becoming our evening routine.