Punta Cana Vacation Recap - part 3

Our Excursion: Tropical Storm "Happy Hour" Sunset Catamaran Tour

Honestly, we chose this one because it was one of the cheapest and because it didn't leave at the crack of dawn. I don't know who the crazy people are that want to be up and ready to sail by 8am while on vacation, but we certainly weren't interested in that. hehe. Besides, the afternoon one has drinky-poos included!

We were picked up just after 3pm by the tour van...lucky us we were the last stop so we didn't have to wait or drive around while they picked up the folks from two other resorts. Got us to the beach down the road within 10 minutes where we met up with the rest of the group. On the boat by just after 330 and sailing away 5 minutes after that. We had a funny, energetic French-Canadian hostess...referring to herself as "froggie"....and a crew of at least 5 locals. "Froggie" was quick to get through safety instructions (basically don't jump off the boat you idiots) and had lots of good jokes for the tourists. We had a full boat and everyone was in a great mood (how could you not be?)!

There was a snorkeling stop. I've never been snorkeling and wanted to try it, but failed miserably. I rarely swim and when I do it's not with good form (whatever happened to all those swimming lessons from when I was a kid?). We were in a designated snorkeling area but it was a bit choppy and there were a lot of us....I think had it been a bit calmer and less busy I would have been able to get it together and stay out there...but as it was I was struggling with a loose flipper and trying to get used to breathing through the mouthpiece and that was just too much....so I called it a day about a minute after I started. Oh well. FH was in a little longer, but he had a crappy mouthpiece and kept sucking in salt water so opted to hop out too. It was fun just watching the others anyway....all those bodies floating face down looked like a shipwreck!

See here...my hair is wet...proof that I was at least in the water!

After snorkeling they really started pushing the booze. This excursion was the one and only time either of us had a true booze buzz going on. We drank a lot on this trip, but we really think the resort drinks are watered down...but not on the boat! The crew gets everyone dancing and singing and goofing around (of course they are trying to get you to buy the $25 video they are making the whole time!). Hilarious. Then they give everyone a shot of "mamajuana"...Dominican Viagra they call it...which is a mix of wine/honey/rum and some crazy tree bark...tastes like ass I have to say. LOL. They are also trying to sell that stuff in bottles with your photos on them...too bad our photo was actually quite nice but we had no interest in the drink.

FH referred to this guy as "little papa bling"...pretty sure his only job as crew member was to get the ladies dancing!

Anyway, carrying on....the ride was smooth, warm and lovely. The sunset was gorgeous. Lots of lovely beach and ocean scenery. Different gorgeous colors of water. Interesting clouds in the sky. So totally perfect. We couldn't have picked a better excursion. There was another stop for a swim in a "natural pool"...calmer water only about hip deep...which I fully intended to do, but we were having such fun on the boat that I decided just to stay on board.






We finished up around 7:15 and were taken back to our resort in the back of one of those big open back canopied trucks...lovely evening. Where we cleaned up and headed to the buffet and then sat in the courtyard for drinks and chitchat with our resort buddies... *sigh