Fathom Closing Thoughts

Overall, I think the Impact concept is interesting and in this day and age of “voluntourism”, it could be a very good experience, with some tweaking.

The downside was a lack of activities onboard.  If you weren’t into the Social Impact activities, or an avid reader (which I am), there was little to do.   This is where, in my opinion, Fathom and Carnival Corp. need to focus enhancements.  The volunteer and self-development objective is great but it is still a cruise vacation for most passengers and Carnival with over 100 ships, should deliver more of an onboard entertainment experience. 

There is no casino onboard ship, which may be an issue for some.  The shops are very limited (only 2 shops).  It’s great they sell fair trade items in the Sundries store, and there is also American made products in the jewelry store.  That’s about it though. 

Unfortunately, in the evening, if you wanted to go into the city, it’s a minimum of $60 per taxi. Amber Cove (port) was shut down and not offering any activities.  A passenger in our co-op group mentioned that she found activities at the Impact Center at Amber Cove, on the last evening, which no one knew about.  Disappointing.    Evenings offered “giant board games”, an occasional movie, a local band (brought onboard), and a Wine and Paint. We all needed something to do (my first and only time I’ve painted anything besides a wall).  It was a difficult image to paint, but we had a lot of fun trying. 

Fathom was an interesting experience and I would recommend it to groups and organizations that are looking for “mission travel” with a chance to enjoy your vacation as well. 

Passengers must be ages 8 and over.  Our inaugural sailing had some children (mostly part of the Fathom family), but again, no counselors or child-oriented activities.  

Why is Cuba So Costly

We get this question a lot.  Cuba has always been costly for international travelers; in fact, it is the most expensive Latin American country to visit.  The average per diem in Cuba (published by US Govt)  is $350+USD, much higher than all other developed countries in Latin America.

The demand for Cuba tourism has grown significantly and the current infrastructure simply cannot support the increasing demand.

Charter flights are currently the only way to go to Cuba.  The US government has not authorized any US carriers (other than charter flights) to fly into Havana.  

Hotel Availability is frequently sold out a year or more in advance and we are fortunate that our partner, Yalla Tours, has a long established successful history with People-to-People travel; they have been offering Cuba since 2003.  This is why we can guarantee our group the best hotels in both Havana, Melia Cohiba, and Trinadad, Iberostar Grand.   It is estimated it will be years before additional good hotel accommodations will be available.

Why Go Now?

The question should be “Why Not Go Now”?  Cuba is in transition for Americans to visit.  The culture is not in transition.  Cuba is a country where time has literally stopped.  Beautiful and historic architecture, wonderful and colorful cars, pristine waters, and the most beautiful people.  The Cuban cultured is filled with lively music, delicious foods and friendly, family-oriented people.   The government is still run by the Castro family and is communist.  That has not changed.  You still need to travel to Cuba with a OFAC License.

Why Join Our Cuba Experience

Many of you have traveled extensively with us, via land and/or cruise.  You know how we are committed to providing our clients the best travel experience and the best overall travel value.

We design our trips to be as inclusive as possible, so you are not “nickeled and dimed” during our trips.  We specify the details in advance, so you are comfortable and confident on what is included.

You know you are getting the best guides, hotels and exclusive touring available in the destination.  

Are there other choices out there?  Absolutely?  Are they as comprehensive as ours?  Not a chance. Most other options we considered did not meet our requirements.  Yes, there is a new cruise option available, but again, for almost the same price, you get so much less time in Cuba and you do not get the true Cuba cultural experience.

We are Travelers NOT Tourists!

Traveler or Tourist

Kathryn Walsh says this very well in her USA Today Article.  What are you?

Tourists

It's usually easy for locals to spot a tourist among them. A tourist may carry a camera, guidebook and map at all times and wear the same clothing he'd wear at home. Tourists tend to stay in their comfort zones a bit; they may speak only English instead of trying to learn phrases in the local language; stick to major cities instead of venturing to smaller towns or off-the-beaten-path locales; and stay in areas where the amenities are similar to what they have at home.

Travelers

Generally speaking, someone who considers himself a traveler will try to immerse himself in the local culture rather than standing out. If you're a traveler, you may try to explore the less-traveled areas and explore locations where tourism doesn't drive the economy. You'll interact with locals. Your goals for a trip will be to learn and experience new things, rather than to take a relaxing break from everyday life. A traveler may consider a trip a journey rather than a vacation.

Remember…We are Travelers! Join us this February 2017

Fathom Day 6

Although there were Impact Activities and traditional excursions offered by Fathom on our last half-day in port we opted to go to the famed cable car ride to the top of Isabel del Torres Mountain. We secured a taxi from the port, at the standard $60 roundtrip rate, which includes having the taxi take you virtually anywhere you want to in Puerto Plato. The taxis are all new mini-vans and the driver spoke good English. The $60 rate and van would accommodate up to 6 passengers making it a good value for groups of 4-6; pricey for 1-2 passengers. The trip to the cable car is approximately 15 minutes and upon arrival we were immediately greeted by our “self-assigned” tour guide who escorted us through the cable car entrance, the ticket counter ($10 per rider roundtrip), past the arrival musicians (a $1-2 gratuity) and then up the mountain. We expected and got beautiful panoramic views of the city upon arrival at the top, but were pleasantly surprised by the extent of beautiful gardens and the lagoons. Our guide did an excellent job providing detail and posing us for memorable photos. We tipped him $20 for his hour of time which seemed to leave him disappointed. All-in-all an interesting and fun excursion.

Our arrival back on ship was well in advance of our 12:30 onboard time. The sail-away party ran from 12:30-2:30pm with live music on deck and complimentary drinks much of the time. Afternoon activities were again enrichment and relaxation based. We attended the evening Wine & Paint activity from 8-10pm which was lots of fun and well run by the Fathom activity team. The event was limited to 20 participants and sold out 3 times during the sailing. The ship was experimenting with pricing options, having charged $25 the first time which included wine and then having no fee the second time while charging for drinks. Not sure what pricing was utilized on the Saturday night event.

Fathom Day 5

Thursday April 21^st

Today we visited the Recycled Paper and Crafts Entrepreneurship cooperative which is run by a group of local women. It was an interesting and meaning-full venture. The cooperative recycles paper and creates local crafts for sale. The women were joyful and excited and greeted us with enthusiasm. Although they spoke little to no English they taught us the various stages to their processes and we performed each function. They sang, danced and laughed and we all gained respect and appreciation for their efforts and their lives. The visit lasted about 4 hours and was very worthwhile. The business is located in a very poor area, once again reminding everyone how much volunteer effort and support is needed in this area.

Most of the passengers engaged in morning Impact Activities in the community and then returned to the ship early afternoon for lunch and some relaxation on the ship or at the port pool facilities. The ship offered some afternoon Personal Enrichment sessions such as “Story Circle” created by Stanford Storytelling Lab, “Raising the Next Generation of Change-makers”, from Ashoka’s Parenting Change-makers group and “Curiosity Advantage” created by Curiosity Atlas; these were generally interesting and informative sessions. There were also fitness, relaxation and meditation classes offered most days. The ship offered little in the way of general entertainment although there was occasionally live music on deck or in one of the few bars; seldom more than one choice at a time, unlike traditional cruise entertainment.

Fathom Day 4

Wednesday April 20^th (Impact Activity)  - Reforestation Project

First, let me start by saying that this activity is NOT for those that are not physically active.  Likewise, if you don’t’ like to get filthy dirty, you may want to try another activity.  I found it very rewarding.  We drove approximately 40 minutes to an area that is now protected land, but also has local villagers surrounding the area.  The activity involved planting over 350 mangrove saplings to protect the local environment from the destruction of storms and hurricanes.  Our area was a dichotomy.  We had this beautiful land, with a sparking (but polluted) lagoon.  Gorgeous area, filled with trash.  The poorest of the poor live here and dirt floors and lack of plumbing or filtered water is the norm.  I felt like we should be picking up trash and feeding families in lieu of planting the trees. 

I cannot say enough about the Dominican people.  They are kind, friendly and enjoyed working in partnership with us.  

Fathom Day 3

Tuesday April 19^th  - Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata is a beautiful part of the DR.  It is quite different from the arid, tourist area of Punta Cana.  Puerto Plata was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, but it was officially named San Felipe de Puerto Plata by his brother, Bartholemew, in 1496.  Puerto Plata is most known for its beaches, Playa Dorado, but the city center has a 16 century fort, beautiful cathedral and delicious restaurants. 

It was a full day of learning about the culture of the Dominicans.  For instance, the indigenous (Indian or Tainos) people of this country were totally wiped out by the Spaniards, Christopher Columbus and Haiti.  The current population is a mixture of Spanish, African, and mixed blood.  A tripartite, which makes up today’s Dominican.

We enjoyed visiting the local neighborhoods, which ran from beautiful homes to the poorest of the poor.  We went to local food markets, churches, forts, homes of the stars and (mayor, senators) and a nice little restaurant, the Village Café for lunch.

A stop at the Amber Museum was quite interesting, especially learning that the museum logo was used for the current Jurassic Park logo.

Our driver/guide, Ariel, was fun and interesting.  He is proud of his country and his achievements.  Ariel gave us a 4 hour tour of Puerto Plata.  Please note that taxis are $60 round trip from Amber Cove, whether you are away 15 minutes or 5 hours.

   

IMPACT Partnership with IDDI and Entrena

I learned that our Impact activities were organized by existing companies that work in the DR.   Our guides for these impact events were young, highly educated people.  They have a passion for making their world a better place.  Their enthusiasm and enjoyable personalities made our events even more special. 

IDDI’s mission.

§  Contribute to the transformation of the human being, his family and the community in which we live.

§  Creating the conditions for the human being, both as an individual and collective, can have a reasonable opportunity to lead productive and creative lives in accordance with their needs, interests and potential.

§  Promote rapprochement and dialogue between the various sectors of our society.

§  Address both the causes of a problem and its symptoms.

Entrena is the other partnership with Fathom and was utilized for community English and Student English classes.

Entrena mission:

The Bridge Between Cultures.
For over 25 years, our mission has been to serve as a bridge between different cultures, uncover talents in an evolving society, and make the world a better place. Regardless of the specific activity - language learning, project management, overseas education, training youth leaders, baseball, community service, and a host of others - we adhere to the values of responsibility, diversity, excellence, respect, innovation, empathy, and service.

Fathom Day 2

Monday, April 18

This is NOT your average cruise experience!  I find that quite refreshing.  Our day focused on Social innovation, Curiosity, super powers, writing our own life stories and more.  For those that know me, you know I don’t get up before the sun.  However, try something new, so at 6:30am I headed to the card room for group meditation.  It was a great way to start, clearing my mind and enjoying the stillness with others before the day’s activities.  I followed this up with a group Yoga class in the Crow’s nest.  The ship was rocking pretty good and made the balancing act of Yoga interesting and fun.  Nothing like 30 people sliding out of the “chair position” all at the same time. 

There are many interesting options to choose from today.  I decide to immerse myself in the Fathom culture to prepare myself for our time in the Dominican Republic.  For the next 12 hours I floated from our Cohort Group (more on this later) to learning how to be a “Fathom Traveler”, “Spanish phrases”, Curiosity Advantage, Social Innovation in Action, Press meetings with Arnold Donald and Tara Russell and more.  

There are other options for those not into the “Fathom” immersion, but not much.  Lots of “health and wellness” seminars in the spa.  We are all familiar with the “good feet” seminar, acupuncture, Detox for Weight Loss, etc.  In my opinion, if you are not immersing yourself in what the Fathom experience is, then you may want to think about another cruise option.  This niche cruise area is truly about cultural immersion and transformational travel.  You will learn as much about yourself as you will about the country and customs of those you are visiting.

It was an exciting day meeting people of all ages (minimum age is 8 on Fathom), as well as people from all over the world.  Keep in mind, this inaugural cruise consisted of Travel industry professionals from the USA, Australia and Canada, Media guests from across the states, Huffington Post, Travel Pulse, Smart Traveler, etc., and millennial social influencers, as well as many execs from the Carnival Corporation.  We did meet several folks that were actually clientele that were emailed direct.  They were quite confused about this cruise experience.  One passenger commented “this is no vacation”.   I guess some “missed the boat” when they book direct, without information.