Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Yesterday we were at Puerto Plata DR, specifically Taino Bay. After our Detox smoothie from Spa Cafe and some time on the balcony, we headed down the gangway and explored the port area. This is a relatively new port, only about two years old. We had visited here while on a Virgin Voyages sailing when it was newly opened. It has some of your usual port shops. Can any Caribbean port actually exist without a Diamonds International? They have some more local stores as well. Plus three a la carte sit down restaurants and a few quick service places with items such as tacos. There is also a pool. Since we had last visited they opened up a large lazy river which we didn't try but would definitely do next time. And the lazy river is complimentary!!  

After a quick walk around and a gift store purchase, we headed back to the ship for another lunch at Sushi on Five. Tried two new items!! A delicious ramen beef slider and a Shrimp and Scallop Hot Pot. The beef slider was so tasty, sitting on a bed of crispy ramen.

 The shrimp and scallops were in a spicy sauce with onions and thinly sliced zucchini.  

After lunch we headed to the Enclave to enjoy the afternoon in our cabana. Top Gun Maverick was playing while we enjoyed some Villa Maria. After the movie we headed back to the cabin to enjoy sunset. Then we got ready for dinner. We stopped by to see Olympia at Michaels Club and ordered a smoked Negroni. They had a clever wooden smoking device that sat right on top of the glass. 

Dinner was at Luminae and it was my favorite overall meal of the cruise. Started with an amuse bouche of smoked trout on red beet risotto. We then had a spicy and savory creamy kale soup. Our other starters were a yellow beet risotto with crispy shallots and octopus "shell" salad. The "shell" being a pasta shell you'd use for stuffed shells. Both very tasty. The risotto was so flavorful and the crispy shallots provided a wonderful alternate texture. Mains were seared scallops and poached lobster tail. We have had so much lobster on this cruise!! And all very tasty. And I usually avoid getting getting lobster on a cruise since it has often been dry and rubbery. Not on this sailing. And we did have a dessert (finally). Angie had baked Alaska and I had a delicious tapioca with mango sorbet. The baked Alaska was lackluster and the ice cream had many ice crystals.  

After dinner we headed to Michael's Club and chatted with Pete and Alison, a very fun couple from the UK. We found out that they had been with us on our Celebrity Apex sailing in September 2021 from Piraeus. Cruising can be a "small world". That was the second sailing we had taken since the return of cruising post-pandemic. 

Today we will be enjoying the cabana and have lunch "cabana side" from Lawn Club Grill. They have a selection of special burgers and a salad bar. And the new Mission Impossible movie will be playing at 3PM. I have never watched so many movies before on a ship. It's been so relaxing in the cabana. Dinner will probably be in Luminae for our last night. We will arrive in Port Everglades in the morning and then start a new adventure!!