Puerto Plata Private Party Barco e Snorkeling Aventura

I am literally still on the boat writing this review. That is how bad this experience has been. We are a family of eight who rented this as a private boat charter. I have taken private boat charters in Turks & Caicos, Grand Cayman, St. Lucia, and the Seychelles. This was by far the least professional and least enjoyable I have ever experienced. The photographer was the sole exception. He was fantastic. But the photos are not included, it was $120 for the photos. We bought them as he really captured some great shots of the family. The tour started an hour late, and then they actually attempted to end it an hour early. I had to argue to receive the full amount of time we paid for. That alone speaks volumes about how this operation is run. The snorkeling portion was worse. There was no safety briefing and virtually no instruction whatsoever. No explanation of how to use or adjust the life vests or snorkeling equipment, how to enter the water, or how to safely get back onto the boat. We were so uncomfortable with the complete lack of guidance that even those of us with snorkeling experience questioned whether anyone on board was prepared to assist if something went wrong. It also did not help that the crew member responsible for snorkeling instructions did not speak English, even though the tour is explicitly advertised as being conducted in English. If you are selling snorkeling excursions to English-speaking customers and stating that English is the language of the tour, then ensuring basic safety instructions are actually delivered in English is not optional, it is your responsibility. And it certainly wasn’t because they were understaffed. There were four or five male crew members sitting and standing around, drinking liquor from the bar, eating food grilled for our charter, and socializing with each other as though THEY were on vacation. They seemed significantly more interested in enjoying our charter than actually providing it. I complained directly to the captain. Nothing changed. The captain was largely disengaged unless he was trying to sell us something extra: banana boat rides, hookah, etc. If he wasn’t upselling, he wasn’t saying much. Ironically, the most engaged I saw him with the group was when he walked around with the tip bucket at the end. The crew did not assist us at all getting on or off the boat. They also did almost nothing to facilitate an enjoyable experience. We essentially paid for a private charter so the crew could drink, eat our food, socialize, and occasionally try to sell us more things. I have traveled extensively and paid for private excursions around the world. I understand the difference between a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere and piss poor service. This was poor service. Save your money. There are other boat tours available from Puerto Plata. Choose one of them.

really fun and such an experience

A unique experience that you must live in the Dominican Republic

We booked this for our family during a cruise stop in Puerto Plata. Having the boat to ourselves was fantastic. The snorkeling was fun, the water was beautiful, and everyone from the kids to the grandparents had a great time. Definitely our favorite port day of the cruise.

There were eight of us celebrating a birthday during our vacation in Puerto Plata. The private boat was perfect for our group. We spent the afternoon laughing, snorkeling, and enjoying the ocean. Couldn't have asked for a better day.

We booked this during our stay at a resort in Puerto Plata. The kids had a blast snorkeling and spending time on the boat. By the end of the trip, they were already asking if we could do it again. A great family activity.

We were looking for something different than the typical bus tours offered at the port. This was exactly what we wanted. Beautiful scenery, fun snorkeling, and the privacy of having our own boat made the experience even better

Would Book Again - We booked this with another couple we met onboard Princess Cruises. The funny part is we barely knew each other when we got on the boat and were having drinks together by the end of the trip. Good snorkeling, great weather, and a really fun atmosphere.

Nice Break from the Ship - We were visiting on Celebrity Beyond and wanted to get away from the crowds for a few hours. The snorkeling was fun, but I think my favorite part was just hanging out on the boat with our family. It felt like a completely different vacation for the afternoon.

The Guys Loved It - A group of us booked this during our stop from Norwegian Prima. Honestly, we mostly wanted a boat, cold drinks, and some time in the water. That's exactly what we got. Nobody was checking schedules or waiting on a big group. Just a fun day in Puerto Plata.