Carnival is opening the ‘social impact’ programs that see passengers taking shore time to work with local residents in the Dominican Republic at local co-ops and recycling proects to travelers on all of its cruises that visit Amber Cove. Previously, only those traveling with its Fathom brand had the chance.
Fathom is a single-ship operation that has been alternating its social impact cruises between Amber Cove, which is near Puerto Plata, and Cuba; as more of the trips are routed to Cuba, Carnival has opened the Dominican experience to passengers on Carnival, Holland America and Princess brand ships.
Participants, who pay to take part, have installed water filters, helped pour concrete floors, planted seedlings and provided English conversation practice among other activities. For more information on the projects, from The Cruise Critic, click HERE.
Are these programs designed to ease the conscience of wealthy people in doing something for the Dominican people that they are quite capable of doing themselves ?
“First, you must cross my palm with silver” – as the fortune teller said.
Am I just getting cynical ?
A good question, and one open to discussion. we can be sure of Carnival’s motivation, and sure that the local government has not done these things. But how to assess whether it is a good thing is more complicated, I think.