Sosúa Beach Renovations

[jd426]

Hundreds of cruisers are doing just that each day paying USD$80 to board the Ocean King and tour Sosua Bay. They used to go diving as well, but not sure if that is still happening. Although not in Sosua, Outback Tours in Munoz, is full daily with cruisers going on buggie adventures. Most of the cruisers are anxious to get off the boat to visit the country and experience the culture. The tour guides will no doubt bring the tourists on a "plaza" tour to buy overpriced gifts, enjoy a cold coconut drink or eat an authentic Dominican meal to support the local economy. This has been the Turismo plan from the start. The plazas are certainly not being built for us locals to enjoy.

And how is that Concept working out for the Shops , stores and Bars directly across the street from the Cruise Ship Port ?
A whole make believe town made up specifically for Cruisers .
Last time I was there, 2 cruise Ships were In Port , and only one bar was busy.. the rest of the little make believe town was completely empty.. and it was the middle of the day, so Im guessing the ships did not just arrive, or were just leaving .
Has anyone actually been there when is was actually BUSY ?
And now if you compare that to a Trips to Sosua Beach ( which robs them of about 2 Hours , in travel Time give or take) , and there will be at least a 50/50 Split between Sosua and Cabarete. I would think most of them would opt for Cabarete since they can observe Kit Surfing, AND have a Beach with Umbrella drinks at same time .. cuz they dont know enough yet that the Beach is far superior at Sosua Bay for swimming and sunbathing . Cruisers are pretty clueless , for most of them its their very first time to an Island on one of its ports of call . I would be shocked if Sosua gets even 10 couples a day From the Cruise Ships.
but you are claiming " hundreds" ? I would love to see evidence of that . but you are on the ground so you would know.
I just dont see the Trickle down effect .

 

[j_d66]

You said Amber Cove. Taino Bay is only about 40 minutes from the beach plaza.

You are not comprehending the post. I was talking about both terminals. I know full well where Amber Cove is. I also know there is a second terminal in Puerto Plata proper (Taino Bay). Sorry I didn't slow it down enough for you to understand. Perhaps you will get it now.

 

[Seamonkey]

And how is that Concept working out for the Shops , stores and Bars directly across the street from the Cruise Ship Port ?
A whole make believe town made up specifically for Cruisers .
Last time I was there, 2 cruise Ships were In Port , and only one bar was busy.. the rest of the little make believe town was completely empty.. and it was the middle of the day, so Im guessing the ships did not just arrive, or were just leaving .
Has anyone actually been there when is was actually BUSY ?
And now if you compare that to a Trips to Sosua Beach ( which robs them of about 2 Hours , in travel Time give or take) , and there will be at least a 50/50 Split between Sosua and Cabarete. I would think most of them would opt for Cabarete since they can observe Kit Surfing, AND have a Beach with Umbrella drinks at same time .. cuz they dont know enough yet that the Beach is far superior at Sosua Bay for swimming and sunbathing . Cruisers are pretty clueless , for most of them its their very first time to an Island on one of its ports of call . I would be shocked if Sosua gets even 10 couples a day From the Cruise Ships.
but you are claiming " hundreds" ? I would love to see evidence of that . but you are on the ground so you would know.
I just dont see the Trickle down effect .

Go sit on the beach around 11am and you'll see them walking down the beach and boarding the boat. Tip Top catamaran might even be involved, but that I don't know. It blew my mind the first time I saw them because I thought just like you that the cruisers wouldn't make the trip. Spend a few minutes and talk to cruisers and they will tell you that an hour bus ride is nothing for them. I was amazed at that as well. I was at Emotions resort in Playa Dorada one week and a bus of cruisers came in for the day. They lounged around the pool drinking and eating. They could have done the same on the ship. Why did they go to a resort? cause they are itching to get off the boat and experience the culture. I don't have to give evidence, nor will I waste my time taking pictures or video. Why would I lie about it? I really don't care if people believe me or not. The trickledown effect, is in the power of marketing. You said it yourself that many are first time cruisers or to an island. Those are the people that buy tshirts, hats and dust collectors. I did it my first five times as I'm sure you did. My first time in Jamaica in 1994 I bought Bob Marley tshirts at full price cause I didn't know any better. Vendors love those people.

I've been in Puerto Plata when the town is crawling with tourists on guided tours. 86 cruise ships last month x 4000 people. Do the math. Numbers don't lie.

 

[Tom0910]

Seamonkey is correct,just sit on the beach near the El Batey parking lot side and you will see them come onto the beach and board the party boats every day.

 

[DrNoob]

Go sit on the beach around 11am and you'll see them walking down the beach and boarding the boat. Tip Top catamaran might even be involved, but that I don't know. It blew my mind the first time I saw them because I thought just like you that the cruisers wouldn't make the trip. Spend a few minutes and talk to cruisers and they will tell you that an hour bus ride is nothing for them. I was amazed at that as well. I was at Emotions resort in Playa Dorada one week and a bus of cruisers came in for the day. They lounged around the pool drinking and eating. They could have done the same on the ship. Why did they go to a resort? cause they are itching to get off the boat and experience the culture. I don't have to give evidence, nor will I waste my time taking pictures or video. Why would I lie about it? I really don't care if people believe me or not. The trickledown effect, is in the power of marketing. You said it yourself that many are first time cruisers or to an island. Those are the people that buy tshirts, hats and dust collectors. I did it my first five times as I'm sure you did. My first time in Jamaica in 1994 I bought Bob Marley tshirts at full price cause I didn't know any better. Vendors love those people.

I've been in Puerto Plata when the town is crawling with tourists on guided tours. 86 cruise ships last month x 4000 people. Do the math. Numbers don't lie.

I agree with everything except that lounging in a resort for a day drinking/eating is not experiencing local culture. A tour of Puerto Plata/surrounding areas is more like it but are a lot of cruisers older so may be they don't want to be very active ?

 

[habi]

I would like to know who came up with the information that this part would be the parking for the beach? The land is owned by the Paliza and Ilanas husbands family and has as far I know nothing to do with the beach renovation....

BTW the land owned by Paliza and Ilanas husbands family (don't remember the name, Soriani or something...) is the part cleared on the opposite side of the south plazas. The land at the beach is owned by the Tavares and Pastoriza-Tavares familys.

 

[j_d66]

I doubt there are more than 100 people from the cruise ships coming to Sosua daily. 80-90% of the passengers that leave the boat will take a ship sponsored excursion or not venture very far from the boat and are back on board pretty quickly. Passengers making the trek to Sosua are going to be few.

 

[Seamonkey]

I doubt there are more than 100 people from the cruise ships coming to Sosua daily. 80-90% of the passengers that leave the boat will take a ship sponsored excursion or not venture very far from the boat and are back on board pretty quickly. Passengers making the trek to Sosua are going to be few.

The excursions that I mentioned in my previous posts are all sponsored by the cruise lines. The passengers have a preplanned itinerary. Go to the beach in the morning and see for yourself. Not sure what is so complicated to understand.

 

[jd426]

Go sit on the beach around 11am and you'll see them walking down the beach and boarding the boat. Tip Top catamaran might even be involved, but that I don't know. It blew my mind the first time I saw them because I thought just like you that the cruisers wouldn't make the trip. Spend a few minutes and talk to cruisers and they will tell you that an hour bus ride is nothing for them. I was amazed at that as well. I was at Emotions resort in Playa Dorada one week and a bus of cruisers came in for the day. They lounged around the pool drinking and eating. They could have done the same on the ship. Why did they go to a resort? cause they are itching to get off the boat and experience the culture. I don't have to give evidence, nor will I waste my time taking pictures or video. Why would I lie about it? I really don't care if people believe me or not. The trickledown effect, is in the power of marketing. You said it yourself that many are first time cruisers or to an island. Those are the people that buy tshirts, hats and dust collectors. I did it my first five times as I'm sure you did. My first time in Jamaica in 1994 I bought Bob Marley tshirts at full price cause I didn't know any better. Vendors love those people.

I've been in Puerto Plata when the town is crawling with tourists on guided tours. 86 cruise ships last month x 4000 people. Do the math. Numbers don't lie.

I believe you, I have no reason to doubt your obervations .. I was asking for details, so thanks for providing them. because I had never witnessed this before, and as you said you also did not believe it until you saw it with your own eyes .

So it seems then than the Cruise trickle down Money IS in fact working .. that is very very interesting .

Perhaps it took time to build the Momentum ,,and now it has.

This is a whole NEW Stream of Revenue then , which never existed before . and the good thing is its a quick Hit , In and out , drop their Money quick , next day Rinse and repeat .
This plus the AI's could be the Future of the North Coast.
Not bad.. I am very happy for the Vendors who are getting a Slice of this Pie .
Nothing I enjoy more than being proven wrong when its a Positive thing , and i was being a Pessimist.

 

[Big]

Thanks for pointing that out again. Yes, cruisers already do go to Sosua Beach in significant numbers.

There were many discussions, mentioned in passing and in detail in local news over the past years about the changes coming for Sosua. There were many like Danny who were told nothing will change on Sosua Beach. He is in Thaoland now (Sosua/Thailand hmmmm) Many naysayers about other issues as well. Sosua can never be a family destination.

The plazas were only one part of that dialogue I am sure cruise ships were in that plan as well as yet to be undiscoverd things and some that will never happen despite all the best laid plans. And so it goes.

Hundreds of cruise ship passenger on Sosua beach. I have not seen ANY. I do see a healthy dose of chicas walking around. Most people that are in port via POP do not have the disposable income the chica chasers do. They are hard core budget tourists. Farther east in Cab. a cruise passenger would miss the exiting boat, however they could get a good nightly rate on the mostly vacant AI and run across the street to the beach.

 

[j_d66]

The excursions that I mentioned in my previous posts are all sponsored by the cruise lines. The passengers have a preplanned itinerary. Go to the beach in the morning and see for yourself. Not sure what is so complicated to understand.

I will wait to see you post some pictures of these thousands upon thousands of cruise ship tourists invading the beach and onto what would have to be dozens of boats on a daily basis as you claim. Again I don't doubt there are a few cruise ship passengers making their way to Sosua but highly doubt they are coming in the numbers that you claim so put up some proof.

 

[CristoRey]

....a few cruise ship passengers making their way to Sosua but highly doubt they are coming in the numbers that you claim so put up some proof.

When this project is finally completed, I wouldn't bet against them (Collado and the gang) trying to fill these plazas with
cruise ship passengers.
Not saying it will work in their favor but I do anticipate them having a go at it.

 

[JD Jones]

So, we've gone from buses, to significant, to hundreds, then thousands and thousands within the space of four posts.

 

[Big]

So, we've gone from buses, to significant, to hundreds, then thousands and thousands within the space of four posts.

They tore down some beach shacks and now Sosua is the Las Vegas of the Caribbean.

 

[jd426]

So, we've gone from buses, to significant, to hundreds, then thousands and thousands within the space of four posts.

Thankfully I had been surf Fishing this Fall, and have not put away my Chest Waders yet for the Winter ..
cuz it is getting kind of " Deep" up in here now ..

 

[Notengo]

Latest news is that they will build 2 new cruise ship docks, one in front of each plaza.

 

[Seamonkey]

I will wait to see you post some pictures of these thousands upon thousands of cruise ship tourists invading the beach and onto what would have to be dozens of boats on a daily basis as you claim. Again I don't doubt there are a few cruise ship passengers making their way to Sosua but highly doubt they are coming in the numbers that you claim so put up some proof.

Where did I mention thousands upon thousands of cruisers? Copy and paste my words in your reply. I did say hundreds.

 

[jd_mine]

I was at Emotions resort in Playa Dorada one week and a bus of cruisers came in for the day. They lounged around the pool drinking and eating. They could have done the same on the ship. Why did they go to a resort? cause they are itching to get off the boat and experience the culture.

I don't doubt what you saw and who you spoke to, but those tourists are very likely a very small minority.
I do not believe cruise tourists are so different from resort tourists and it is well known resort tourists basically do not leave the resort and are very unaware of the country they are in. I would consider cruise tourists the same kind of tourists.
Still, if even just 20 of them come to use the boats in Sosua Bay, that is good news for the operators there. God knows they can use some good news...

 

[windeguy]

BTW the land owned by Paliza and Ilanas husbands family (don't remember the name, Soriani or something...) is the part cleared on the opposite side of the south plazas. The land at the beach is owned by the Tavares and Pastoriza-Tavares familys.

Thank your for that clarification. So I did have Pastoriza recalled correctly in an above post as to who donated land for the plazas. Paliza/Postoriza/Tavares, etc.. All have something in and around this.

But what will become of the non-parking lot cleared land to the south of route 5, causing a road to almost fail up the hill to Los Cerros remains a mystery just like how many condos will be builts n the north side of route 5 closer to the beach.

Los Cerros · 57000 Sosúa, Dominican Republic

57000 Sosúa, Dominican Republic

www.google.com

 

[windeguy]

I don't doubt what you saw and who you spoke to, but those tourists are very likely a very small minority.
I do not believe cruise tourists are so different from resort tourists and it is well known resort tourists basically do not leave the resort and are very unaware of the country they are in. I would consider cruise tourists the same kind of tourists.
Still, if even just 20 of them come to use the boats in Sosua Bay, that is good news for the operators there. God knows they can use some good news...

Out of the 5,000 to 10,000 Cruisers on a given day, a small minority can make a significant difference as you mention,
Once the plazas are done, that number might even grow. Or not.

Are any tours going to Cabarete beaches from Cruise ships? That should be another thread.

The cruisers that do get out, those who think what a swell place to buy a condo, now those are the ones that trouble me.
Overdevelopment here in the land of poor infrastrucure ...... Let them cruise, visit and go back home...