Sailing & Whale Watching in the Dominican Republic

YOUR SAILING AREA

Dominican Republic

Explore the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic and enjoy whale watching in Samaná Bay as Rhea sails her guests in luxury and comfort. The Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean’s most geographically diverse countries from stunning mountain scenery to diverse rainforests and beaches galore. Beyond the bustling towns, much of the island is distinctly rural with cows and horses grazing in the agricultural fields, while farmers trucks bustle down to the towns fully loaded with fresh produce.

With some white-sandy beaches shaded by rows of palm trees, others are lined dramatically with rocky cliffs, wind-swept dunes or serene mangrove lagoons. All provide perfectly picturesque backdrops for Rhea to drop anchor and let guests explore ashore. With plenty of traditional fishing villages and colourful boats moored along the shores, some of the bays and coves are where pirates once roamed and are the temporary home of thousands of migrating humpback whales.

Explore the tiny island of Cayo Levantado nestled in Samaná Bay, the perfect anchorage to relax in tropical paradise whilst keeping your eyes peeled for the humpback whales. Between 1,500 and 2,000 humpback whales visit Samaná Bay and Banco de la Plata every year.

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Explore the National Park of Los Haitises with time to explore the walking trails ashore. The park consists of a limestone karst plateau with conical hills, sinkholes and caverns, and there is a large area of mangrove forest on the coast to discover.

Set sails for a slightly longer passage on the water as you round Eastern coast of the island and make way for the island of Saona on the South coast. Making part of the “East National Park”, Saona is home to mangroves, coral reefs and plenty of palm-fringed beaches. This laid back little island is surrounded by shallow waters, perfect for starfish snorkelling and swimming. The traditional fishing village near Flamingo Lagoon is lined with colourful shacks and a local turtle sanctuary which is well worth a visit if Rhea heads in that direction. The west of the island is home to pre-Columbian rock art in the Cave of Cotubanamá.

Finish in the mainland, in the coastal resort of Bayahibe, the perfect place to finish your Dominican Republic sailing cruise!

All voyages for Rhea

Rhea

Guest berths: 26 Rig: Bermudan Ketch

Elegant yacht Rhea offers guests a sailing holiday experience with luxury at the heart of everything she does. She spends her winters sunshine sailing in the Caribbean before moving to the Mediterranean in the Spring.

Like her sister Chronos, Rhea was built and designed in Bodrum, Turkey but is registered in Holland. Luxury yacht Rhea was purpose built as a charter vessel in 2016 and finished in 2017 as a two-masted, 54m staysail ketch.

Rhea was designed by Klaus Röder, who based his designs on the lines of a classic yacht whilst keeping up with the modern day ketch; built for performance sailing and guest comfort. The classic rig of a Bermuda Ketch with a large boom was conceptualised and designed by Klaas Huizinga.

The outline on deck is of teak and mahogany with plenty of space to sun-bath, read a book and enjoy the views. All the sails are electronically retractable, so no need to learn the ropes here! The crew are, however, more than happy for guests to get involved with the operating and sailing of Rhea as much as they would like!

An admiralty ladder provides the perfect place to jump off into crystal clear waters, have a swim or snorkel and climb back aboard with ease. Rhea also offers her guests the options of her water skiing, wake-board, tube riding, banana boat, 2 kayaks, 2 stand up Paddleboards, snorkelling equipment and even a sail dinghy (QubaRS).

The deckhouse offers its very own small bar whilst below decks offers still more space to relax with another dining area, as well as her on-deck dining area. Her private cabins, offering both double and single beds, all have air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.

The professional crew consists of the Skipper, first mate, mechanic, bosun, cook and 4 stewards, so you will most certainly be looked after during your time aboard Rhea.

Read more about what to expect from life on board here

Deck plan

LIFE ON BOARD

Our sailing holidays on board Rhea are ones of luxury, style and comfort while exploring sunshine destinations and unforgettable locations. A purpose built charter vessel, Rhea was designed with the elegant sailing lines of a traditional classic boat but has been paired with all the comforts and luxuries of a modern yacht. 

Authentic Sailing Fun

Sailing with Rhea is certainly one of comfort and relaxation. Think of a boutique, intimate classic sailing experience where nothing is too much trouble. Her dedicated and professional crew are highly trained and well-versed in a smooth sailing operation. 

She has an impressive sail area and her rig is electronically operated with retractable sails so there is no need to “learn the ropes” here! That being said, there are still traditional pin and tails if guests want to have a taste of authentic sailing. 

Although there is less focus on the “hands-on” sailing of Rhea, the Captain and crew offer interesting sailing talks and information briefs for guests during the voyage. Learn about the history of the boat, its sailing terms and even take a tour of the engine room if you fancy! Understanding these elegant classic vessels and feeling their power with the wind is truly an unforgettable experience.

Sleeping and Relaxation

Every space on Rhea is considered with the guests at the forefront of all design. From the spacious saloon, private ensuite cabins clad in tropical wood to the sweeping open decks with plenty of sun lounging spaces – the boat is certainly oozing 5* luxury.

The generously proportioned cabins all have plenty of luggage storage, full size domestic showers and air conditioning units. Versatile beds mean that cabins can be made from a comfy double to a sharing twin and even a three bed family cabin as needed. All bedding, towels and a robe per person are included in the ticket price. Each cabin is named by the winds of the sea and this matches the allocated swim towel set for guests, so if you leave it drying on deck, a member of crew will deliver it back to your cabin when dry. 

Daily cabin service is also part of the offering. A member of the crew will make your bed and freshen up your bathroom every day and if you want a towel change or full cabin clean, just leave the relevant sign on the cabin door! 

Eating and Entertainment

Although the day is punctuated by meal times, you certainly don’t feel like you’re running on a schedule. The relaxed nature of both the boat and the crew give a perfect balance. 

Depending on the voyage location, the daily routine can change and is flexible depending on the wishes of the group. Perhaps sit back and relax as the crew set the sails to another remote anchorage to enjoy a freshly cooked lunch and the on-board water toys! Or spend the morning swimming in a secluded bay or exploring an ancient port city before setting the sails to a new location. 

Start the day with a rich buffet style breakfast, on to a light 2-course lunch at noon, coffee, tea and cake in the afternoon. Finish the day with a freshly cooked 3-course dinner aboard and on the final night of the voyage, enjoy an authentic Captains dinner. For every voyage on Rhea, guests enjoy a meal ashore at their own expense to really immerse themselves in to the local culture and cuisine. Guests tend to go off in their own groups but sometimes the crew can join in if guests are unsure of the best spots!

Depending on the mood of the group, the crew can arrange some light hearted entertainment too – from local musicians over dinner to a friendly on-board music quiz (which is always amusing with international guests!) or even a wine tasting session (at an extra cost).

Water-toys

For those water lovers with a sense of adventure, Rhea has a multitude of water-sport activities and equipment available for guests. Stand-up paddle0boards and adult-size snorkelling equipment is free for guests to use. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, QubaRS dinghy sailing, banana boat and tube riding are all chargeable once on board.

Rhea offers this at a moderate price and suggests an average of 10% of the voyage price to serve as a guide for consumption. The onboard currency is EUROS and guests can open an on-board account which can be paid at the end of your voyage.

What’s included

• All inclusive* (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea)
• All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet), wash and swim towels and bath robe per person
• Full crew plus tuition
• Marina and fuel fees
• All tender trips to and fro the boat
• Lifejacket
• Adult snorkelling equipment
• Stand-up paddle-boards

What’s not included

• Alcohol and soft drinks
• Waterproofs
• *One meal is eaten ashore at the customers own expense
• Any flights
• Transit hotels
• Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
• Travel insurance
• Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
• Crew tips
• Personal expenses
• Water-skiing, wakeboarding, banana boat and tube riding are all chargeable once on board. > Rhea offers this at a moderate price and suggests an average of 10% of the voyage price to serve as a guide for consumption.

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will not be more than 12miles offshore.

*Please note passengers sailing on Chronos, Rhea or Kariós do not require personal accident cover, only health insurance. 

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FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals on board are included in the price (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea). Alcohol and soft drinks are not included.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Yes, please let us know when making your booking.

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English/German/Dutch

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!

• Is there an age limit?

  Yes. Minimum age of 5, and as long as the child can swim.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  Rhea has 3 Standard Double Cabins Ensuite (11 m²) and 10 Deluxe Double Cabins Ensuite (12-13 m²) all sleeping 2 people.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  All cabins have their own ensuite.

• Is there WIFI?

  No, but you should easily be able to reach 3G/4G from the shore.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes.

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  No.

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

• What water-sports can I do once aboard?

  Rhea has a multitude of water-sport activities and equipment available for guests. Stand-up paddle-boards and adult-size snorkelling equipment is free for guests to use. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, QubaRS dinghy sailing, banana boat and tube riding are all chargeable once on board.

Travel Planning

From: Santa Barbara Samana

To: Bayahibe resort

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.

GETTING THERE

St. Barbara di Samaná, Dominican Republic

BY AIR

There are three airports in the Dominican Republic. From the UK fly to Punta Cana International. British Airways and Tui have direct flights from London to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). You can pre-book a taxi or Uber and by road it is 5-6 hours. Buses can take up to 8 hours. There is also an option to take a private shuttle or taxi to Sabana de la Mar and take a ferry across the beautiful Samana Bay to the town of Santa Barbara de Samana. 

Santa Domingo – Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) – There are direct flights from Europe. By car it is 2.5 hours to Samana. 

Puerto Plata International Airport (POP) – Flights to Europe and North America.

STAY

There are lots of places to stay in the Samana Bay area or closer to the airport in Punta Cana. Both are popular areas with lots to offer you if you are extending your stay. 

GETTING HOME

Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

Bayahibe to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is only 40 minutes away by car. 

STAY

Bayahibe is quieter than Punta Cana and offers a variety of places to stay.  Extend your stay to enjoy lovely beaches and the unparalleled scuba and snorkelling opportunities in the nearby Parque del Este national park.

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