Tours are made or unmade by the guide. Our congenial guide in this case, Maria ("Mama"), did a great job of taking us through a capsule history of the Dominican Republic, and showing us around some of the features of the plaza in the heart of Puerto Plata. The shopping stops were both interesting and unusual, with free samples of hot chocolate and rum at different venues. The final beachfront shopping stop could be a bit longer, giving more time to enjoy the scenery and the views.

The Rainbow Tram tour was a fun and interesting way to get to know a very different island -- really a small town spread out so that it always seems like a village. The shopping stop here was particularly interesting in avoiding any of the standard chain stores found in so many ports in favour of small shops run by the community members. The visit to the old lighthouse hill and the opportunity to feed the donkeys was definitely good for some laughs. The tour guide's spiel got somewhat repetitive, and needs to be fleshed out with more amusing stories of this and that colourful character from the "good old days." All small towns have them! For those who don't want to tour, there's a beautiful long beach right beside the cruise ship terminal.

Unable to get a tour to suit me as there were very few tours offered that didn't feature lengthy stays at the beach in one place or another. I enjoyed an independent walk around Nassau instead. The map provided by the ship was helpful for this. It's a busy city, with a lively vibe, and with some colourful buildings that mix British colonial architecture with vibrant Caribbean colours. A fun place to walk, and to shop (for those who enjoy that).