Question 1

Catalina Island on Your Own

Accepted Answer

A day on Catalina Island is a beach and snorkel day, with no town to explore. Plan it around the tender schedule rather than distances. On the beach: Natural sandbars offshore keep the water only a few feet deep over large areas. In the water: Living coral grows close to the shore, and snorkeling and diving are popular. Safety: Lifeguards may not be present on Dominican beaches. Check the standards of any water-sports provider before you take part. Getting back on time: All-aboard is usually about 30 minutes before sailing, and your ship posts the exact time. A ship will not wait for passengers touring on their own. Watch the clock: All-aboard is given in ship's time, which may not match the local clocks or your phone. The Dominican Republic keeps Atlantic Standard Time all year, which is one hour ahead of US Eastern time in winter and the same in summer.

Question 2

Tipping in the Dominican Republic

Accepted Answer

Restaurants in the Dominican Republic usually add a 10 percent service charge to the bill. Tipping is still advisable for most services, and it is customary to leave an extra tip on top of the service charge in restaurants. Check the bill: Look for the service charge and tax on the bill before you add anything. Currency: The Dominican peso is the local currency. Most merchants accept US dollars or euros, but watch the exchange rate if you pay in them.

Question 3

A Brief History

Accepted Answer

Catalina Island is uninhabited today, but it has a link to the age of piracy. The pirate William Kidd's last great prize ended its days in a lagoon here, and its wreck was found just offshore in 2007. May 1494: Christopher Columbus visited the island and named it Santa Catalina. January 1698: William Kidd captured the Quedagh Merchant, an Armenian-chartered merchant ship, off the coast of India, and later renamed it Adventure Prize. 1699: With the ship leaking and Kidd now wanted as a pirate, he left it in a lagoon at Santa Catalina in the care of a merchant and sailed north in a smaller vessel. After Kidd left: The men Kidd left in charge are reported to have sold off its goods and burned the ship. May 23, 1701: Kidd was hanged after his trial for piracy and murder. December 2007: A local resident found the wreck in about 3 m of water close to the island's shore, and a team from Indiana University investigated it. Twenty-six cannons were found on the site. Since then: The researchers set up a marine protected area to preserve the wreck and the reef around it. One of the cannons was raised and put on display in Indianapolis, in the United States.

Question 4

Catalina Island with Children

Accepted Answer

Catalina Island suits a family beach day, because the sandbars make for shallow water and the reef is close to shore. Shade, sunscreen and an eye on the tender times matter more here than any sightseeing plan. Younger children: The shallow water over the sandbars is the draw. Keep a close eye on them in the water. School age: Snorkeling near the shore shows reef fish, for children who are confident in the water. Teenagers: Tell the story of Captain Kidd before you go ashore. His ship was found only in 2007, in shallow water close to the island, and it is now protected along with its reef.

Question 5

Beaches and Snorkeling

Accepted Answer

The beach is the reason ships call at Catalina Island. The island is a mix of sand dunes, mangroves and reefs, and the waters around it are rich in birds and tropical fish. Sand dunes and mangroves cover parts of the island, which is formed of coral stone. A coral wall a short distance off the coast is known for snorkeling and diving. Boats also bring day visitors over from La Romana for the beach and the reef.

Catalina Island, Dominican Republic

Good to know

Arriving by Tender

Catalina Island on Your Own

Tipping in the Dominican Republic

A Brief History

Catalina Island with Children

Beaches and Snorkeling

Port crowds

Photos from travelers

Traveler reviews