AIDA Caribbean 2015 · Page 5

On 26 March we sailed into Samaná Bay in the morning, and most passengers were already on the lookout for whales. Here we had booked the excursion SMN21 "Whale watching with beach". At midday our roughly 11-metre boat set out onto the sea, which had become rough by now.

The waves reached a height of two metres, and the crossing at full throttle was fun. Out on the open sea the search for the whales began, and we bobbed about on the waves – which was no longer funny.

Most passengers felt sick, and one woman was being sick the whole time. Although some passengers demanded to go back to the island and our local guide agreed, the boat's captain didn't follow and kept searching. An AIDA scout was clearly missing here. After almost two hours, on the way back, we were able to watch some whales right next to the boat. Then we went back to the beach at full throttle, to the "Bacardi island" – a dreamlike beach, just as you always imagine paradise: warm water, sun and white sand. The one hour on the beach passed far too quickly, and at 4.30 p.m. we went back to the Vita.