Hi darlings,

I never thought I’d go on a cruise. Like, ever. I’d heard stories about the sloth and waste, widespread malfunctioning plumbing in the ships (and the people). I’d worried about feeling claustrophobic and I’d thought about how I get so antsy in a new place that I have to walk it, hard, for hours, to grock it. I thought, “I’m not that kind of person.” Just stick me on a plane and land me somewhere and I’ll figure it out.

But then I got invited on this socially conscious cruise to the Dominican Republic from Fathom a new line from Carnival that makes your travel dollars work hard for the people who need it most. The cruise is packed with activities to generally help you become a better person (Sunrise yoga or “Lifehack Bootcamp” anyone?), but also, helps to improve the lives of the communities it visits. It goes beyond supporting the trinket-sellers. On shore, we’ll be helping out a women’s chocolate collective, a much needed economic empowerment initiative. We’ll be repopulating a forest, and teaching English. Of course there’s the normal stuff, too—zip lines and snorkeling and what have you—but this feels, from what I know so far, like it’s my kind of trip. EVEN THOUGH IT’S ON A BIG BOAT.

I hope you’ll follow along on my journey (#traveldeep). It’s fitting that it’s the very first for my new sustainable travel and lifestyle blog, Green Means Go.

Love,

Vanessa