Located in front of the beach of Fintales, Ship and be it’s a restaurant tourist That, since its opening in 2020, it offers typical Dominican food, seafood and cocktails to national and international visitors.
In its four years of operation, it has become a key stop for Cruise members that seek to enjoy the gastronomy Local overlooking the sea. From the opening of the port of Cabo Rojo, the restaurant He has received almost 2,000 visitors from the cruises that have arrived in the area.
Its owner, Odanis Grullón, undertook with the idea of taking advantage of the potential tourist of Fintalesalthough he never imagined the arrival of cruises to the province. With the growing influx of visitors, he has adapted his business, ensuring Permitsimproving the infrastructure and hiring staff per season to attend groups up to 100 tourists simultaneously.
Grullón, born and raised in Fintalesit was always clear that the province Eventually he would develop his hotel offer.
“It was inevitable, it caused even that a province With so much potential, with so many beautiful beaches, with good climates, mountains and two spectacular national parks will not enjoy infrastructure To receive touristsand that dream is a reality, “he said.
![Ship and be: a destination for cruise passengers in Pedernales [object HTMLTextAreaElement]](https://resources.diariolibre.com/images/2025/02/04/instalaciones-de-navio-bar-and-sea-2.jpeg)
![Ship and be: a destination for cruise passengers in Pedernales [object HTMLTextAreaElement]](https://resources.diariolibre.com/images/2025/02/04/cruceristas-en-navio-bar-and-sea.jpeg)
Gastronomic and Cultural Experience
The menu for Cruise members Includes dishes such as sea rice, grilled fish and breasts, accompanied by a brief historical review of Fintales In Spanish or English.
“The history of Fintales It is one history quite young, but we have seen that attractivebecause each town has its charm, by the time the tourists Here, talk to them and be able to tell the beach of Fintales´. All those things attract attention to them (the Cruise members), “he said.
In addition, the restaurant offers a handmade jewelry table, encouraging visitors to take a memory. It also has beach chairs, umbrellas and furniture for comfort, both inside the premises and in the sand.
He spent average of each Cruise It ranges between $ 40 and $ 50, an amount that can increase if they acquire crafts such as earrings or larimar chains.
However, Gullón points out that, unlike the tourist who spends the night and consumes with greater freedom, the cruise visitor has services included in the ship, which limits its expense.
He restaurant He has coordinated with Grupo ITM, a concessionary company of the port, to organize the arrival of tourists in groups staggered “They bring two hundred visitors and divide the times, one hundred by one hundred,” he said.
![Ship and be: a destination for cruise passengers in Pedernales [object HTMLTextAreaElement]](https://resources.diariolibre.com/images/2025/02/04/navio-bar-and-sea-4.jpeg)
![Ship and be: a destination for cruise passengers in Pedernales [object HTMLTextAreaElement]](https://resources.diariolibre.com/images/2025/02/04/turistas-en-navio-bar-and-sea-2.jpeg)
The formalitykey to success
Grullón attributes the success of his business to the formality. Have the Permits appropriate allowed him to sign a two -year contract with Grupo ITM, ensuring its inclusion as one of the recommended stops for Cruise members In the Malecon of Fintales.
“He tourism It is a sectorized business that operates under international standards. For me to be able to offer them the service to them, I had to make an investment in insurance, health permit, an environment permit, another in the Ministry of Tourism … “, he said.
Grullón insists on the need for the Ministry of Tourism to collaborate with microentrepreneurs to guide them in obtaining Permitsfacilitating its integration into the value chain of the tourism. It also highlights the importance of agreements with travel agencies that promote the local community without depending on external personnel.
Despite its success, Grullón faces bureaucratic obstacles. Since February 2024, the issuance of a non -objection certificate by the Ministry of Tourism and the Dominican Navy, a requirement to expand its restaurant, plan includes the construction of a larger terrace, a ramp and bathrooms accessible to tourists with tourists with disability, which would double its capacity. Although it already has the authorization of the Ministry of Environment, the lack of response from the other entities stops it. The commitment he has assumed with the port concessionaire, which requires inclusive facilities for his business to be able to send more cruise passengers. Ship and be is a reflection of the tourist potential of Pedernales. With investments in infrastructure, adequate regulation and more support for local entrepreneurs, the province can be consolidated as a competitive destination for visitors who arrive in cruises and, in the future, as a world -class tourist pole.