Star Trek Cruise IX – Day 3

/ 15 hours ago February 24, 2026

Today we docked at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.  We were fortunate that our dock was right in town.  Very convenient for getting off the ship and walking the city.  

The first order of business was to get to church.  We found the Catholic Cathedral about a mile from the ship.  Puerto Plato is an interesting port as you exit the ship, they have shops and shops and restaurants and restaurants.  They have a pool, a river float and other water activities.  All before you get out onto the street.  Once we were on the streets, at every crosswalk there was a policeman to stop traffic and keep people moving.  It was a very friendly city.  We found the church and had a wonderful Mass.  It was very hot so we decided to head back to the ship and have a late lunch on the ship.

Interior view of a church with worshippers seated on wooden benches, facing the altar adorned with religious decorations and colorful stained glass windows.
Three women posing for a photo in a tropical resort setting with palm trees and mountains in the background.
A large decorative statue resembling a Taino figure with a sign reading 'I love Taino Bay' in front of it, with a person standing nearby.
Three women posing in front of a large colorful statue with the text 'I love Taino Bay' surrounded by palm plants and a blue sky.

My theme for the Star Trek blogs continues “Why is Star Trek so cult like ?” The topic today is: It Became Personal for Millions.

For many people, Star Trek was there during:

• Illness

• Loneliness

• Military service

• Childhood struggles

• Grief

• Disability

• Social isolation

It gave them:

• Role models (Picard, Spock, Janeway)

• Hope

• Stability

• A sense of worth

When something helps you through hard times, it becomes sacred. That’s where “cult-like” devotion really comes from.

Tonight’s theme was retro 60s and Suzanna dressed the part.  

Two individuals posing together in a colorful dining area. One is dressed in a black and red uniform, resembling a science fiction character, while the other is in a vibrant, patterned dress with fishnet stockings.
A couple embracing and sharing a kiss in a lively restaurant setting, featuring colorful decor and other diners in the background.

Personal for us is dressing up as one of our favorite actors or alien.  We had the opportunity to get some serious makeup and Nicky and I got a make over.  I became a Vulcan and Nicky a trill.  Nicky took about 30 minutes and mine took a little over an hour.  My makeup artist was Michael Key, 2 time grammy award winner for his work.  He got started on Star Trek Next Generation 3rd season and continued making up aliens for the Star Trek TV shows as well as many other shows and movies.  It was an art and I loved watching him work.  The most interesting part was to talk with him, hear his background and get some insights into what it was like working on the Star Trek sets.  The finished product was so much better than I imagined.  If I sleep on my back and wash carefully, the ears should last several days.  We will see how long it does last.  After our makeup the 3 people doing it were done and we brought them up to our favorite bar, Quarks and had some drinks together.  It was a fantastic day.

A man with gray hair sits in a makeup chair wearing a black cape with 'MAKEUP MAGAZINE' printed on it. A hand holds a palette of makeup colors near him, and a fan is visible in the background.
A makeup artist applying makeup to a woman sitting on a stool in a professional setting. The woman is wearing a yellow dress, and there's a backdrop featuring a vintage photography theme.
A barber cutting the hair of an older man seated in a salon chair, wearing a black cape with 'MAKE-UP ARTIST MAGAZINE' printed on it. The background features a fan and large photographs, while various items are placed on a nearby table.
Two men pose for a photo; one wears a black shirt with a red collar, reminiscent of a science fiction uniform, and the other wears a blue button-up shirt. They are in a room with various props and a fan in the background.
Two men standing together in a cruise ship interior, one wearing a Starfleet uniform top and the other in a dark blue shirt with glasses. They appear to be engaged in conversation.
Two individuals in costume, resembling extraterrestrial characters, stand beside a woman wearing a red dress in a cruise ship environment with electronic displays in the background.
Two men standing together in a cruise ship lobby, one wearing a black outfit with red accents and the other in a dark blue shirt with a pattern. Both are wearing identification lanyards.
A woman in a yellow dress and a man in a black outfit with a red collar are smiling and chatting while holding cocktails in a stylish indoor setting with Star Trek-themed decor in the background.
A display featuring a limited edition Star Trek action figure box with illustrations of characters, alongside a person in a yellow dress standing behind a transparent cover, mimicking the action figure presentation.
A limited edition Star Trek action figure displayed next to a colorful packaging featuring iconic characters from the franchise. The figure, inside protective packaging, showcases a character in a Starfleet uniform, while the background highlights the phrase 'Boldly Go. Collect Them All.'
A woman stands in a plastic display resembling an action figure packaging, dressed in a yellow dress, next to a colorful poster featuring characters from Star Trek, promoting a limited edition action figure.
Two people dressed in Star Trek-themed costumes smiling at each other in a bar setting, with a colorful backdrop featuring a sign for 'Quark's Bar'.
Three friends posing together in front of a colorful backdrop featuring 'Quark's Bar'. One is wearing a red dress, another is in a black Star Trek uniform, and the last is dressed in a yellow dress.

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