Carnival Cruise Lines - Port in Maimon

[ctrob]

Sosua has it's ugliness but at the same time still has it's charm. Sosua beach with all the little shops I think a lot of tourists would enjoy seeing.

It does, but it's time for a change. Playa Sosua smells like an open sewer right after a rain. There are too many people living behind all the quaint little shops without proper sewage disposal. Plus it's not their property to begin with.

Maybe they'll get a free house out of the deal.

 

[dv8]

The squatters were offered new homes? Very interesting. Does this happen often or is it to make sure they don't protest Amber Cove etc...

happens often. padres de famila and all that jazz. then they sell/rent government apartment, spend the cash, go back to shacks. circle of life.

 

[singletravel]

I heard from two people (owner La Playa News) and the Sosua beach association jefe (Dominican, controls all the chairs on the beach) that yesterday was between 50-100 made it to Sosua beach!!!!! Now, if only the town could get their act together (when I first came here, Sosua was called the "little french Rivera", now you know how old I am). The jefe also runs some chairs in Cabarete and said few made it there.

Think we need amet at each corner of the beach with a counter check for cruise passengers before we really get an accurate feeling how this affects Sosua

 

[dv8]

http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/verNoticia.aspx?Id=20037

POP gives warm welcome to the cruceristas. a bit of a shame about roadworks around the cathedral and central park (where those photos were taken). i hope that mariposa cafe/heladeria got some clients, it's a nice place.
i wonder if the city will keep up with dancing and performances?

 

[bigbird]

https://m.facebook.com/screnovacion...stBumping.&cached_data=false&ftid=u_p_1&mdf=1

many photos of the first days events here. pretty cool photos. sorry for just posting the link, but no computer at the moment..

Nice pics, thanks for posting. I hope they do a big hoop-la for every ship that arrives. Maybe, just maybe people will think of la rep dom as a port of call and NOT the image so many people think it is.

GO la rep dom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't believe anyone on this board has actually been inside Amber Cove but was wondering if Carnaval may do day passes on the days a ship is not docked? I saw some other pics and it looks as if Amber Cove has a beach. A day pass at the beach, restaurant, the water slide for the kiddies. I would do it.

 

[Conchman]

Nice pics, thanks for posting. I hope they do a big hoop-la for every ship that arrives. Maybe, just maybe people will think of la rep dom as a port of call and NOT the image so many people think it is.

GO la rep dom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't believe anyone on this board has actually been inside Amber Cove but was wondering if Carnaval may do day passes on the days a ship is not docked? I saw some other pics and it looks as if Amber Cove has a beach. A day pass at the beach, restaurant, the water slide for the kiddies. I would do it.

I have been inside Amber Cove several times. It is technically a free zone so there are many restrictions and policies for entering, it will not be open to the public as people are expected to take items bought out of the country. It does not have a beach but it has a big swimming pool with lounge chairs and swim up bar, water slide, and zip line. There are 3 restaurants I know of. Many stores including a marketplace for artisans to sell stuff under $20 per item.

 

[william webster]

According to some eyewitnesses, Cruise passengers made it to Cabarete, and Shop and restaurant owners there were very happy, a couple were taken to see Playa Alicia (maybe a brief stop?) , but NONE to Sosua Beach , as if they were hiding the Ugly sister or something..
Can someone else on the ground confirm or deny ..

I heard from two people (owner La Playa News) and the Sosua beach association jefe (Dominican, controls all the chairs on the beach) that yesterday was between 50-100 made it to Sosua beach!!!!! Now, if only the town could get their act together (when I first came here, Sosua was called the "little french Rivera", now you know how old I am). The jefe also runs some chairs in Cabarete and said few made it there.

Think we need amet at each corner of the beach with a counter check for cruise passengers before we really get an accurate feeling how this affects Sosua

so , is it safe to say that the cruise passengers did , indeed, get to the various local 'hot spots' ?

and that there was a benefit to the business owners?

where's Frank12 to comment on the food/drink served at O'Shay's ?

 

[dv8]

I don't believe anyone on this board has actually been inside Amber Cove but was wondering if Carnaval may do day passes on the days a ship is not docked? I saw some other pics and it looks as if Amber Cove has a beach. A day pass at the beach, restaurant, the water slide for the kiddies. I would do it.

i know someone who has a business there. no outsiders are to be let in apart from staff.

 

[Abuela]

According to some eyewitnesses, Cruise passengers made it to Cabarete, and Shop and restaurant owners there were very happy, a couple were taken to see Playa Alicia (maybe a brief stop?) , but NONE to Sosua Beach , as if they were hiding the Ugly sister or something..
Can someone else on the ground confirm or deny ..

Sosua News reports Playa Alicia will be closed when cruise passengers are there. Since all beaches are public and Casa Marina has this as their beach wonder how this will fly?
http://www.sosuanews.com/index.php

 

[the gorgon]

Nice pics, thanks for posting. I hope they do a big hoop-la for every ship that arrives. Maybe, just maybe people will think of la rep dom as a port of call and NOT the image so many people think it is.

GO la rep dom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't believe anyone on this board has actually been inside Amber Cove but was wondering if Carnaval may do day passes on the days a ship is not docked? I saw some other pics and it looks as if Amber Cove has a beach. A day pass at the beach, restaurant, the water slide for the kiddies. I would do it.

bigbird, the problem might be with the cleanup and destruction.i know Carnival does not want a thousand locals coming in for the day, then they have to change the water in the pool.

 

[dv8]

aerial view of 2 km of the road the managed to finish: http://endominicana.net/2015/10/05/...carriles-de-la-carretera-puerto-plata-maimon/

 

[Harleysrock]

is there a schedule of the dates for the Cruises coming in?

 

[dv8]

is there a schedule of the dates for the Cruises coming in?

here: http://www.ambercove.com/Port-Schedule.aspx

 

[wrecksum]

It does, but it's time for a change. Playa Sosua smells like an open sewer right after a rain. There are too many people living behind all the quaint little shops without proper sewage disposal. Plus it's not their property to begin with.

Maybe they'll get a free house out of the deal.

I don't know where you sit on Sosua beach. It's actually pretty clean most of the time.

 

[ctrob]

I don't know where you sit on Sosua beach. It's actually pretty clean most of the time.

I said it smells like an overloaded sewage field after a rain. There's no breeze or sunlight under all that tree coverage that could help break down the sewage. It just lays there in the sand till a little rain releases it upward. Who wouldn't like that while relaxing on the beach?

It'll be ok soon though....I hear a dozer firing up.

 

[zoomzx11]

Great news. Appears as though everything went fine for the group. Lets hope it continues to be smooth sailing.

 

[windeguy]

I said it smells like an overloaded sewage field after a rain. There's no breeze or sunlight under all that tree coverage that could help break down the sewage. It just lays there in the sand till a little rain releases it upward. Who wouldn't like that while relaxing on the beach?

It'll be ok soon though....I hear a dozer firing up.

They have a plan that they have yet to implement regarding the "improvements" to Sosua beach. The cruises might light a fire, or at least start up those 'dozers..

 

[alfiefan]

Sorry, I've been away from this forum for a couple years. My niece, who lives in the country just told me the Carnival port is open. We are long-time visitors to the DR (coming again in Nov) but also have cruised a lot on big lines in the Caribbean.

I just went over to check on the Cruise Critic site. Huge site, consulted by many cruisers about different ports, tour providers, towns near the port, and so on. It's free to become a member, so it is a good site for monitoring how Carnival cruisers are feeling about their experiences in the new port near Puerto Plata.

So far I can say many people are already booked on future cruises that will dock there, and they are searching for excursion opportunities and information about local sights and activities. They seem to be having trouble finding many options. The tour companies who already have web sites and who give an easy way for tourists to email them (and then get back to them promptly) are going to do very well. Those who think they can hang around the port hoping somebody will take their tour will be getting the leftovers.

Some cruisers will always book the cruise ship's own excursions, even though they are more expensive and not as good. It makes them feel safe. But many don't want to be stuck on a bus with 50 people, some with walkers and canes, that moves as slowly as the slowest person. These people are looking at the web to find small van tours of 8 or 10 people, with a planned day of about 6 hours. Maybe three interesting stops and a beach for a swim. They want to book online and get an answer within a day or two to their emails. They expect a cooler with drinks - cold beer and pop is usually what they get. They want a reliable vehicle, a driver who speaks English and who will tell them what they are seeing, and above all, they want to be assured they will get back to the port before the ship sails.

I am getting the feeling from Cruise Critic site they can't find much on the web for this new port. It costs almost nothing to get a basic web page up, with email capability. However, you must answer the emails promptly, or they begin to doubt you. Even taxi drivers with a decent car can offer this service via the web - I know this because I booked a taxi in Turkey online. The guy answered my email, he showed up, and we were happy to pay him $250 for five hours to take us around.

That's how people are going to make money from this new port. Pass the word.

 

[william webster]

Where is Derf ?? He can do this...........

$50 an hour in Turkey............ less in Pto Plata........ for sure.

Sadly, very few RDers do the internet stuff well enough.

Agreed, it's an opportunity ..........

 

[TropicalPaul]

Ambar Cove 2016 - something new?

Looking through the schedule for 2016 for Ambar Cove, it seems that one ship, P&O's Adonia, is going to be making a 3 day continuous stop there every week right through the summer. I think I am right in saying that nobody is quite aware why this will be happening. I've searched, and the only information is that P&O has said that Adonia will be spending 2016 summer in the Caribbean. This is a small ship, under 1000 passengers, adult-only.

I'm just wondering if P&O is going to try something new, maybe leave the ship in port for three nights so that it's like staying in a resort, and then sail for four? This is pure speculation, but it does seem strange to have the same ship in port three nights week in week out, and this is very unusual. So clearly Carnival is thinking of trying something new here.