Norwegian Pearl was the first cruise line ship to bring tourists to the pristine beaches of Cabo Rojo and Bahia de las Aguilas in southwestern Pedernales province. The tourists were given the option to book excursions to Oviedo Lagoon or Pelempito in the area. Others could visit Bahia de las Aguilas beach, or just stay enjoying the port terminal lounges and pools.
The Abinader administration is betting on turning the southwestern Pedernales province and the Cabo Rojo beach area into the next great mass tourism destination in the Dominican Republic. Major resorts are under construction. Meanwhile, thousands of tourists will be taking ecotourism excursions in the area after arriving on cruise ships to the Cabo Rojo cruise line port.
Reports are the cruise ship arrived with 2,873 tourists on board. The tourists also visited La Romana’s Isla Catalina, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Tortola (British Virgin Islands), Puerto Rico and The Bahamas ports.
Of the 2,873 tourists, 940 took programmed excursions to area attractions, reported Grupo ITM, the Mexican company that is building and manages the port.
Norwegian Cruise Line is booking cruises on board the Norwegian Sky that will make stops in Punta Cana, Cabo Rojo, Oranjestad (Aruba), Willemstad (Curacao), Kralendijk (Bonaire), St. Georges (Granada), Bridgetown (Barbados), Castries, St. Lucia, Tortola (British Virgin Islands) before returning to Punta Cana.
The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship is also booking the 14-day excursion through the Caribbean, also stopping in Cabo Rojo.
Somos Pueblo reported that the Cabo Rojo port is but 30% completed. The president of the Pedernales Tourism Cluster Marino Vilomar complained that the authorities have created a separate destination in Cabo Rojo and have not created reasons for people to visit Pedernales proper. Vilomar criticized that the construction going on has affected visitations by local tourists to Pedernales.
It is expected the Dominican Republic will receive well above two million cruise ship passengers in 2024, especially since there were 2.2 million arrivals by sea in 2023. Puerto Plata is the country’s main sea port with two terminals. In January 2024, 28 cruise ships are scheduled to arrive in Amber Cove, and another 38 ships in Taino Bay, both in Puerto Plata.
There are also cruise ship arrivals to the Casa de Campo La Romana port, the port of Sans Souci in Santo Domingo, Cayo Levantado and Punta Cana sea ports.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Norwegian Cruise Line
Somos Pueblo
Listin Diario
9 January 2024