2022 Travel News ArchiveTravel

Cruise ships fill Puerto Plata’s harbors

This October 2022, more than 20 very large cruise lines are scheduled to dock at the two tourist terminals in Puerto Plata: Ambar Cove and the new Taino Bay. Fourteen of the ships will dock at Ambar Cove and ten will tie up at Taino Bay on the north coast with time off to enjoy Puerto Plata city attractions and take eco and cultural tours throughout the area.

As a sample of the increasing number of tourists visiting the two north coast ports, Jose Luis Rodriguez, executive director of the Dominican Port Authority, told the audience at the FCCA Caribbean Conference held in Santo Domingo that on 28 September 2022, 14,608 tourists arrived to the Taino Bay and Amber Cove ports. The number of arrivals can translate into more than US$1 million for the city, estimating each tourist spends on average US$80 between meals, excursions and shopping.

The Allure of the Seas, at one time at 225,000 tons the largest cruise ship in the world, will be stopping on 31 October 2022 at Taino Bay.

The cruise ships bring thousands of tourists to the town of Puerto Plata and its shops, sights, and attractions. The cable car, and the Amber Museum are major attractions. Tourists walking around the historic town center can marvel at the remodeled Victorian-style architecture of the city.

Rodriguez addressed participants at the 28th Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) conference at the Jaragua Renaissance that took place 11 to 14 October 2022. Around 500 representatives from 40 countries, 14 shipping companies and more than 60 cruise executives met in Santo Domingo to analyze the challenges and future of the industry’s operations in the new post-pandemic normality.

The Dominican Republic has four cruise ship arrival ports – Casa de Campo – La Romana; Sans Souci – Santo Domingo; and Amber Cove and Taino Bay in Puerto Plata. The Dominican Port Authority is backing the installation of new ports in Samana City in the northeast and Pedernales in the southwest.

Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
El Nuevo Diario
El Dia

18 October 2022