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In addition to the shore excursion offerings, guests can explore on their own, as there are plenty of taxis available and rental cars at the port. Located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic is Amber Cove, one of the Caribbean's newest cruise ports that opened in 2015. Take a short walk to watch a hand-crafted cigar demonstration before heading to Skina Restaurant for more delicious tastings of Caribbean food and drinks. Finish the tour with an optional stop at La Mariposa Ice Cream Shop and shopping at the pier.
Other East Caribbean cruise ports
Luckily, there is no need to tender at Amber Cove because you will be docking at the pier. This makes it easier to get off the ship and allows you to start exploring the area much quicker. Touring nearby Puerto Plata also has been very popular with Amber Cove visitors. Puerto Plata is home to many artist studios, rum and cigar factories, the Amber Museum and the Malecón, a three-mile-long beachfront boardwalk with even more restaurants, bars and shopping. When Amber Cove welcomed its first Carnival Victory guests in the fall of 2015, a cruise ship hadn’t called at Puerto Plata since the 1980s.
Mega Truck Country Ride and Culture Trip
The port city also has an active and exciting wildlife scene, which you can explore on any number of adventures. From swimming with dolphins to adventuring through a monkey jungle, animal lovers will have plenty of options to get up close and personal with the local wildlife. Easy transportation was one of our main goals when developing Amber Cove, and getting from point A to point B is as easy as the Caribbean breeze. The island’s transportation hub is your place to rent a car, hop in a taxi and explore a long list of shore excursions that are sure to take you somewhere incredible. In addition to the snacks, water, soda, and Wi-Fi that are also included with the poolside cabanas, you'll get to choose from two water sports to enjoy for one full hour. The options include kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and aqua cycles.
Read Next: Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America
El Choco National Park's hiking trails and caves are sure to unleash your inner Indiana Jones. Amber Cove and the surrounding area of Puerto Plata are alive with a rich history and vibrant culture. In fact, you can take in the works at the Plastic Artists Art Galleries, check out the local rum factory and explore an historic fortress, all in one adventure. Spend a day helping female entrepreneurs at a cacao farm or take a community tour. The culture of Puerto Plata and Amber Cove is one you won’t want to miss during your travels.
There are a variety of places in the shopping plaza where you can purchase food and drinks if you would like a bite to eat or a beverage. You will also find a couple of car rental agencies if you would like to rent a car to explore the area. As you pass through the shopping plaza at Amber Cove, you will come to the area where the buses are waiting for shore excursion participants and where you can hire a taxi to go into the town of Puerto Plata. As your cruise ship gets close to Amber Cove you will be greeted by breathtaking views of lush green hills, turquoise waters, and the pristine beaches of the coast and surrounding area of the Dominican Republic.
Zipline and 27 Waterfalls Combo
Oh, just a guy named Christopher Columbus… so you know that arriving by sea is the ultimate way to get here. Whether you're looking for a day at the beach, some Dominican Republic adventure or just a little poolside me-time, Amber Cove is just the ticket. For those with walking difficulties, there are bicycle rickshaws ready to take cruise passengers all around. There isn’t a terminal building in Amber Cove port but cruise travelers will find all basic services and amenities in the vast 25 acres Cruise Center complex where most attractions and activities are located.
Things to Do at Aqua Zone in Amber Cove
Solar park opens at Carnival's Amber Cove port in the Dominican Republic - Travel Weekly
Solar park opens at Carnival's Amber Cove port in the Dominican Republic.
Posted: Sun, 10 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
This well-priced tour lasts 4.5 hours and takes cruisers on a scenic trip calling in at the Rum Factory, where you can learn about the rum-making experience for yourself. You’ll then enjoy a short visit to the Jose Briseno Baseball Stadium, followed by Independence Square, Victorian houses and the San Felipe Cathedral. Carnival Corporation spent $85 million creating Amber Cove on the north coast of the Dominican Republic and it has since welcomed over a million cruisers.
Carnival Drives Demand for Amber Cove and Ensenada - Cruise Industry News
Carnival Drives Demand for Amber Cove and Ensenada.
Posted: Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The opening of Amber Cove adds to the portfolio of cruise destinations Carnival Corporation has developed in the Caribbean. This includes the Grand Turk Cruise Center in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Puerta Maya on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico, and Mahogany Bay on the island of Roatan, Honduras. It is one of roughly 60 ports Carnival Corporation's brands visit in the region. Amber Cove is a complete port destination developed by Carnival for its cruise clients. There is security that monitors the entrance to Amber Cove, and most importantly, the Dominican Republic is a safe country to travel to. Mirador Senator is a lookout located past the Senator Hotel right next to La Playa de Maimon.
What’s more important is the wet season, which runs from June to November. Even in these wetter months, there is less than a 20% chance of rain on any given day, and afternoon showers tend to be short and quickly pass. Bring a towel and visit Pirate’s Pool and enjoy a swim in the calm Dolphin Beach Lagoon. Other local highlights to see include Fort San Felipe and the gushing Damajagua Falls. The beach towns of Sousa and Cabarete are the place to watch daring kite-boarders and windsurfers from a beachfront cafe. This dazzling jewelry store is owned by the cruise company and offers a stunning array of jewelry at duty-free prices.
There are other activities you can enjoy besides pool activities at Aqua Zone. One of the popular activities is the 650 foot zipline which takes you over the Aqua Zone area. There is an additional charge for riding the zipline of $20 per adult and $10 for children. If you enjoy riding zip lines, there is an unlimited ride option for $28.00. At Diamond International and Effy Jewelers, you will find a larger selection of jewelry available for purchase. If you visit Diamond International, you can pick up a free charm.
Watch dolphins, sea lions and tropical birds in various shows, stroll through the aviary of exotic birds or go snorkeling in the Tropical Reef Aquarium. Visit the Amber Museum in Puerto Plata or take a tour of the Brugal Rum Factory. You can enjoy a stroll along the waterfront on the three-mile-long Malecon promenade or explore the historic downtown and main plaza. Amber Cove has a choice of places to enjoy an exceptional dining experience or sit at the bar and enjoy long fruity drinks, beer, wine and cocktails.
There’s also a Photo Op point for getting a selfie with the cruise ship in the background. The world's largest cruise shipowner Carnival Corporation invested ~USD 85 million to develop the purpose-built Amber Cove Terminal. During its first year of operation (2015) Port Amber Cove handled 250,000+ passengers. As cruise port, Puerto Plata/Taino Bay is visited by liners of other than Carnival Corporation-owned major cruise shipping companies.
After seeing the Cathedral and Renovation Library, lunch and snacks are offered at Casa 40, an artists’ haven. This 5-hour excursion includes a 45-minute bus ride to the catamaran and a relaxing cruise on the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Lunch and drinks are provided as you enjoy a leisurely sail along the coastline of the Dominican Republic. For a day on a beautiful Caribbean beach, this all-inclusive 4.5-hour Coconut Beach Tour includes a bus ride through the countryside, beach chairs and umbrella, kayaks, snorkeling and paddleboards.
Carnival creates a gem of a destination on the sparkling Dominican Republic coast. T-Mobile offers calls at 25 cents/minute and text at no cost. The other US phone providers may work, but it is advisable to consult your provider to prevent roaming charges. Taxi fares below are for one way per cab (up to 5 passengers) sharing a Taxi. The extra coast for an additional person varies between $4.00 (ride to the Teleferico) and $10 (to Cabarete).
When we visited, two of Carnival’s largest ships were in port, making it crowded. If you want a little more elbow room, then there are cabanas that you rent out. There’s a group of them that sit out over the bay and others that sit overlooking the pool. Rates start at $340 per day and most are in this range, except for the Grand Cabana, which runs a pricey $1,170. This port area is custom made to entertain cruise passengers.
