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North Coast · Dominican Republic
Carnival’s cruise-only port, about 5.6 miles from Puerto Plata town.
Amber Cove has a large pool with waterslides, shops and cafés inside the gate, but no beach. Puerto Plata’s 16th-century fort, Sosúa Beach and the Damajagua waterfalls are a taxi ride away.
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See History
Puerto Plata town, about 5.6 miles
The port says this fort was built in the 16th century to guard Puerto Plata from pirates. Royal Caribbean says it has a small museum of colonial-era artifacts and views across the bay.
See the Port’s Puerto Plata Guide (opens a new tab)Unwind Beach
Sosúa, under 30 minutes
Royal Caribbean says Sosúa’s crescent-shaped bay is sheltered from waves, with coral reefs to snorkel just offshore. The port says Sosúa is less than half an hour away.
See the Port’s Location Page (opens a new tab)Taste Coffee
Amber Cove
One of the port’s five food and drink outlets, El Cibao Café serves locally sourced coffees, the port says. The photo shows Dominican coffee, not the café itself.
See the Port’s FAQ (opens a new tab)Explore Marine Park
Cofresí, about 20 minutes
The port puts this marine park about 20 minutes from Amber Cove, with dolphin, sea lion and shark experiences. Ocean World asks cruise guests to book through their cruise line, which supplies the transport.
See Ocean World’s Cruise Guest Page (opens a new tab)Skip the excursion desk
Amber Cove sits on its own bay, about 5.6 miles in a straight line from Puerto Plata town, so a day beyond the gate means a taxi, a rental car or a tour.
If you do one thing here
The port says Damajagua is a 30-minute ride south. Royal Caribbean describes a jungle river where you hike upstream, then slide and jump back down the falls.
Tours visit 7, 12 or all of the falls, and the visit takes two to four hours from the start of the hike. Helmets and life jackets are supplied and lockers cost about $10. Royal Caribbean says the minimum age is usually eight and most operators set a weight limit of 250 to 320 pounds.
Amber Cove is gated and open to cruise guests only. Beyond the gate, the UK Foreign Office’s advice for the Dominican Republic applies.
Crime: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice. Weather: ONAMET rainfall normals 1971 to 2000, published by the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture; millimeters converted to inches by us. Hurricanes: UK Foreign Office.
Make it part of your voyage
Carnival, Princess, Norwegian, MSC and Celebrity lead the 646 calls from 16 cruise lines scheduled to October 2028.
On the Bay of Maimón on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, northwest of Puerto Plata. The 25-acre port opened in 2015 and is open to cruise guests only.
About 5.6 miles in a straight line from the port to Fortaleza de San Felipe, measured by us from OpenStreetMap coordinates. The port publishes no road distance.
By taxi or rental car. The port says taxis are independent companies and lists a taxi contact plus National and Alamo car rental. It publishes no taxi fares.
No. The town is about 5.6 miles away in a straight line, and the port sends guests to taxis and rental cars.
The port is gated and open to cruise guests only. The UK Foreign Office says the crime rate in the Dominican Republic is high, with bag snatching by motorcycle thieves, and advises avoiding remote areas after dark.
No. Holland America says the port has no beach. Its Amber Beach Club excursion is a 12-minute drive away, and Royal Caribbean says most beaches are 15 to 30 minutes from the port.
Carnival’s guide, written in 2016, calls the Aqua Zone pool complimentary for cruise guests, with a swim-up bar, waterslides, a lazy river and lounge chairs. Cabanas are rented.
The port lists five food and drink outlets, including Coco Caña, El Cibao Café and Sky Bar. Its FAQ does not say any food is free.
Yes, one, at the cruise center. It dispenses Dominican pesos only.
No. Taino Bay is the other Puerto Plata cruise port. Royal Caribbean says it is an easy 15-minute walk from town, unlike Amber Cove. Both are open to cruise guests only.
The port says they are a 30-minute ride south. Royal Caribbean says the visit takes two to four hours from the start of the hike, depending on how many falls you do.
The Dominican weather service’s 1971 to 2000 normals for Puerto Plata show June to September as the driest months and November as the wettest, at 9.0 inches. The Foreign Office says hurricane season runs from June to November.
