Amber Cove and Puerto Plata cruise port

Puerto Plata: two ports, one green mountain, 27 waterfalls to jump down.

Puerto Plata on the Dominican Republic’s north coast has two cruise terminals and your line decides which one you get. Carnival Corporation brands (Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Costa, Cunard, P&O, AIDA) dock at Amber Cove, a purpose-built resort port in Maimón Bay about 15 to 20 minutes west of town; Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Virgin Voyages, Oceania, Regent and Silversea use Taino Bay, the 2021 terminal on the city’s own waterfront, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the historic center. Either way the big draws are the same: the Damajagua waterfalls, the cable car up Mount Isabel de Torres and a free pool with a swim-up bar right at the pier. SmartCruiser lists every cruise that calls at Puerto Plata from every line, priced with taxes and fees included, with the sailings that carry SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit or instant savings at the top.

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DockedAmber Cove (Carnival brands) or Taino Bay (everyone else), no tenders

USDUS dollars accepted everywhere, change may come in pesos

Dec to Aprdry and warm, highs in the mid 80s

All inevery price includes taxes and fees

Start here

Three ways to do Puerto Plata

Stay at the terminal pool, head for the waterfalls, or ride the cable car and walk the old town; the buttons filter the list of sailings below.

Port day

Pool, zip line and shops at the pier

Both terminals have a big free pool with a swim-up bar, loungers and a DJ; Amber Cove adds a twin zip line over the pool for about $20 to $28 for unlimited rides
Cabanas and daybeds rent through the ship and sell out on busy days; kayaks and pedal boats go by the half hour on Amber Cove’s lagoon
Shop for larimar, the blue stone found only in the Dominican Republic, and Dominican amber, cigars and Brugal rum

Best for: families, first-timers, short port calls

Big excursion

Damajagua: the 27 waterfalls

About 35 to 45 minutes inland, you hike up through the forest with a guide, helmet and life jacket, then jump, slide and swim back down a chain of limestone falls
Cruise-line versions do 7 to 12 falls in about 5 hours for roughly $80 to $110; independent operators from both ports run about $60 and most include lunch
Water shoes are a must; it is not for small children or anyone with mobility issues, and the ship’s tour is the safest bet on a tight schedule

Best for: active travelers, teens, adventure seekers

Town and culture

Cable car, fort and the Victorian old town

The Puerto Plata cable car (teleférico) climbs 2,600 feet to Mount Isabel de Torres and its Christ the Redeemer statue, with a botanical garden and views over the whole coast
Fort San Felipe (1577) guards the harbor and the Amber Museum on Duarte Street shows insects trapped in 25-million-year-old resin
From Taino Bay it is all walkable; from Amber Cove a taxi into town is about $30 to $35 each way for up to five people, so share one

Best for: history lovers, photographers, couples

Live from the cruise lines

Puerto Plata cruises: SmartCruiser picks first

Every cruise that calls at Amber Cove or Taino Bay from every line, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. The picks at the top are sailings where booking with SmartCruiser gets you something extra: instant savings or bonus onboard credit. Below them, every other sailing that stops here, with full sorting by home port, line, month, length and price.

SmartCruiser picks

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Every cruise that calls at Puerto Plata

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. SmartCruiser instant savings and bonus onboard credit are provided by SmartCruiser on top of the cruise line’s price and are not available when booking direct; amounts are per stateroom, vary by stateroom category and are shown for the lowest category offered. Special SmartCruiser rates are pricing SmartCruiser holds on that sailing for its clients, with extra onboard credit; you book your own stateroom and travel on your own. Senior fares apply to guests 55 and over; resident fares need proof of residency in a listed state or province at check-in; police and fire fares apply to active or retired police, fire and EMT personnel with ID. Qualifier-fare savings are measured against the best fare the cruise line offers the general public for the same stateroom category on the day the list was pulled, updated weekly.

Where you start

Home ports that sail to Puerto Plata

Pick a home port and the list above filters to cruises leaving from there.

Port CanaveralCarnival and Princess from Port Canaveral pair Amber Cove with Grand Turk and San Juan on 7 to 8 night Eastern Caribbean loops. MiamiCarnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC and Virgin Voyages all run Eastern Caribbean sailings from Miami with a Puerto Plata day. Fort LauderdalePrincess, Holland America and Celebrity reach Puerto Plata from Port Everglades on 7 to 10 night itineraries. New York (Manhattan)Carnival and Norwegian 7 to 8 night Eastern Caribbean trips from New York often make Amber Cove or Taino Bay the first warm stop. New York (Cape Liberty)Royal Caribbean’s Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean sailings from New Jersey call at Taino Bay. BaltimoreCarnival and Royal Caribbean 7 to 9 night cruises from Baltimore call here on the way to the islands. NorfolkCarnival’s 8 night Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Virginia include Amber Cove. TampaRoyal Caribbean and Celebrity 7 night Eastern Caribbean sailings from Tampa reach Taino Bay.

In port

Things to do in Puerto Plata

Both terminals are resort-style, and the waterfalls, cable car and beaches are all within 45 minutes.

Damajagua Waterfalls (27 Charcos)Hike up, then jump and slide down a staircase of jungle waterfalls with helmets, life jackets and guides. About 5 hours door to door; roughly $80 to $110 through the ship, about $60 with a licensed independent operator from either pier.

Terminal pool and swim-up barAmber Cove and Taino Bay each have a large free pool with a swim-up bar, loungers and music a short walk from the gangway; drinks are extra and your ship card does not work ashore, so bring a credit card or dollars.

Mount Isabel de Torres cable carA 10 minute ride to the 2,600 foot summit, the Christ statue and a cool botanical garden with views of the whole bay. The base is about 1.2 miles from Taino Bay (short taxi or 25 minute walk); tickets are cash only and the system closes for maintenance now and then, so check it is running.

Fort San Felipe and the MalecónThe 1577 Spanish fort on the point beside Taino Bay is a 10 minute walk, with a small museum inside and the seafront Malecón promenade stretching east from it.

Historic center and Amber MuseumGingerbread Victorian houses around Parque Central and Calle Duarte, the Amber Museum’s fossil collection and cafes for a Presidente beer; walkable from Taino Bay, about $30 to $35 per taxi each way from Amber Cove.

Ocean World Adventure ParkDolphin swims, sea lion shows and a sharks-and-rays pool about 10 to 12 minutes from either port (taxi about $20 per car). Day passes and dolphin encounters book through the ship or at the gate.

Playa Dorada and Sosúa beachesPlaya Dorada is the resort beach about 20 minutes from Taino Bay and 30 from Amber Cove, with loungers and water sports; Sosúa, 30 minutes east, has calmer water and good snorkeling. Agree lounger and taxi prices before you sit down.

Mega truck, ATV and country toursOpen-sided monster trucks and ATV rides into the sugar-cane and cacao country, usually with a stop at a farm for coffee, chocolate and mamajuana tasting; about 4 hours, roughly $70 to $100 through the ship.

Pick your style

Which lines call at Puerto Plata?

Carnival Corporation brands dock at Amber Cove; Royal Caribbean Group, Norwegian, MSC and Virgin use Taino Bay.

      CarnivalSeventeen Carnival ships, from Carnival Sunrise to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, call at Amber Cove from Florida, the Northeast and the Gulf.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      PrincessPrincess ships from Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral dock at Amber Cove on Eastern Caribbean loops.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      Holland AmericaHAL’s Fort Lauderdale ships use Amber Cove on 7 to 11 night Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      Royal CaribbeanOasis-class and smaller Royal ships from Florida, Cape Liberty and Baltimore call at Taino Bay, built to take the largest ships afloat.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      CelebrityCelebrity ships from Fort Lauderdale and Tampa dock at Taino Bay on Eastern Caribbean sailings.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      NorwegianNorwegian ships from Miami and New York call at Taino Bay.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      MSC CruisesMSC Seashore opened Taino Bay in December 2021 and MSC’s Florida ships still call there.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      Virgin VoyagesAdults-only Virgin ships from Miami dock at Taino Bay with a late departure so you can see the town at night.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      CostaCosta ships on Caribbean seasons dock at Amber Cove alongside its Carnival Corporation sisters.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
    

Timing

When to go

The north coast is warm all year; winter and spring are the comfortable months, summer is hot and humid, and September and October are the wettest and the peak of hurricane season.

December to AprilHighs in the mid 80s, nights in the high 60s, passing trade-wind showers and the busiest cruise season; the waterfalls run full and the cable car views are clearest.

May to JuneWarming to the high 80s with short afternoon showers; fewer ships, good value and warm 82 degree sea water.

July to AugustHot and sticky, highs around 92 with frequent heavy downpours and thunderstorms; the heart of summer and a popular time for families.

September to OctoberThe wettest months and the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season; lines reroute if a storm threatens, and prices reflect the risk.

NovemberRain eases, highs drop to the high 80s and the holiday crowds have not arrived; a good shoulder month.

Good to know

Puerto Plata questions we answer every day

Where will my ship dock, Amber Cove or Taino Bay?

It depends on your line. Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Costa, Cunard, P&O and AIDA use Amber Cove, Carnival Corporation’s 25-acre resort port in Maimón Bay about 15 to 20 minutes west of the city. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Virgin Voyages, Oceania, Regent and Silversea use Taino Bay on the city waterfront, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the historic center. Both are walk-off piers; nobody tenders. Your itinerary names the terminal.

How do I get into town and what do taxis cost?

From Taino Bay, walk: a free tuk-tuk runs from the gangway to the port gate and the old town is 10 to 15 minutes on foot. From Amber Cove, licensed taxis wait at the port gate with posted rates of about $30 to $35 each way for up to five people; a round trip with the driver waiting is the usual deal. Ocean World is about $20 per car from either port.

What money, language and cell service will I find?

The Dominican peso is the currency but US dollars are accepted everywhere in the ports and tourist areas; expect change in pesos and keep small bills. Spanish is the language, with plenty of English in the terminals. The DR stays on Atlantic Standard Time all year, so it matches Florida in summer and is one hour ahead in winter. US carriers roam here; check rates or use the terminal Wi-Fi.

Is Puerto Plata safe for cruise passengers?

The terminals are gated and secure, and the historic center, Malecón and resort beaches are well policed and used by cruisers every day. The U.S. State Department asks visitors to the Dominican Republic to use normal caution: stay in the tourist areas, use the licensed taxis at the port gate, keep valuables on the ship and book excursions through the ship or a licensed operator so you are back on time.

What is the best excursion and should I book it through the ship?

The Damajagua waterfalls are the signature trip and sell out; the cable car and city tour is the best half-day for anyone who does not want to get wet. Book the waterfalls through the ship if your call is short (the ship waits for its own tours), or with a licensed operator that picks up at your pier if you want a longer, cheaper version with lunch.

Do I need a passport for the Dominican Republic?

On a round trip from a US home port (a closed-loop cruise) US citizens can sail with a government photo ID plus an original or certified birth certificate, but we strongly recommend a valid passport: it is the only document that lets you fly home from Puerto Plata if you miss the ship. The DR tourist card is included in your cruise taxes.

Are taxes and fees included in the prices here?

Yes. Every price on SmartCruiser includes the cruise fare, government taxes, fees and port expenses. Flights, hotels, shore excursions and gratuities are extra.

Talk to a Puerto Plata cruise specialist

We can tell you which terminal your ship uses and which sailings carry SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit; call to check availability and book. Monday to Thursday 9 to 6, Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 6 ET.

1-800-444-1560