By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Corporation & plc is to welcome the first guests to its new port Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic this October.
Opening on 6 October with a visit from Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Victory, Amber Cove will welcome a total of 57 calls from 13 ships between October 2015 and April 2016, which will amount to more than 155,000 guests.
This includes calls from Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 on 22 November, P&O Cruises’ (UK) Azura on 5 December, AIDA Cruises’ AIDAvita on 11 December, Costa Cruises’ Costa Deliziosa on 31 December and Holland America Line’s Eurodam on 19 January. Other visiting ships include Carnival Cruise Line’s Fantasy, Splendor, Valor, Sunshine, Conquest and Breeze and Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam.
“The construction of the cruise port at Amber Cove has been an incredible project for our entire country, as well as the Caribbean region as a whole,” said Francisco Javier, tourism director of the Dominican Republic. “Carnival Corporation’s investment in Amber Cove has already proved beneficial to the economy and we expect the investment to have a positive long-lasting economic impact. The new port will also give cruise passengers an opportunity to see another part of the Dominican Republic, our Amber Coast, which hasn’t been available as part of cruise itineraries in nearly 30 years.”
Designed to serve as the gateway to the Caribbean, Amber Cove is expected to host more than 250,000 cruise passengers in its first year of operation and will provide around 430 local jobs.
The new US$85 million facility has been developed as part of a joint project between Carnival Corporation and the Rannik family of Grupo B&R and represents the largest cruise industry investment in the Dominican Republic to date.
Amber Cove will offer two berths that can accommodate up to two large post-Panamax cruise ships simultaneously. The destination reflects the region’s colonial past and features cobblestone plazas with themed restaurants, bars and a marketplace with locally sourced crafts and souvenirs. It also has recreational amenities and a transportation centre.
Guests can choose from around 40 different shore excursions including cross-country adventures in 4x4 Terracross buggies, water sports, horseback riding on the beach, snorkelling and swimming in a natural river pool. They can also travel via speedboat to Paradise Island, one of the Caribbean’s top spots for snorkelling and scuba diving, or visit rural coffee plantations to sample traditional Dominican cuisine, rum and seasonal fruit. In addition, guests can reserve a private beachside bungalow with a personal chef, bartender and staff, or visit Ocean World, one of the region’s largest marine adventure parks.
Amber Cove will also provide easy access to the nearby historic town of Puerto Plata, named by Christopher Columbus when he discovered the island in 1492.
“There are several markets that are becoming increasingly important to the cruise industry, but today the Caribbean is the single largest share of our business,” said Giora Israel, senior vice president of global port and destination development for Carnival Corporation. “We are constantly looking for new ways for our guests to enjoy their cruise experience, and it is always exciting to add new destinations to our itineraries, especially in the Caribbean where many of our passengers have been before. We are confident that our guests will love visiting Amber Cove, which we believe will quickly become a very popular port of call for our guests.”