By
Rebecca Gibson |
Amber Cove, a new destination located on the Dominican Republic’s north coast, will welcome its first cruise ship when Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Victory arrives on 6 October 2015.
Carnival Victory’s day-long visit marks the first of 37 calls by eight different Carnival ships, which will take place between October 2015 and April 2016.
During this period, more than 100,000 guests will travel to the port on Carnival ships from four US homeports. Carnival Breeze, Carnival Glory, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Victory will sail to Amber Cove from Miami; Carnival Conquest from Fort Lauderdale in Florida; Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Valor from Port Canaveral in Florida; and Carnival Fantasy from Charleston in South Carolina.
“Amber Cove is destined to become a cornerstone in creating new itineraries from several US homeports,” said Terry Thornton, Carnival’s senior vice president of itinerary planning. “It will provide an unmatched combination of ‘fun in the sun’ activities and eco-tourism opportunities along with unique sightseeing, dining and cultural experiences to create a lifetime of wonderful holiday memories for our guests.”
Designed to serve as the gateway to the Caribbean, 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 various shore excursions including cross-country adventures in 4x4 Terracross buggies, 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 parkss.
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. Puerto Plata offers artist studios, rum and cigar factories, and the famed Malecon, a three-mile-long open-air beach-side boardwalk with bars, restaurants and shops.