Right here comes the bride! Puerto Plata, usually hailed because the “Bride of the Atlantic,” is experiencing a really pleased new yr because it begins 2025 with a rise in cruise ship arrivals.
This January, the northern province within the Dominican Republic, that includes over 60 miles of shoreline, is ready to welcome a complete of 81 cruise ships throughout its two main ports, Amber Cove and Taíno Bay. This surge in vessels means a surge in passengers anticipated to bolster the native financial system.
Mentioned Carlos Athahualpa Paulino, the northern regional director of the Ministry of Tourism, “The optimistic affect that this generates for the event of Puerto Plata is invaluable, consolidating it as a key pillar within the progress of tourism and the nation’s financial system.”
Since their openings in 2015 and 2021, respectively, Amber Cove and Taíno Bay have performed pivotal roles in Puerto Plata’s emergence as a number one cruise vacation spot.
Amber Cove, owned by Carnival Company and positioned in Maimon Bay simply west of Puerto Plata metropolis, will see 27 cruise ship arrivals in 2025 whereas Taíno Bay, within the coronary heart of the town, will welcome 54 bigger passenger vessels.
Puerto Plata noticed its first arrivals on January 1, 2025, as Holland America Line’s 2,666-passenger Nieuw Statendam and MSC Cruises’ MSC Seaside, carrying as much as 4,132 friends, each arrived on 14-night roundtrip Caribbean voyages from Fort Lauderdale and Miami, respectively.
The vessels have been joined by the 5,282-guest Mardi Gras by Carnival Cruise Line.
Superstar Cruises’ Superstar Apex and Superstar Equinox, with as much as a complete of 5,760 passengers, and Costa Cruises’ 3,780-guest Costa Fascinosa arrived the next day, with the latter persevering with to further Dominican Republic ports in Samana, Catalina Island, and La Romana on January 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
Learn Additionally: Amber Cove, Dominican Republic – All the things You Must Know
On January 3, Puerto Plata hosted Oceania Cruises’ Insignia, Explora Journeys’ Explora II, and Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas concurrently, welcoming as much as 3,584 guests.
The burgeoning cruise exercise within the province is reflective of a broader tourism growth throughout the Dominican Republic. In 2024, the nation reported over 11 million vacationers – a document achievement.
This tourism inflow has spurred the creation of 949,000 direct and oblique jobs and contributed roughly 26 billion {dollars} to the Gross Home Product (GDP), accounting for practically 20 % of the nationwide GDP.
New Port Additionally Seeing Inflow
In the meantime, the Dominican Republic’s new Cabo Rojo port, positioned within the nation’s southwestern province of Pedernales, additionally celebrated a promising begin to the brand new yr. The port welcomed its first ship of 2025 – and its sixth ship to dock since formally opening in January 2024 – on January 2.
The primary vessel of the yr was Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, bringing 2,593 passengers and 976 crew members.
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader highlighted the decision on his social media, posting, “I’m pleased to start out the yr seeing how the dream of tourism improvement within the south turns into a actuality that advantages the entire area and the nation.”
He continued, “We proceed working for a future stuffed with alternatives for Pedernales and your entire Dominican Republic.”
The port expects to obtain a further 25 visits from Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Costa Cruises in 2025. Its subsequent go to would be the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel on January 7.
The Dominican Republic can be residence to cruise ports in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo.
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