Carnival Corporations new Amber Cove cruise destination is now officially open. A ceremony was held at the new port in the Dominican Republic which was attended by port and cruise company officials.
Featuring a two-berth port and a 25-acre landside development nestled in a picturesque cove, Amber Cove will provide cruise guests from eight of Carnival Corporation’s brands with a convenient gateway to the newest Caribbean destination — the Puerto Plata region on the island’s north coast. Referred to as the “Amber Coast,” the region is known for the friendliness of its people, its history and culture, and the beauty of its beaches, mountains, forests, waterfalls and rivers.
The port also re-opens the spectacular Puerto Plata region to regular cruise ship visits for the first time in nearly 30 years, adding a new and exotic destination to the Caribbean, the world’s most popular region for cruising.
Following the first visit by the Carnival Victory on October 6, additional ships from Carnival Cruise Line and seven additional Carnival Corporation brands are scheduled to make calls on Amber Cove — AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Fathom, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises. Notably, Amber Cove will be the first destination for the inaugural voyage of Carnival Corporation’s new social impact travel brand Fathom, which is scheduled to depart from PortMiami on April 10, 2016. In its first full year of operation, the eight Carnival Corporation brands will make 140 calls on the port with 23 ships.
Set in a cove among a mountainous and lush tropical landscape, the port features dramatic architectural elements that reflect the area’s storied Victorian and Colonial past. The waterfront welcome center hosts a variety of retail offerings, including a marketplace for Dominican crafts and souvenirs, as well as a wide range of unique food and beverage establishments featuring a variety of specialty dishes of the north coast along with an artisanal coffee shop that brews and sells locally grown coffee. At the Sky Bar perched atop a 60 foot lush hill, guests can enjoy panoramic views of the port and cove.
The port also features a zip line and complimentary pool area with a swim-up bar, children’s splash pad and water slides. Guests can also rent cabanas, some built over the water and some built on a lush hill providing amazing views.
Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation said:
“We are always looking for new ways to create wonderful vacation memories for our guests, and we cannot wait to share the excitement of opening our new Amber Cove cruise port. We know our guests love the Caribbean, and today celebrates our beautiful new port and the beginning of us bringing our guests to one of the most unique, spectacular and historic regions in the Caribbean. We have worked closely with the local tour operators to offer more than 40 unique shore excursions, giving our guests plenty of options for exploring and enjoying the island.”
The Amber Cove port is located in the heart of the Dominican Republic’s north coast just outside the historical town of Puerto Plata, which was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The region’s amber mines are considered some of the richest in the world, as Dominican amber is 90 percent clearer than others and has 10 times more insects than amber found in the Baltic. Puerto Plata was a filming site for the original “Jurassic Park,” which was loosely based upon the unique features found in amber stones.
Source: Carnival Corporation
