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Amber Cove, Dominican Republic

A purpose-built port in the Bay of Maimón with two berths, a free pool complex, and Puerto Plata five miles down the road.

Amber Cove cruise port, Dominican Republic
Photo: Mustang Joe, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Facts checked against official sources on 23 September 2026
Getting ashoreTwo berths, so ships tie up alongside
Where it isThe Bay of Maimón, about five miles from Puerto Plata
Opened2015
CashOne ATM at the cruise centre, and it dispenses Dominican pesos only
Who can use it"Currently, our facilities are exclusively available to cruise ship passengers"

What is there

The centrepiece is the Aqua Zone: pools, waterslides, a lazy river, a swim-up bar, zip-lines, kayaks and paddleboards. Carnival, which operates the port, describes the Aqua Zone as complimentary for cruisers. There are five food and drink outlets, including Coco Caña, El Cibao Café and the Sky Bar, and a welcome centre with shops selling apparel, souvenirs, crafts, jewellery, and Dominican amber and larimar. There is also a pharmacy.

The port runs on solar: more than 1,800 panels supply about 80 percent of its energy.

What costs extra

Cabanas. The Poolside Cabana is published at $535.99 per cabana for up to eight guests, with only one person needing to buy it. It runs six hours with flexible arrival, and includes snacks, water and soda, air conditioning, a fan, Wi-Fi, a TV with HDMI, showers, a misting system, a refrigerator and a living-room set. Carnival lists two other cabana options without publishing their prices.

Carnival describes that cabana as "ambulatory accessible," meaning "Guests must take a few steps (up/down), walk short distances, and transfer to a seat."

Beyond the gate

The transportation hub at the port handles car rental and taxis. Published drive times: Ocean World Adventure Park about 20 minutes north, Damajagua Falls about 30 minutes south, and Sosúa and Cabarete less than half an hour away. Shore excursions can be pre-booked through your cruise line's website.

Not published anywhere official: whether there is a beach at the port itself, restrooms, any medical or first-aid facility (the pharmacy is not a clinic), wheelchair access or accessible routes inside the port, the distance from the ship to the welcome centre, taxi fares, and whether US dollars are accepted ashore. The two official sources also disagree on the size of the port, 25 acres on the port's own site and 30 on Carnival's.
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Where these facts come from

Ports change their rules and their prices. Check the official pages above before you sail.