Sounds like Carnival will be going to the Dominican Republic.

[maxamuus]

Carnival & PLC and a partner have broken ground on a new $65 million cruise port facility on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic.

 

The Amber Cove Cruise Center, which will be on the Bay of Maimón northwest of Puerto Plata, is scheduled to open in 2014, Carnival said in a press release.

 

The last cruise ship to call at Puerto Plata was nearly 30 years ago and Carnival expects the project to re-establish the Dominican Republic’s northern coast as a cruise destination.

 

The joint project between Carnival and the Rannik family of Grupo B&R will have two berths and is expected to host more than 250,000 cruise passengers in its first year of operation. The 30-acre site will feature a welcome center, a marketplace for Dominican crafts and souvenirs, restaurants, bars and a water attraction.

 

Dominican President Leonel Fernández Reyna praised the project as a significant step in transforming and developing the Puerto Plata area.

 

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2012/05/15/carnival-starts-work-on-new-dominican.html

[golfadj]

Gotta be better than going to La Romana.

[elcuchio24]

Sounds good. I like the DR, we've gone there for AI's a few times and always had a blast:)

[zqvol]

Just what is needed, another Carnival controlled village, just like Mahogany Bay, Grand Turk and Cozumel.

[Hugh0906]

Just what is needed, another Carnival controlled village, just like Mahogany Bay, Grand Turk and Cozumel.

 

I have been thinking for a while that soon you will be able to take a cruise and never see a Native.

 

Just 7 days of Private stops. Looks like Carnival can now do that in the summer of 2014. Half Moon Bay, Grand Turk, and the DR.

 

Hugh in Dallas

[chipq]

But how convenient! You soon could be able to use your sign and sail card in the CCL village. No more haggling for price. Then they could get all our vacation dollar.

 

 

Chip Q. http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

[CRUISING71]

That would help the country they created port for right? More job for the native people? Plus the cruise industry can really boost the economy for these country as well.

[maxamuus]

Then they could get all our vacation dollar.

 

 

Probably why the cruiselines are going this direction.

 

Carnival isnt the only one. RCL just built that new port complex in Jamaica so The Behemoth of the Seas has somewhere to dock.

[sail2sea]

i like it! Anything other than Cozumel and Nassau is good. :D

[ajhunt2]

That would help the country they created port for right? More job for the native people? Plus the cruise industry can really boost the economy for these country as well.

 

For the city the port is in, and the taxes they have to pay I'm sure. But actually helping the majority of the country get out of poverty not so much.

[Out to sea!]

A new cruise destination is always welcome news to me! Thanks!!

[maxamuus]

A new cruise destination is always welcome news to me! Thanks!!

 

If only they would open Cuba.

[crewsweeper]

Just what is needed, another Carnival controlled village, just like Mahogany Bay, Grand Turk and Cozumel.

That's what it'll be like, but there'll be more options for other tours outside the area than at La Romana.

[KenMo]

If only they would open Cuba.

 

Now you're talking!

[crewsweeper]

For the city the port is in, and the taxes they have to pay I'm sure. But actually helping the majority of the country get out of poverty not so much.

DR already has a thriving tourist industry and is attracting lots of expats from US, Canada and Europe for vacation homes. Haiti, is the poor shunned neighbor on the island. When you consider the construction needs, the various side ventures, the non-cruiseline shops and restaurants, yes it'll help the local economy. Look at what the rebuild in Costa Maya has done for that portion of the Maya Riviera.

[maxamuus]

Cuba would be a gold mine for the cruiselines, the local Cubans, the island itself. Havana would probably have to limit ships cause every line would be rushing to get there.

 

(Although that would be the Bahamas worst nightmare, as Nassau would become a ghosttown)

[tracyanns]

Serioulsy? All of the marvelous places in the DR and they are going to do this in Puerto Plata? Not sure how many of you that have been to the DR have been to Puerto Plata but I, personally think this is the worst coast of the DR...it does, happen to be the wealthiest area though...but you won't find too much more there to do than you will in any other area of the DR...we stayed there once and I wouldn't go back. La Romana may not have much to do, but the water and beaches there are so much better, they should have put this money there. The beaches in Puerto Plata look like Ocean City, Maryland, it is not the Caribbean, it is the Atlantic Ocean...

[golfadj]

Cuba would be a gold mine for the cruiselines, the local Cubans, the island itself. Havana would probably have to limit ships cause every line would be rushing to get there.

 

(Although that would be the Bahamas worst nightmare, as Nassau would become a ghosttown)

 

Would be great as we have been Nassau out for some time.

[maxamuus]

One visit to Nassau was plenty for me.

[tracyanns]

One visit to Nassau was plenty for me.

 

If you didn't care for Nassau you are going to hate Puerto Plata...atleast Nassau has some nice beaches you can go to...the sand in Puerto Plata is the brown sand and the water is not that Caribbean blue and many times it is rough and can be windy, also it is a mountainous area so a lot of climbing to get to some things...atleast the beaches in Nassau make you feel like you are in the Caribbean/Bahamas...the beaches in Myrtle Beach and Florida are nicer than Puerto Plata...

[satbeachbill]

And maybe they will finally build a road to Milot, so we can visit The Citadelle again. It's only about 10 miles distant. Now THAT'S a shore excursion!

[OKCruiseMan]

I like the idea of a new port in the DR. Hope I get to try it out someday!

[Hugh0906]

Cuba would be a gold mine for the cruiselines, the local Cubans, the island itself. Havana would probably have to limit ships cause every line would be rushing to get there.

 

(Although that would be the Bahamas worst nightmare, as Nassau would become a ghosttown)

 

Cozumel also would lose a lot of ship traffic most likely also when Cuba opens up. Bob Dickinson said years ago they had a plan to announce the day it was allowed.

 

There are already several European based lines that stop in a couple of places there. So there must be some infrastructure already.

[Hugh0906]

DR already has a thriving tourist industry and is attracting lots of expats from US, Canada and Europe for vacation homes. Haiti, is the poor shunned neighbor on the island. When you consider the construction needs, the various side ventures, the non-cruiseline shops and restaurants, yes it'll help the local economy. Look at what the rebuild in Costa Maya has done for that portion of the Maya Riviera.

 

Why is it that Carnival never really went back to the Costa Maya? Does anyone know? They used to run almost every western cruise through there. Now what? One or two ships a week?

[maxamuus]

Cozumel also would lose a lot of ship traffic most likely also when Cuba opens up. Bob Dickinson said years ago they had a plan to announce the day it was allowed.

 

There are already several European based lines that stop in a couple of places there. So there must be some infrastructure already.

 

Interesting arcticle for you http://www.moon.com/blogs/cuba-costa-rica/cuba-welcomes-new-cruise-ship