Amber Cove, one of the newest cruise ports in the Caribbean, opened a little over a year ago and has been an extremely popular port stop ever since. Located in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, eight different cruise lines have port calls in Amber Cove including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Fathom, and Holland America Line.
This is the area where they have filmed many movies including parts of the original Jurassic Park. Here are seven reasons why you should book a cruise that visits Amber Cove.
Pool Area – The pool area at Amber Cove is a great place to kick back and relax, work on your tan, and cool off in the water. There is no charge to use the pool or the two fantastic water slides (these can be seen in the video below). There is a splash area for children, a swim-up bar, and plenty of loungers. Two zip lines run over the pool area ($20 for an unlimited pass) that provide all day fun.
Cabanas – Amber Cove offers a variety of cabanas that you can rent out for the day. There are over the water bungalows and others that are situated on a hill overlooking the pool area. A few even come with their own hot tub and come with a million dollar view.
Jungle Zip Lining – Why zipline over a pool in port when you can zip line through the jungle. Excursions for ziplining are available through the cruise line or directly through the different suppliers online.
Waterfalls – Puerto Plata is home to “Cascades of Damajaqua”, 27 cascading waterfalls that can be visited by hiking up a mountain. You can slide, jump, and swim in the pools created by these waterfalls for an experience that your family will never forget. This is the most popular attraction in the area.
County World Adventure Park – This park is 70 acres of paradise that is only a 10 minute drive from the cruise port. This park offers horseback riding with breathtaking views, a petting zoo, zip lines, waterfalls, fresh juice from their gardens, and has games for children and adults. Lunch is also included.
Mount Isabel – For the best views in the area, take the cable car to the top of Mount Isabel (2,555 feet above sea level). The panoramic ocean views will leave you speechless. On top of Mount Isabel is a Christ the Redeemer statue (similar to the one in Rio) and botanical gardens. TripAdvisor rates this excursion as the #2 attraction in Puerto Plata.
Beach Day – Although there is no beach in the port area, the Dominican Republic is home to some incredible tropical beaches. A short drive away from the port will take you to Golden Beach, a clean beach that offers a lot of water activities and is rarely crowded.
