SANTO DOMINGO. – The Dominican Republic will begin operating as a permanent home port for a European cruise line starting in November 2026, with departures from La Romana, in what the Ministry of Tourism describes as a milestone for the sector.
The information was released by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, during the Seatrade Cruise Global fair held in Miami, where he specified that it will be the first time that a European cruise company establishes a year-round "homeport" in the country.
“For the first time, a European cruise company will establish a year-round operational homeport in the country,” the official said, referring to the operations that will be run by MSC Cruises.
Operations from La Romana
The scheme is part of an agreement between the shipping company MSC Cruises and Costasur Casa de Campo, which includes itineraries with stops at Catalina Island and other ports in the country.
Under this model, known as "homeport", cruise ships not only make stops, but also start and end their routes in the same port, in this case La Romana, which implies continuous operations of embarkation and disembarkation of passengers.
The director of the La Romana tourist port, Luis Emilio Rodríguez Amiama, noted that the establishment of a permanent homeport introduces changes to the dynamics of the local industry by allowing regular departures from Dominican territory. “MSC’s announcement of establishing a year-round homeport represents an important step for the industry,” he stated.
Also, the president of CTL Maritime, Gianlucca Suprani, linked the initiative to a positioning strategy within the regional cruise market.
Context of the agreement
The agreement between MSC Cruises and Costasur Casa de Campo includes the operation of itineraries departing from the port of La Romana and stopping at Catalina Island, as well as the management of operations linked to that terminal and the development of that tourist destination.
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