SANTO DOMINGO. – This March, the Dominican Republic will receive at least three ships that will dock for the first time in the country, specifically at the San Souci Terminal in Santo Domingo.
According to a statement from the Dominican Port Authority, it is the Balmoral cruise ship, from the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines line, which arrived for the first time on March 4 and was received by a commission from the institution made up of the executive director, Jean Luis Rodríguez, the commercial director, Scarlet Rodríguez; Ruddy Pimentel, executive director of the port of Santo Domingo and Thelma Martínez, Cruise Development, who exchanged plaques with captain Victor Stoica.
Manos Carrero will also arrive in the country for the first time on March 8 at the San Souci Terminal in Santo Domingo.
In addition to these vessels, the Port Authority reports that more than 50 iconic cruise ships will arrive by March 31, including the Norwegian Epic in Amber Cove on March 3 and 10; the MSC Seascape in Puerto Plata on March 3, 12 and 31; the Carnival Magic in Amber Cove on March 4, 14 and 19; the Celebrity Ascent in Puerto Plata on March 4 and 18; and the Marella Discovery in Samaná on March 3 and 17, among others.
“This schedule reinforces the importance of the Dominican Republic as a key port in the Caribbean region, to boost the local economy through the arrival of cruise ships,” said Jean Luis Rodríguez, director of the Dominican Port Authority.
Rodríguez stated that the arrival of these ships, mostly in Puerto Plata and La Romana, at the peak of the cruise season, clearly signals that the country continues to consolidate its position as one of the fastest-growing Caribbean destinations in this sector.
“We continue working to offer a safe and memorable experience, consolidating the country as one of the preferred destinations for international cruise lines,” he added.
This initiative is part of the efforts of the Dominican Port Authority, and the government of President Luis Abinader, to diversify the port offerings and turn the Dominican Republic into a cruise hub for the Caribbean.
It is expected that in March alone more than 100,000 cruise passengers will arrive at the country's ports, generating a significant economic impact for local communities, especially in emerging destinations such as Cabo Rojo and Samaná.
Costa Fascina Cruise
Five Dominican ports received a visit over the weekend from the Costa Fascinosa cruise ship, one of the most luxurious vessels of the Italian line Costa Cruises, which after touching Caribbean soil, will continue its journey to Europe.
With the visit of the Costa Fascinosa, the Dominican Republic continues to consolidate itself as one of the most attractive destinations for the cruise industry in the Caribbean.
The Costa Fascinosa, with a capacity for more than 3,000 passengers, began its journey in La Romana, then to the Turks and Caicos Islands, visiting various Dominican ports with stops in Amber Cove, Puerto Plata; Samaná; Catalina Island, Cabo Rojo and returning to the La Romana Cruise Terminal.
Jean Luis Rodríguez, director of the Port Authority, stated: “This voyage is part of the strategy to promote the country as a coastal shipping destination, not only to boost the arrival of international tourists, but also maritime connectivity between the different national ports.”.
The unprecedented route of the Costa Fascinosa, in addition to representing a greater presence of foreign cruise passengers, opens the door to the development of cabotage, a type of tourism that seeks to promote maritime connection between the different destinations of the country.
