Amber CoveCruise Port Guide
A purpose-built port with a big free pool, and a real town a drive away. Here's what's at the pier, and timed excursions with real prices.
Welcome to Amber Cove
Pro Picks
Waterfalls · shared tourDamajagua 7-Waterfall Tour with Lunch
You ride out to Damajagua, hike up into a jungle canyon, then jump, slide and swim your way down a string of waterfalls. Lunch and round-trip transport from the port are included; the operator asks cruise passengers to get off the ship as early as they can.
From $50/ person
Book Now →
Buggy ride · 3 hrsBuggy Tour with Beach Swim and Tasting
A guide leads you in a two-seat buggy through villages and along the coast for about two hours, with a cigar-factory stop for a MamaJuana and coffee-and-chocolate tasting, then a swim at a beach. You meet just outside the main gate, and the price is per buggy of up to two.
See live price
Book Now →
Sightseeing · 5 hrsMonkeys, Fortress and Old Town Tour
After pickup at the port you meet squirrel monkeys at a sanctuary, stroll Puerto Plata's historic center past Umbrella Street, and climb San Felipe Fortress, the 16th-century fort above the harbor. Entry fees and a guide are included, and the whole outing takes five hours.
From $100/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Amber Cove in 3 hours
ATV ride
Four-Wheel ATV Ride
A two-hour quad ride through the countryside, starting about 15 minutes from the port, with pickup included and a price per person. Pick a departure time that matches when your ship docks.
From$90
Time required2 hours
ATV ride
Super ATV Tour with Tastings
A quad ride of about two hours with a cigar-factory stop and a beach stop, priced for one rider. You walk out the main gate to meet the guide, and the start time is one hour after your ship docks.
From$95
Time required2.5 hours
Monkey sanctuary
Monkey Sanctuary Trip
A two-hour shore excursion to a squirrel-monkey sanctuary with coordinated pickup for cruise passengers. It's the shortest wildlife option, but it has only one review so far, so read the live page before booking.
From$86.45
Time required2 hours
Amber Cove in 5 hours
Buggy ride
Super Buggy Tour
A three-hour buggy run through the countryside with a cigar-factory tasting stop and a beach stop, priced per buggy of up to two. Cruise passengers meet 45 minutes after the ship docks, so it ends well before most all-aboard times.
Time required3 hours
Waterfalls
All 7 Damajagua Waterfalls with Lunch
A four-hour trip that climbs to the top of the waterfall system and works down all seven falls, with helmet, life jacket and a Dominican buffet lunch. The listing asks you to give your ship and port name when booking.
From$50
Time required4 hours
City tour
Puerto Plata City Tour
A guided four-hour loop of Puerto Plata with pickup from Amber Cove, Taino Bay or selected hotels. The return is planned with a safety margin before your ship leaves. Only three reviews so far, though it's the cheapest tour here.
From$35
Time required4 hours
Safari truck
Mount Isabel Safari Truck and City Tour
A safari-style truck climbs Mount Isabel de Torres by its back road, with a city tour in the same 4.5 hours. A minimum of two people per booking, and it's a new listing with no reviews yet.
From$80.75
Time required4.5 hours
Amber Cove in 7 hours
Waterfalls and monkeys
Damajagua Waterfalls and Monkey Park
Waterfall hiking and swimming at Damajagua, then a monkey park where you learn how squirrel monkeys live. Transport runs from Amber Cove and Taino Bay. It isn't suitable for children under 8, pregnant women or anyone with back or heart problems.
From$89
Time required4.5 hours
Monkeys, waterfalls and buggy
Monkeys, Waterfalls and Buggy Combo
Squirrel monkeys, the Damajagua waterfalls and a buggy drive through rivers in one private-group trip of about five hours. Buggies seat two, so a couple shares one. Pack towels. Ten reviews, all five stars.
From$189
Time required5 hours
Catamaran cruise
Catamaran Cruise with BBQ and Open Bar
A shared sail with a barbecue lunch and open bar, with port pickup. It leaves daily at 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM, so it only works if your ship is in port at one of those times. New listing, no reviews yet.
From$90.25
Time required5 hours
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Amber Cove.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- Amber Cove — port information
- Carnival Cruise Line — Amber Cove
- Princess Cruises — Amber Cove
- Holland America Line — Amber Cove
- Amber Cove — FAQs
- Carnival — things to know about Amber Cove
- Amber Cove — taxi and rental car information
- Holland America Line — Poolside Cabana at Amber Cove
- Royal Caribbean — will the ship wait?
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — travel documents
- U.S. Department of State — Dominican Republic travel advisory
Getting ashore
Is Amber Cove a tender port?
No, Amber Cove isn't a tender port: ships dock alongside the port's own pier in the Bay of Maimón. Carnival, Princess and Holland America each publish an Amber Cove port page, so ships from those lines usually call here, while Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian and Virgin Voyages ships mainly use Taino Bay in Puerto Plata instead. Lines change assignments, so confirm the port on your own itinerary.
What's the difference between Amber Cove and Taino Bay?
Amber Cove is Carnival Corporation's own port about 7.5 miles outside Puerto Plata, while Taino Bay is a separate cruise port in Puerto Plata itself. From Taino Bay it's about a 15-minute walk to Parque Central and the old town, which Amber Cove can't offer. Check which port your itinerary names before you plan your day.
Is there anything to do at the Amber Cove cruise port?
Yes, the port is built to be a day out on its own: Amber Cove's own FAQ lists a large lounge pool, waterslides, zip-lines, kayak and paddleboard rental, five food and drink outlets and a welcome center with shops, all steps from the pier. The pool area is free for cruise passengers, while the zip line, cabanas and drinks cost extra. Puerto Plata is about 7.5 miles away, so anything beyond the port needs a taxi or a tour; the 3-hour plans are the quickest.
Can you walk from Amber Cove to Puerto Plata?
No, you can't walk from Amber Cove to Puerto Plata: the town is about 6 to 7.5 miles away by road, roughly 10 to 20 minutes by car, and there's little else within walking distance of the port gate. Taxis, rental cars (the port's site lists National and Alamo) and shore excursions are the ways in. For a walkable old town, Taino Bay is the Puerto Plata port that puts Parque Central about 15 minutes away on foot.
How much is a taxi from Amber Cove to Puerto Plata?
Amber Cove's own site publishes no taxi fare: it says taxis are independent companies and lists only a contact email and phone number. Travelers and guides report about $35 each way for up to five passengers to Puerto Plata, a trip of about 7.5 miles and 10 to 20 minutes, though others have been quoted more. Agree the price before you get in.
Beaches & water
Is there a beach at the Amber Cove cruise port?
No, there's no beach at the Amber Cove port itself; Holland America says the surrounding area has beaches you reach by shore excursion, and it names Amber Beach Club as about a 12-minute drive away. At the port, the large pool area is where people swim. If a beach is the goal, book a trip that includes one or arrange a taxi before you leave the pier.
Is the pool free at Amber Cove?
Yes, getting into the pool area at Amber Cove is free for cruise passengers: Carnival calls the pool complimentary, and the port's FAQ describes direct access to a large lounge pool with waterslides. The zip line, cabanas, lockers, floats and drinks all cost extra, and the prices quoted differ between sources, so check the boards at the port.
How old do you have to be to ride the Amber Cove zip line?
The Amber Cove zip line has a minimum age of 8 and a minimum weight of 80 pounds, according to Holland America's cabana listing. It costs extra, and a cabana rental includes an all-day zip-line pass. Check the weight and age rules before you queue with children.
Excursions
What are the best excursions from Amber Cove?
The most-booked Amber Cove excursions are the Damajagua waterfalls, buggy and ATV rides through the countryside, and monkey sanctuary visits; the 7-waterfall tour with lunch alone has 173 traveler reviews. Many start with a pickup at the port gate, and the Scout Favorites run from $50 a person. Waterfall trips take four hours or more door to door.
Do I need to book an excursion in Amber Cove?
No, you can stay at the port all day: the pool, shops and food and drink outlets are right by the pier. If you book independently, operators meet you outside the main gate (one buggy operator says about 100 meters along the left sidewalk) and some start an hour after your ship docks. Cruise lines don't wait for guests on their own plans, as Royal Caribbean puts it, "the ship will not wait for any guest faring on their own", so be back well before all-aboard.
Money, documents & practical
Do I need a passport to cruise to Amber Cove?
On a closed-loop cruise, US Customs and Border Protection says US citizens can re-enter the country with a birth certificate plus a government photo ID, but it warns the countries visited may still require a passport. A passport is the safer choice, and it's required if you ever have to fly home from the Dominican Republic, for example after missing the ship.
What currency does Amber Cove use, and is there an ATM?
The Dominican peso is the local currency, but US dollars are widely accepted at the port and in Puerto Plata, and prices at the port are listed in dollars. The port's own FAQ says there's one ATM at the cruise center and it dispenses only Dominican pesos. Many things in town are priced only in pesos.
Does ship Wi-Fi work at Amber Cove?
No, ship Wi-Fi and drink packages don't work in port at Amber Cove. Port Wi-Fi has been listed at $8 for the day, and some shops offer it free, so ask before you pay.
Is Amber Cove safe?
The US State Department rates the Dominican Republic Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution", because of crime. It says violent crime is a concern despite more police presence in areas tourists often visit, and advises against displaying wealth. Read the current advisory before you sail, since the level can change.
When is the best time to visit Amber Cove?
Holland America says the best time to visit Amber Cove is December to April, when temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is low. Hurricane season runs from June to November and typically peaks in August and September, so a summer or fall call is more likely to see weather changes to the plan.
What time zone is Amber Cove in?
Amber Cove is on Atlantic Standard Time (UTC−4) all year, and the Dominican Republic doesn't change its clocks for daylight saving time. Your ship may keep a different time on board, so go by the all-aboard time posted by your ship.