Explore Family Fun at Amber Cove Cruise Port
On my recent Sky Princess cruise, we visited Amber Cove Cruise Port. I love the port of Amber Cove because you can hang out at the port and have a fabulous day without needing a shore excursion. My plan is always to get off the ship early, hang out at the pool until it gets crowded, then it’s a short walk back to the ship when you are ready to get out of the crowds and sun.
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Amber Cove Cruise Port at a Glance
Location: Dominican Republic (near Puerto Plata)
Cruise Lines: Carnival, Princess, Holland America
Best For: Families, pool days, easy port days
Free Amenities: Pool, splash pad, loungers, Wi‑Fi
Paid Options: Cabanas, zipline, excursions
Time Needed: 4–6 hours
🧳🌴🧳Must Haves for Cruises (caribbean)
Is Amber Cove Worth Getting Off the Ship?
Amber Cove is absolutely worth getting off the ship — especially if you love an easy, low‑stress port day. This isn’t a “walkable town” or a cultural immersion stop. It’s a purpose‑built cruise port designed for relaxing, swimming, and enjoying a resort‑style day without spending a ton of money. Think of it as the perfect place to recharge in the middle of a busy itinerary. I love ports like this where I can walk off the ship, relax, and then head back quickly when I am done or it gets crowded.
What makes Amber Cove special is how simple it is. You don’t need an excursion to have a great time. The massive pool complex, splash pad, loungers, and shaded areas are all completely free, which is rare in the Caribbean. Families love it because you can settle in for the day without constantly pulling out your wallet, and adults love it because it’s clean, organized, and never feels chaotic. I love heading out to the pool with my floatie. When it gets crowded later in the day, I head back to the ship to eat a late lunch.
If you do want something more adventurous, Amber Cove is also a jumping‑off point for some of the Dominican Republic’s best excursions — waterfalls, beaches, catamarans, and cultural tours. But you can just as easily stay in the port area and have a full, relaxing day without leaving the cruise center.
Bottom line: Amber Cove is worth getting off the ship whether you want a free pool day, a family‑friendly hangout, or an easy base for excursions. It’s one of the most convenient and low‑effort ports in the Caribbean, which is exactly why so many cruisers end up loving it.
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What makes Amber Cove Cruise Port so Great?
They have done an amazing job of making the port area family-friendly. As always, I bring my float. This is the number one thing I get asked about my float, so come prepared! There is a pool with a lazy river-type flow. You will be so glad you have this! Click the pic to find my favorite cruise items on Amazon. I may earn a small commission if you purchase from my link. However, any float will do. I like this type of flat since it is easy to blow up and deflate. It takes up very little space in my luggage.
Don’t forget to pack a float!
I travel light, but I also recommend a pair of water shoes like the ones below. They are great in and out of the water. Everyone in my house has a pair! Perfect for walking on the hot areas around the pool, and then I keep them on so I don’t have to find my shoes when I am done. I also think these are great for Princess Cay, and Grand Turk.
The pool area is huge! You can even zipline over the pool (look at the top of my pic).
Here is us in the pool on our floaties!
Pool time
Activity desk
PRICE LIST
They also have a waterslide there. You can rent kayaks and cabanas. I have included a price list below. This was from my February 2025 trip, so keep that in mind when estimating your expenses.
Price list as of 2/2025
More information on prices and activites!
Do you like affordable or free options in ports like me? Check out these posts that help you save money on cruises.
Best Cruise Ports in the Caribbean - No Shore Excursion Needed
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