SANTO DOMINGO — The Dominican Republic’s cruise tourism industry is posting robust, sustained growth, a trend the country’s port authority says is driven by targeted public investments in coastal port infrastructure championed by President Luis Abinader.
The Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM) has confirmed that ongoing infrastructure upgrades have cemented the nation’s standing as one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after cruise stopovers, while unlocking widespread economic benefits for coastal communities that rely on tourism revenue. Jean Luis Rodríguez, executive director of APORDOM, outlined the sector’s sharp expansion in recent years, with total annual cruise passenger arrivals more than doubling from roughly 1.2 million in 2022 to a projected 2.7 million by 2025.
Rodríguez stressed that continuous investment across key strategic port locations is critical to highlighting the Dominican Republic’s diverse natural and cultural attractions, and spreading the economic gains of cruise tourism more evenly across regional and local economies. Unlike many competing Caribbean destinations that have struggled to rebuild cruise traffic post-pandemic, the Dominican Republic’s focus on infrastructure has positioned it to capture a growing share of the global cruise market.
Looking ahead to the month of June, APORDOM is forecasting 32 total cruise ship calls across the country’s ports. The Amber Cove terminal in Puerto Plata will lead the way with 17 scheduled vessel arrivals, followed by the Taíno Bay terminal with 13, and Port Cabo Rojo in Pedernales with two. Compared to June 2024, when just 26 ships docked at Dominican ports, this represents a 23.1% year-over-year increase in arrivals — a clear indicator of the sector’s ongoing upward momentum. APORDOM also noted that all scheduled arrival plans remain provisional, as final itineraries are always subject to adjustments due to inclement weather and route changes made by individual cruise lines.