The Caribbean cruise sector has launched its busy September schedule for the Dominican Republic, opening with the arrival of the large Celebrity Beyond cruise ship at the Taíno Bay tourist port in Puerto Plata on Tuesday, local port authorities confirmed.
Operated by Celebrity Cruises, the vessel pulled into the Dominican port at 7:46 a.m. after a short voyage from Miami, Florida. Carrying 3,224 vacationing passengers and a 1,444-member crew, the ship stayed in port for roughly seven hours before departing at 2:30 p.m. en route to its next destination: the British Virgin Islands’ Tortola.
This port call is just the first of 38 scheduled cruise ship arrivals at Dominican ports and designated anchorages across September, according to official data released by the Dominican Port Authority. The monthly roster draws participation from nearly all of the world’s leading cruise line groups, including industry giants Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and Princess Cruises, in addition to Celebrity Cruises.
Alongside Puerto Plata, scheduled stops are also planned for two other key Dominican cruise destinations: La Romana and Cabo Rojo. Some of the largest and most popular vessels in global cruise fleets are set to visit the country this month, such as Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, Carnival’s Mardi Gras and Celebration, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima, MSC Cruises’ World America, and Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady. One of the most anticipated repeat visits will come from Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess, which is scheduled to dock in Puerto Plata twice this month—on September 14 and September 28—with each stop running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Alejandro Campos, executive director of the Dominican Port Authority, laid out the country’s long-term strategy to cement its status as a top regional cruise hub. Three core priorities are guiding this work: upgrading infrastructure across existing cruise terminals, securing recurring calls and new partnerships with major cruise lines, and building inclusive growth that ensures nearby local communities capture tangible economic benefits from the expanding cruise sector.