The Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM) has confirmed that the first major cruise arrival of the month touched down at Taíno Bay Tourist Port on Tuesday, September 1. The Celebrity Beyond, which embarked from Miami, Florida, carried 3,224 passengers and 1,444 crew members to the Caribbean destination, docking at 7:46 a.m. before departing for Tortola at 2:30 p.m. the same day.
This arrival marks the start of a packed month for Dominican cruise infrastructure, with a total of 38 scheduled port and anchorage stops planned across the country throughout September. Major global cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and Princess Cruises are all set to make stops at Dominican ports, with destinations including Puerto Plata, La Romana, and Cabo Rojo on the itinerary.
Among the high-profile vessels scheduled to call at Dominican ports this month are fan-favorite and flagship ships such as Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Norwegian Prima, MSC World America, Resilient Lady, and Allure of the Seas. APORDOM noted that all scheduled arrival and departure times are subject to adjustment based on individual cruise lines’ operational needs and changing conditions.
Alejandro Campos, APORDOM’s executive director, emphasized that positioning the Dominican Republic as the leading consolidated cruise hub of the Caribbean stands as a core priority for his administration. To achieve this goal, the authority is focused on three key strategic pillars: upgrading and strengthening existing cruise terminal infrastructure, expanding outreach to attract new cruise lines to add Dominican ports to their routes, and ensuring local communities can access and share in the economic benefits generated by the growing cruise tourism sector.
“The Dominican Republic has proven that it holds all the necessary potential to establish itself as a true Caribbean cruise hub,” Campos stated in the authority’s official announcement.