This week Puerto Plata has become the only town in the whole Caribbean with 2 functioning cruise ports.

The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader led this Wednesday the inauguration of the new tourist and cargo terminal Taíno Bay in San Felipe de Puerto Plata with the arrival of a MSC boat with capacity for 5,000 cruise passengers. Although due to the COVID-19 protocols and security measures, it only brought about 1,700 passengers.
The Taino Bay terminal is part of a multipurpose project that will allow the docking of cruise ships, containers and the loading of products, which will make it one of the most attractive and active ports in the country. Taino Bay with an investment of more than 80 million dollars is part of the government initiatives.

During the inauguration of the terminal, President Luis Abinader reiterated his commitment and that of his government to generate more jobs and increase the arrival of tourists to the country. This terminal will generate 1,500 direct jobs and 3,500 indirect jobs.

Through the gates of this port terminal, it is projected to receive over 750 thousand cruise passengers by 2022, which will represent an average income of US $ 75 million. Among the carriers that have confirmed their routes are Royal Caribbean Cruises, Virgin Voyages, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, TUI Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

We’re very happy and proud of this new cruise terminal. And we hope it will give the local economy a necessary boost so much needed after the pandemic.