It’s time for our first port of call on this 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Celebration, and today we’re visiting Carnival’s private destination: Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, just outside the city of Puerto Plata.
Amber Cove opened in October 2015 after Carnival Corporation invested around $85 million to bring cruise ships back to this region for the first time in decades. Before that, Puerto Plata hadn’t welcomed a cruise ship since the 1980s! Today, the resort-style port is exclusively operated by Carnival Corporation and sees not only Carnival ships but also vessels from Holland America, Princess, Costa, and occasionally Cunard and P&O.
There’s another cruise port nearby that often gets confused with Amber Cove. Some supposedly “reliable” websites and forums mistakenly call the nearby Taino Bay cruise port Amber Cove—but that’s wrong. Cruise lines not owned by Carnival call on Taino Bay. While it has similar amenities, it’s a different port altogether.
Amber Cove can accommodate two ships at a time, though I’ve personally never seen that happen. I know it does, but every time I’ve been here, it’s just been our ship at the pier.
Once you disembark, it’s a short walk down the pier where you’ll enter (and eventually exit) through the required duty-free shop. For those who’d rather not walk or have mobility concerns, pedi-cabs are available at no cost—but do tip the driver; they hustle!
Once through the shop, you can go left or right. Going left takes you into the shopping area, with souvenir stores, a pharmacy, restaurants, and bars. This path also leads to the excursion departure area, where buses and taxis wait in a clearly marked zone.
Want a great photo with the ship and the Amber Cove sign? Head left and go all the way to the end—you’ll usually find a line of people waiting for the perfect shot. There’s also a small beach-looking area near here, but don’t be fooled—it’s not a beach you can use. Amber Cove doesn’t have one. If you’re looking to swim or lounge, head right after the duty-free shop.
Going right brings you to the pool area and water park, where you’ll find a restaurant with a swim-up bar, splash pad for the kids, tons of loungers, VIP cabanas for rent, and even a Nathan’s Hot Dog stand. With only one ship in port, there were plenty of loungers to go around—just know most are in the sun.
If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s a waterslide and a zip line for a little extra fun.
Here are the current prices as of this visit:
- Zip Line: $30 for unlimited rides
- Umbrellas: $22
- Pool Floats: $12
- Pool Noodles: $5
- All-Day Locker: $6 (plus $6 refundable deposit)
- VIP Packages: $59–$259
- Waterslide: $6 unlimited use
- Hydrobike: $20 for 30 min / $35 for 1 hour
- Stand-Up Paddleboard: $20 for 30 min / $35 for 1 hour
- 2-Person Kayak: $20 for 30 min / $35 for 1 hour
- Aquacycle 2×4: $25 for 30 min / $45 for 1 hour
- Aquacycle 4×4: $40 for 30 min / $60 for 1 hour
- 2-Person Water Bee: $25 for 30 min / $45 for 1 hour
- 4-Person Water Bee: $25 for 30 min / $45 for 1 hour
- 2-Person Solar Catamaran: $40 for 30 min / $60 for 1 hour
- Cabanas are also available, with pricing based on their location and features.
For a great view and a selfie spot, take the stairs up to the hilltop bar—you’ll get a stunning view from above.
If you’re thinking of exploring beyond the port, you’ll need to book a shore excursion. There’s nothing within walking distance, and since this is the Dominican Republic, I’d strongly recommend booking through the cruise line for safety.
All aboard time today was 3:30 p.m., and we set sail right on time at 4:00 p.m. No pier runners, likely because a storm rolled in right before all aboard, and folks hustled back to the ship to avoid the downpour.
Day 3 Main Dining Room Menu on Carnival Celebration
Here’s a peek at tonight’s main dining room menu—it’s a casual night onboard.
Golden Jubilee Headscratcher
Before dinner, I made a stop at The Golden Jubilee bar for a dirty martini called “Micky’s Favorite,” named after Micky Arison, son of Carnival’s founder. While I’ve enjoyed this bar before, tonight was a miss. Even with only five of us at the bar and three bartenders working, it took ten minutes to get my drink.
So, I left and made my way to the bar at Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, where I switched to gin and tonics. This bar uses Fever-Tree tonic—the gold standard if you ask me.
Easter Eggs at Golden Jubilee
As a side note, The Golden Jubilee is home to many “Easter Eggs” that pay homage to Carnival Cruise Line’s 50th anniversary – which the ship itself is themed after. Check out the video below for many of these hidden gems that can be found all around the bar.
Dinner at Rudi’s Seagrill on Carnival Celebration
While sipping, I decided to head to Rudi’s Seagrill, a seafood spot by celebrity chef Rudi Sodamin, who’s long been associated with Carnival and its sister lines like Princess and Holland America.
Click here to download a PDF of the June 2025 menu for Rudi’s Seagrill on Carnival Celebration.
Dinner is $52 per person and includes two appetizers, a main, and dessert. I didn’t have a reservation but was seated right away. I started with the Wild Caught Salmon and the Cioppino. Both were great, but the Cioppino was the standout—loaded with mussels, clams, fish, prawns, and lobster in a rich, savory broth.
For the main, I went with the surf and turf—lobster tail and filet—served with baby asparagus and crab risotto. It was flavorful, though I ordered the filet “blue” and it came out more medium.
Dessert? Bread pudding, of course. You can’t go to Rudi’s and not get it. It was a perfect finish to the meal.
After dinner, I hit the casino—only to make a generous donation to the guy that martini was named after. No luck tonight.
We’re heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico next, with an arrival expected around 10 a.m. It’s one of my favorite ports, and I’m looking forward to wandering the streets of Old San Juan once again.
More tomorrow!
FunTimes for June 24, 2025:
The Funtimes for June 24, 2025 is available as a PDF and can be downloaded by clicking here.