Alright, let’s take a dive into the quirky world of Amber Cove, a spot in the Dominican Republic that’s like the Bermuda Triangle of tourist traps – you go in expecting Caribbean paradise and come out with a sunburn and souvenirs you didn’t know you needed. Day three of our Carnival Celebration cruise plopped us right in the middle of this peculiar place, so let’s get to it.
First off, Amber Cove isn’t your typical Caribbean postcard scene. There’s no beach. Yep, you heard that right. A Caribbean port without a beach. It’s like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the jelly. But hey, they’ve got a pool! And not just any pool – a pool with enough free lounge chairs to accommodate an army of sun-seekers and a cabana rental option for those who fancy a bit of VIP treatment (or just want to hide from people).
Amber Cove was cooked up by Carnival Corporation, the cruise line behemoth. They basically looked at a map, pointed at a spot, and said, “Let’s make this a thing.” They decided Amber Cove would be a great spot for their ships to dock, and now it’s a regular stop for not just Carnival, but also for their cousins in the cruise world. Opened in 2015, this port offers a place for Carnival Corporation to park their ships for a day and let passengers off in a controlled environment where you’ll find shopping déjà vu in retail form. Effy Jewelers, Diamonds International… you get the picture. It’s the same lineup you see at every other port, but with a sprinkle of local vendors trying to sell you things you’ll swear you’ll use back home but never do.
Besides the pool, that offers a swim up bar where most people spend the day drinking and peeing without ever leaving their barstool, there are other things to do such as zip lines, water slides (extra charges apply because, of course, they do), and a splash pad for the kiddos.
Food and drinks? They’ve got you covered. CoCo Cana serves up your typical poolside fare, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can trek to the Sky Bar for a drink with a view. Just be prepared for a workout getting there – those stairs aren’t for the faint of heart.
Other than that…. Amber Cove doesn’t have much to offer.
The morning we arrived, it looked like the weather gods were having a bad day – fog, low clouds, and mist had me thinking we’d accidentally cruised into Scotland. But shortly after lunchtime, the skies cleared up, and we got that Caribbean sunshine after all.
Deciding to escape the buffet chaos onboard (seriously, it was like a scene from “The Hunger Games”), Amber Cove on land was surprisingly chill. It seemed most folks decided to stay on the ship, which meant more pool space (not for me tho, as there is no way I’m getting in that water!) and less chance of having to share my personal bubble.
When the sun started to dip, it was back to the ship for our 4pm sail away. Once out at sea, my luck turned in the casino (hello, $800 win on a $2.50 bet), followed by a dinner at Cucina del Capitano that was more Olive Garden than Italy (but hey, when you’re on a ship, any port in a storm, right?).
I started out with the Cured Tuna and the Frito Misto. The tuna was the best of the two, fresh and flavorful while the Frito Misto was lacking any flavor and was just a lot of fried batter.
For the main entrée I went with the Pork Chop, prepared medium and the Rigatoni. The Pork Chop was rather thin, tough and cold – a completely underwhelming entree. The Rigatoni, however, was warmer but still not “hot.” Kudos to it for being flavorful and hearty, but that’s about it. My dinner companions tried some of the other dishes which included the Short Ribs and Chicken Parm. Let’s talk about the chicken for a moment. On previous cruises, the chicken parm was the size of the dinner plate – a nice portion. However, now it appears the portion has been cut back to about a 4oz breast, pounded thin.
We had some initial confusion with our server not coming over to our table, thinking someone else was taking care of us, that resulted in about a 10 minute wait for a drink order to be taken. After that was sorted out, service was good and she remained attentive throughout our meal.
When it came time for dessert, most of us went with the Apple Crostata, which was pretty bland. Those expecting some spicy apples and a flavorful crust would be disappointed, as it lacked all of that.
The evening’s attempt to find a bar for a nightcap mirrored what has been experienced each evening – crowded venues and long waits. Opting for a quieter end to the day, a serene walk around the ship and a simple serving of soft serve ice cream substituted for fighting for a drink at one of the bars.
Our next port of call is San Juan, Puerto Rico – one of my favorite ports in the Caribbean. The transition from the commercialized calm of Amber Cove to the historic streets of Old San Juan is going to be one of the highlights of the trip, so be sure to stay tuned for the next update.
FunTimes for February 27, 2024:
Coming Soon!
The FunTimes for February 27, 2024, is also available as a PDF.