An uncommon sequence of circumstances brought on on Royal Caribbean cruise ship to spend the day at a rival cruise line’s port.
Freedom of the Seas spent Thursday docked at Amber Cove alongside the Carnival Magic.
Carnival describes Amber Cove because it’s “unique Dominican Republic cruise port” and has been working it for about 10 years.
Royal Caribbean passengers have been in a position to stroll across the port space, and reap the benefits of the complimentary pool and lazy river, as nicely store and eat on the numerous additional value eating places.
Why a Royal Caribbean ship visited Amber Cove
The unusual prevalence of a Royal Caribbean ship going to Carnival’s port is the results of a climate and logistical circumstances.
The November 10 crusing of Freedom of the Seas was initially scheduled to sail a 5-night voyage that might go to Royal Caribbean’s personal island of Excellent Day at CocoCay and Cozumel.
Nonetheless, Freedom wouldn’t go to both of these locations.
A few week earlier than the cruise, Royal Caribbean knowledgeable passengers their go to to Cozumel was being changed with a go to to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. They by no means specified why there was a change, however it’s seemingly associated to different ships being re-routed to Cozumel as a result of Jamaica’s cruise ports are closed as a result of Hurricane Melissa aftermath.
Then on embarkation day, the ship’s Captain up to date passengers once more that they must skip CocoCay due to a chilly entrance shifting via the Bahamas that might shut the personal island.
As a substitute, Freedom would go to Amber Cove.
How the go to happened won’t ever be identified, however it definitely got here as a shock.
Not a non-public island
As a Royal Caribbean cruiser, it is simple to shortly draw comparisons to what I am conversant in. However Amber Cove is not like one thing I have been to earlier than precisely.
The closest comparability I can give you is Amber Cove is like Costa Maya, Mexico however with extra choices.
Being a cruise port, you do not have to spend the day there. There are excursions and excursions to take you across the close by space of Puerto Plata. Or you may hop in a taxi and do your individual factor.
Contained in the port, there are many outlets and some eating places too. Foods and drinks right here value additional wherever inside Amber Cove. The entire retail and meals and beverage areas are leased out.
The pool and lazy river inside the Aqua Zone are included at no additional cost, just like Taino Bay or Costa Maya.
There are additionally upsell choices with day beds, cabanas, a water slide, or water craft you possibly can lease. I used to be stunned how cheap cabanas value in comparison with Royal Caribbean. I may have gotten an over-the-water cabana for simply $500 for as much as 8 individuals and it included some snacks and water craft leases.
One notable function you will not discover is seashore entry. Amber Cove has a variety of pool house, however no seashore. You will have to ebook an tour to any variety of close by seashores in Puerto Plata for that.
It was unusual, however a enjoyable day at Amber Cove
It felt somewhat surreal being in a Carnival port, however I think most passengers on Freedom of the Seas had no thought this was Carnival’s port until they have been informed by another person.
As a result of Carnival leases out the entire operations, it does not have an overtly apparent Carnival motif to it. I did not see Freddie the enjoyable ship mascot, or anything that screamed Carnival.
As a lifelong Royal Caribbean cruiser, I used to be struck extra by how there wasn’t a real comparable product from my most well-liked line.
Royal Caribbean has personal locations in CocoCay or Labadee, however you possibly can’t depart these locations and a variety of the foods and drinks is included. That is not the case at Amber Cove.
Actually, it felt like Taino Bay’s port is an try to repeat Amber Cove and has a free pool and lazy river for company, together with additional value eating places and bars. Plus, you possibly can depart Taino Bay on a tour. Nonetheless, Taino Bay is not unique to Royal Caribbean.
I am unsure I will ever have an opportunity to attempt Amber Cove, however it’s good having a simple day to chill out in port or bypassing all of it and heading out to attempt one thing else round whereas within the DR.
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