Cruise ship operator Carnival Corporation is on-site in the Dominican Republic, developing Amber Cove, an $85m (€75m, £55m) port in Puerto Plata. It will open in October this year.
The new two-berth port will accommodate the largest cruise ships and liners in operation today and has been designed to handle 250,000 people a year. The project is a joint venture between Carnival and Grupo Navieras B&R, and the largest cruise-related investment ever made in the Dominican Republic.
Amber Cove will regenerate the island’s north coast, which last welcomed a cruise ship 30 years ago. A transportation hub is also being built, enabling visitors to visit nearby destinations and attractions.
Atkins Global was responsible for masterplanning, site circulation, cost analysis, conceptual design and environmental permit applications for the project.
Larry Levis, Atkins' senior programme manager, said: "Amber Cove will welcome visitors to the country with retail outlets and themed marketplaces, along with dining and recreational amenities. The project will feature design themes that echo the cultural and architectural history of the nation, and particularly of the Puerto Plata region. These themes include architectural styles of three distinct periods: the fortified 16th century, the classical-colonial 18th century, and the Victorian late 19th century.”
Puerto Plata was named by Christopher Columbus when he discovered the island in 1492.
Francisco Javier, tourism director of the Dominican Republic said. "Carnival Corporation's investment in Amber Cove has already proven beneficial to the economy, and we expect it to have a positive long-lasting economic impact”.
"Amber Cove is destined to become a cornerstone in creating new itineraries from several US home ports," said Terry Thornton, Carnival's senior vice president of itinerary planning. "It will provide an unmatched combination of activities and eco-tourism opportunities, along with sightseeing, dining and cultural experiences”.
The Caribbean has the single largest share of Carnival’s cruise business. Amber Cove will have 57 calls from13 ships between October 2015 and April 2016.
Nearby Ocean World, one of the region's largest marine adventure parks will benefit from increases in visitors, while a new shore excursion programme will include 4x4 Terracross, horseback riding, snorkelling and swimming in a natural river pool. Guests can travel by speedboat to Paradise Island for scuba diving or reserve private beachside bungalows with personal chef, bartender and staff.
Carnival, which is British-American owned, is the largest cruise company in the world. It has 101 ships operating worldwide, with eight more scheduled for delivery between now and 2017.
Carnival brands include Aida Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America, P&O and P&O Australia, Princess Cruises and Seabourn.
Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the Alaska and the Canadian Yukon tour companies. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100.
