Puerto Cabo Rojo in Pedernales

Cabo Rojo Cruise Port 

It is located on the southwest coast of the Dominican Republic, near the border Pedernales River.
The development of Cabo Rojo will include the construction of luxury and ecological hotels, with sustainable energy generation capacity, in addition to the construction of residential homes in the project area, as explained on its website by the General Directorate of the Public-Private Alliance.

Apart from Cabo Rojo, the Dominican Republic has the tourist cruise ports of San Soucí, in the province of Santo Domingo, La Romana, Puerto Plata and Samaná. And others that are used to receive cargo from self-unloading vessels.

Pedernales dominican republic cruise port

The Southern region of the Dominican Republic is poised to experience a historic moment with the scheduled arrival of the first cruise ship at the newly ready Cabo Rojo port in Pedernales. The port, boasting a stunning view, is set to welcome its first influx of tourists, significantly marking a new chapter in the region’s development.

Sigmund Freud, the director of Public-Private Partnerships, shared glimpses of the picturesque Cabo Rojo port on social media, stirring excitement about its potential to attract visitors. “We are ready! [It] will be a historic day for the Dominican Republic, with the arrival of the first cruise ship with nearly 3,000 visitors to Port Cabo Rojo in Pedernales,” Freud announced, expressing enthusiasm for the impending event.

This inaugural docking will occur today, with the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, arriving from Miami with 2,873 passengers. The event is set to be graced by the presence of President Luis Abinader, Minister of Tourism David Collado, alongside other dignitaries and industry stakeholders. The arrival is anticipated not only as a milestone for Pedernales but as a significant step in opening up the Southern region to global tourism, creating a narrative of change, opportunities, and prosperity.

The newest Caribbean cruise port, Cabo Rojo in Pedernales on the southwestern coast of the Dominican Republic, has welcomed its very first cruise guests with the arrival of Norwegian Pearl on Thursday, January 4, 2024.

The new port will offer travelers unique experiences from other Dominican Republic destinations, and will hopefully grow to become a popular destination with multiple cruise lines.

Norwegian Pearl visita Cabo Rojo

El Norwegian Pearl de Norwegian Cruise Line es el primer crucero en visitar Cabo Rojo, el nuevo destino de cruceros en el extremo suroeste de la República Dominicana.

El barco tenía previsto visitar Cabo Rojo desde las 10 a.m. hasta las 7 p.m. el jueves 4 de enero de 2024, como primer puerto de escala en un itinerario de 11 noches por el Caribe. El Norwegian Pearl partió de Miami, Florida, el martes 2 de enero y pasó el miércoles en el mar antes de llegar a Cabo Rojo con 2.873 invitados a bordo.

“Three years ago many saw it as impossible, but we assumed it with commitment and passion. For this reason, today we can say We did it! The first stage of Port Cabo Rojo of the Tourism Development Project in Pedernales has been inaugurated, with the arrival of the first cruise with almost 3,000 visitors,” said Sigmund Freund, the director of Public-Private Partnerships, as Norwegian Pearl arrived.

“This is what the people of Pedernal have been waiting for for years. Today is a day of joy for the entire country!”

Local retailers and tour operators are eager for the business, which will be a significant step toward opening up the southern part of the country to more tourism. According to the country’s Central Bank statistics, cruise passenger spending in 2022 averaged $116 per visitor – up significantly from $92 per guest in 2021.

That spending goes toward retail purchases, restaurants, bars, tour guides, rentals, and more. When guests have good experiences, they tend to spend more and return to their favorite destinations.

“We have been working for this day for several years, and we will do what we know how to do: provide good service to visitors,”

Visiting Cabo Rojo

The new cruise port has been developed through a $126 million project and can accommodate four cruise ships simultaneously when complete, able to welcome more than a million annual cruise passengers. A beach area, local shopping, spa facilities, and a water park are all part of Cabo Rojo port.

Further afield, the region features beautiful white-sand beaches and unique gastronomy with a variety of Caribbean influences, with various shore tours guests can enjoy including a wide variety of water sports.

At the moment, few ships have scheduled calls to Cabo Rojo, though Norwegian Cruise Line is committed to the destination. Unfortunately, some planned calls by Norwegian Sky in upcoming months have been rerouted and will no longer include Cabo Rojo.

It always takes time for a new cruise port to build up a steady schedule of visitors, as cruise lines plan itineraries years in advance. Cabo Rojo may see some last-minute ship calls in 2024, however, if poor weather or hurricanes force cancellations of other ports of call and the new port can be a good alternative.

The new destination is also likely to be a part of future itineraries in 2025, 2026, and beyond, bringing more and more guests to a new and exciting destination.

Port Cabo Rojo Shore Excursions

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Cabo Rojo port schedule

Times are subject to change.  For questions on arrival and departure times, please contact your cruise line. SEE

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