Oh, La Romana cruise port! My old friend! The Dominican Republic is a popular stopping place on plenty of Caribbean cruises, with a plethora of ports to choose from. And La Romana cruise port is one of the most visited of them all, with a sizeable terminal which is the perfect place for welcoming large groups of passengers.
As a crew member, I’ve visited La Romana cruise port- also known as Sugar Breeze terminal– more times than I can count over the years, so here’s my personal (crew member’s) guide to this busy Dominican Republic port.
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Click here to jump straight to the best shore excursions from La Romana cruise port.
Transferring to the cruise port
If you’re starting (or finishing) your Caribbean cruise from La Romana cruise port, you will likely be flying into Punta Cana airport. The journey takes about an hour by road, and it’s a good idea to pre-book your travel from Punta Cana to La Romana.
What’s in port?
La Romana cruise port is one of the most well-equipped in the Caribbean, and simultaneously one of the calmest. The port can only fit one ship in at a time, which is great for crowd control. Other ports like St John’s in Antigua, or Bridgetown in Barbados, may have parking spots (or berths, if you want to get technical about it) for a seemingly infinite number of gargantuan ships, but in my opinion this makes for a whole load of overcrowding.
The port is on the edge of the city, on the very edge of an estuary into the Caribbean Sea, and it’s incredibly well-equipped when it comes to passenger comfort. As well as the usual duty free terminal building filled with bottles of rum and chocolate and cigars, there’s a sizeable market square filled with shops and stands selling paintings, jewellery, rows and rows of beach cover ups, and an entire flock of brightly-painted wooden flamingos and parrots. There are also a few bars and coffee shops dotted around.
The best thing about La Romana cruise port though, is the pool.
The swimming pool with its very own swim-up bar, is a very recent addition; when I began working the season in November 2022, the pool was still in construction. Now, in early March 2023, the pool has been open for a while and every couple of weeks a new bar opens- there’s one left still in construction.
The pool in La Romana is completely free to use, and there’s also no charge for the sun loungers- of which there are plenty.
Where to get a taxi at La Romana cruise port
Like a lot of Caribbean cruise ports you’ll find the ‘official’ (which sometimes basically means ‘licensed’) taxi drivers just inside the terminal gates. These drivers all wear a uniform, and the price of each journey is set per passenger depending on where you want to go. On one hand, this is great as there’s no need for haggling. On the other, sometimes a haggle is necessary; the prices are set high.
Once you exit the car park containing the taxi rank, head out of the side entrance that is parallel to the ship. There are always plenty more taxi drivers waiting here, and these guys are open to negotiation on price. The later in the day you leave (and the fewer potential customers are), the better price you can negotiate.
Closest beaches to La Romana cruise port
One of the main reasons that it’s so nice to have a pool in the cruise terminal at La Romana, is that you can’t just walk to the closest beach. Bayahibe is around twenty-five minutes away by car, although if you don’t fancy splashing the cash on a taxi (or just want a more authentic Caribbean experience), you can catch a bus from the main road to Bayahibe for around $1.50.
Bayahibe is as popular with locals as with tourists, and that’s why I appreciate it. The sandy beach is lined with trees, and there are plenty of beach bars and restaurants to grab a drink or some food from. Slightly further along the coast is Playa Dominicus, with its blue and white striped lighthouse. There are more resorts around this beach, so as a result the beach feels slightly more ‘groomed.’ Both beaches are great for families as the water is fairly shallow for a long way; just watch out for the odd sea urchin.
Best shore excursions from La Romana cruise port
I’ve got my own personal number one all time favourite place to visit from La Romana, but I’ll save the best till last and show you a few other options first.
There are plenty of things to do in La Romana other than head to the closest beach, like visiting Altos de Chavón, a replica Mediterannean village, or heading much further away to the private resort island of Isla Catalina. (Here’s a catamaran tour to the island.) It’s even possible to take a day trip to Santo Domingo, the capital city- although it’s definitely advisable to do this with a private tour like this one, just to make sure that all transportation is taken care of.
If you want to stay close to La Romana but still experience and learn about some of the local culture, this guided La Romana tour is ideal, with stops at Altos de Chavón, a cigar factory, and Casa de Campo included, as well as giving an overview of the city itself.
For those people who are feeling a bit more adventurous, and want to do something outside of the usual more touristic excursions, check out this snorkelling tour to the cenotes of Bayahibe. The tour is led by local guides who take you on a short hike through the jungle and then into the underwater world of these stunning caves.
But my absolute favourite number one place to visit from La Romana…
Without a doubt, the best excursion from La Romana cruise port is a visit to Isla Saona.
This stunning island is exactly what springs to most minds when you say ‘Caribbean.’ The island is an absolute paradise, and unlike the mainland there are no big hotels or buildings here, as Saona Island is a national park. It is downright glorious, and in my opinion is not just one of the most beautiful spots in the Caribbean, but one of the most memorable places I’ve ever been.
For a more detailed guide, head to the post I wrote on Isla Saona.
Or, if you’ve already made up your mind about this must-visit destination, go directly to book a tour to Isla Saona. This one picks you up directly from the cruise terminal– and includes lunch, transport to the island via speedboat, and also stops at the natural starfish-filled pools on the way back. If you’re looking for more of a party experience, this longer tour includes an open bar on board, and an extra stop at Bávaro beach.
I don’t care how you get there, just get there if you can.
Is it worth it to go into the city?
It’s possible to walk from La Romana cruise port to the city, however, there’s a slight catch. The police will only let tourists go so far, before stopping them for their own safety. So, despite the fact that La Romana is one of the Dominican Republic’s biggest cities, I’ve never been any further than the Jumbo supermarket. (Which, I have to say, is a brilliant supermarket and worth the walk if you need to stock up on toiletries and snacks.)
There’s also an amazing Italian restaurant and deli called Punto Italia which, if you’re craving pizza, is equally worth the journey. (Try the Pizza Imperial, it’s da bomb.) The waiters are great, and there’s a resident cat who I like to call Barbosa. (And on a side note, the wifi is also very good.)
The walk takes about fifteen minutes- past a baseball field and through a residential area complete with neighbourhood bars and chickens scratching in the dirt, across the train tracks, and over the bridge along the main road. The sun in the Dominican Republic is powerful and the humidity is high; so get ready to sweat. Once you reach the main road, there’s often heavy traffic complete with heavy traffic noises. Here and there women sell avocados (the greenest, most ginormous avocados I’ve ever seen) out of buckets, and men sell newspapers and coconuts from portable roadside stands.
When there are ships in port, tourist police are stationed at intervals along the fifteen minute walk; so if you’re not sure of the way, they’ll be sure to help you out.
So, technically you could dock at La Romana cruise port and never leave the terminal. But in my opinion, it’s so very worth it to get outside and explore for even a short time; whether on a day long excursion to an island, or a short walk through the neighbourhood.
Logistical Statisticals
- Currency in the Dominican Republic is Dominican Pesos, and one peso equals about 0.17 Euros.
- Most shops, buses and taxi drivers accept US dollars as well, although any change you get back will normally be given in local currency.
- Don’t walk about with all your valuables on display! I’ve never had any problems with safety in the Dominican Republic, however theft is not unheard of.
- Spanish is the official language in the Dominican Republic, and at least understanding a little bit of the language will get you far!
Thanks for the information on the cruise port. Do you know if we can enter the area before we board the cruise ship? It’s where the ship is originating from.
Hi! Yes, normally when cruises begin at La Romana cruise port, all passengers pass through an outdoor check-in area at the entrance to the cruise terminal. (Everything is very well signposted and there will be plenty of crew as well as port staff to help guide you.)
You’ll receive your boarding card at this check-in area, which is also your ID for getting in and out of the cruise terminal. Once you have this, you’ll be free to move around the cruise terminal, go to the pool, bars within the terminal etc. as you please; so even if you don’t want to board the ship immediately or you know you can’t get into your cabin until later in the day, you can use these facilities anyway.
Are there any hotel for a one night stay near the terminal. We will be flying in the day before the cruise.
Hi!
The Hotel El Dorado is a good choice for passengers starting a new cruise; it’s only about 15 minutes away in a taxi and is really highly rated. The Hilton Garden Inn is in a similar area and is another good choice. These are both in the Playa Caleta area; you could also look at hotels in the Bayahibe area although these are further away by comparison.
If you want something more luxurious to start your holiday with, Casa de Campo is a nearby luxury resort where it’s possible to book one night stays.
Let me know if this helps!