Dominican Republic
efschlenk
This port was problematic in that
the ship leaves San Juan late Saturday night (for late-arriving passengers), so
one has only an afternoon ashore here. The cruise line provides a free shuttle
(about 30 minutes each way) from the dock to Altos de Chavon (a Disney-esque
artists colony on a scenic hill above the river) and the Marina (where the few
very rich locals keep their yachts and vacation homes). These destinations
provide pleasant walks but not much excitement. Ironically, there is no good
beach at this port (although we had a brief but pleasant swim at the nearby
Militas beach hotel complex). The best local beach is at nearby Catalina Island,
which some cruise lines use as their port of call but Celebrity uses as a
separate shore excursion. The Dominicans have made every effort to welcome
cruisers, and the efficient new dock and shuttle service are impressive.