Cruising Into Santo Domingo

Cruising Into Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo has two cruise-ship terminals and has become a growing port for cruise passengers, including those of Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas, which is based in Santo Domingo at this writing. The Port of Don Diego is on the Ozuma River, facing the Avenida del Puerto, and across the street are steps that lead up to the main pedestrian shopping street of the Zona Colonial, Calle El Conde. A lovely yellow and white building, with stained-glass windows, and faux gas lights, it now has a small cafeteria, and potted palms soften the cordoned-off lines where passengers wait to have their tickets checked and to go through immigration. Just down the dock is an ATM machine; in front of that is a counter where you can get cold drinks and snacks. Across from it is a booth offering new self-guided audio tours.

The new Sans Souci Terminal complex is still a work in progress at this writing; it's slated for completion in summer 2008. It's diagonally across the river from Don Diego, on Avenida Francisco Alberto Caaman, and when it's fully operational, the new terminal will have stores and much more.