Cruise tourism grows in Puntarenas and Dominican Republic

Cruise tourism is seeing significant activity in both Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. In Costa Rica, the Port of Puntarenas is projecting a major growth period for the 2026-2027 season. The Instituto Costarricense de Puertos del Pacífico (Incop) expects to receive 72 cruises and approximately 150,000 passengers. This represents a substantial increase compared to the 2024-2025 season, which saw 63 cruises and 79,000 passengers.

In the Dominican Republic, the Autoridad Portuaria Dominicana has announced expectations for 38 cruise calls during the month of September. Scheduled arrivals include vessels from major lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Celebrity, Virgin Voyages, and Princess. Key ports involved in these operations include Puerto Plata, La Romana, and Cabo Rojo.