St. Lucia, Grenada, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao experience a cruise tourism boom with the announcement of a new port, boosting Caribbean travel and economy.

Cruise enthusiasts looking to explore more off-the-beaten-path destinations in the Caribbean will soon have a unique opportunity to visit a lesser-known part of a popular cruise region.

The Caribbean, renowned for its stunning beaches and tropical charm, remains the most sought-after region for cruising. From the Bahamas, just a short distance from Florida, to the southern Caribbean islands like St. Lucia, Grenada, and the ABC islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao—cruise passengers can enjoy a wide variety of idyllic islands.

However, not every Caribbean island has a cruise port, and some larger islands still boast untouched stretches of coastline that cruise ships have yet to explore. As cruise tourism continues to soar, some Caribbean destinations are eager to capture a larger share of the cruise market, investing in new port infrastructure to attract more ships to their shores. This includes building new ports in previously unreachable areas.

The Dominican Republic, a diverse and rapidly growing cruise destination, is among the countries investing in new cruise infrastructure. Already home to several busy cruise ports, the Dominican Republic is set to open a new port in the lesser-visited Barahona region on the southwest coast. The country’s Ministry of Tourism recently broke ground on the Barahona cruise terminal, a project designed to boost the local economy and transform the region.

Scheduled for completion by 2026, the new port will feature modern docking facilities for cruise ships, along with 35 commercial spaces, restaurants, bars, and even a rum-making experience. Barahona, known for its wild natural beauty and rich biodiversity, is poised to offer unique ecotourism opportunities for travelers. Dubbed the “Pearl of the South,” the area is famous for its spectacular coastal views and the high-quality coffee grown on its mountainside farms.

The Barahona port will complement the new Cabo Rojo port in Pedernales, located on the Dominican Republic’s southernmost coast. Cabo Rojo welcomed its first cruise ships in 2024 and has already attracted major cruise lines like Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America Line, who have scheduled more calls to the destination for 2025 and 2026. With its pristine beaches and vibrant coral reefs, Cabo Rojo is quickly becoming a hidden gem in the Caribbean, with expectations to welcome over 100,000 passengers in 2025.

In addition to Barahona and Cabo Rojo, the Dominican Republic is also working on upgrading the Arroyo Barril port in Samaná, located on the northeastern coast. The new developments at Arroyo Barril will allow larger cruise ships to dock directly, eliminating the need for tender boats, and enhancing the region’s appeal to cruise travelers.

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