La Romana cruise port guide: dock, Casa de Campo, Catalina

Quick answer: Ships dock at La Romana Cruise Terminal; they do not normally tender. Plan on a taxi or shuttle, because the sights are 15 to 30 minutes away by road: Casa de Campo is about 6 km, roughly 15 minutes. Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard, and agree your return ride before you leave the port.

La Romana is a dock port on the Rio Dulce, between the town and the Casa de Campo resort. The terminal has two berths and was enlarged in 2022 for the largest ships, with a pool, bars and shops added on site. The day here depends on rides and permissions, not walking. Casa de Campo and Altos de Chavón sit inside a private resort, so entry rules matter more than the map. Catalina Island is the easiest beach day, and Saona Island is a long boat trip that belongs on an organised tour.

When to leave La Romana

Times include the way back

All aboard (ship time) Ship’s clock Extra margin

La Romana townTaxi, about 20 min 16:10
Casa de CampoTaxi or shuttle, about 15 min 16:15
Altos de ChavónTaxi or tour transport, up to 30 min 16:00
BayahibeTaxi, 20–30 min 16:00
Cueva de las MaravillasTaxi, about 25 min 16:00
Saona Island (independent tour)Boat 45–90 min, then road to the port 14:00

Times are port time, the time your phone shows ashore.

Plan this day to my ship

Where the ship docks

La Romana Cruise Terminal
On the east side of the Rio Dulce at its mouth, between the town and Casa de Campo. Two berths: the eastern one takes ships up to 350 m and the western one up to 250 m. Opened in December 2002, expanded in 2022 for Oasis-size ships. Operated by Central Romana. Pool, themed bars, restaurants and shops on site. About 6 km and 15 minutes by road to Casa de Campo. Taxis wait at the pier.

Can you walk? No. Treat this as a ride port. Casa de Campo, Altos de Chavón and the beaches are all 15 to 30 minutes away by road.

Dock or tender: Ships normally dock, and no tender is needed. Two extra ships can use anchorages off Catalina Island and in front of Casa de Campo on busy days. If your ship is sent to one of these, your daily programme will say how you get ashore.

Getting to town

Taxi from the pier

Agree the fare and the return before you get inAbout 15 min to Casa de Campo; 15–30 min to Altos de Chavón and Playa Minitas; 20–30 min to Bayahibe; about 25 min to Cueva de las Maravillas

Taxis wait at the dock and are not metered. Use licensed drivers at the pier. Carry small notes, as drivers often have no change. If you want a ride back from a quiet spot, ask the driver to wait.

Shuttle to Casa de Campo

Ask at the port or on boardAbout 15 min

Cruise lines often arrange a shuttle to the resort, but it is not on every call. Check your daily programme.

Catalina Island boat from Casa de Campo

US$48 adult, US$30 child up to 12, taxes included (2026)Leaves 10:00, returns 13:45; about 30 min each way

Daily, four people minimum, reservation required, and be there 15 minutes before departure. Non-guests must guarantee the booking by credit card: call Casa de Campo's concierge on 809 523 3333 ext. 3165.

When to head back

Be on board 60 minutes before all-aboard. Leave Casa de Campo 75 minutes before all-aboard, La Romana town 80, Altos de Chavón, Bayahibe or Cueva de las Maravillas 90, and on an independent Saona tour be off the island 3.5 hours before.

Every return is by road, and you depend on one driver or one shuttle. Confirm the pick-up time and place, and carry the port name. Road accident rates are high, so do not ask a driver to hurry. If you take a boat tour, ask the operator for the guaranteed return time.

If you are running late: Ask your restaurant or the resort reception to call a taxi, and call the port agent number on your daily programme straight away if you will miss all-aboard.

Where people go wrong: Arriving at Altos de Chavón without a tour or confirmed entry, because the resort limits access to guests and scheduled visits.

La Romana is one day. Time the whole cruise.

Ships do not wait.

In March 2024, eight Norwegian Dawn passengers on a private tour came back to the pier in São Tomé more than an hour after all-aboard. Getting back on board took six days, seven countries and over $5,000. The details
The ship charges for the easy part.

Carnival sells a coach to Rome for US$129.99 a person. The train is from €9.20 return. PortTrip tells you which train, and the last one that gets you back. The details
On the day, it watches the clock.

Google Maps travel time from where you stand back to the pier, with alerts at 30, 15 and 0 minutes. The details

Cruise Pass

€14.99 once

Up to 10 ports of one sailing, timed to your all-aboard in port time and ship time. Live mode and alerts on the day. An offline copy for when the signal drops.

Get the Cruise Pass

Pay once, nothing renews. 30-day full refund.

See your whole cruise first, free Or plan La Romana free

A day in La Romana

Assumes the ship docks at 08:00 with all-aboard at 17:30.

08:30Off the ship. Check the shuttle and agree a taxi fare and return time.
09:00Ride to Altos de Chavón only if your tour or the resort has confirmed entry; otherwise ride to La Marina at Casa de Campo.
09:30Walk the village: the church square, the amphitheatre and the Archaeological Regional Museum, which is closed on Mondays.
11:30Ride to La Marina at Casa de Campo and walk the shops by the water.
12:30Lunch at the resort or the terminal.
14:30Optional stop in La Romana town: Parque Central and the Mercado Municipal, or stay at the terminal pool.
15:30Start back to the port by road.
16:30Back on board, 60 minutes before all-aboard.

Re-time this day to your ship

Tours in La Romana

10 top-rated on Viator, from €23

Each tour is checked against your time ashore (7 h 40 min on a 17:30 all-aboard). If a tour you booked yourself runs late, the ship does not wait.

Prices are Viator’s “from” prices in euros, checked 27 October 2026. You book and pay on Viator. If you book through these links we may earn a commission; it never changes the price or what we recommend.

What to see

Altos de Chavón

A replica 16th-century Mediterranean village above the Chavón River, built of local stone in the 1970s and early 1980s.

2 hoursConfirm entry before you go

The resort limits access to guests, residents and scheduled visits, so go on a tour or confirm with the resort on 809 523 3333. Typically open 09:00–18:00.

Archaeological Regional Museum, Altos de Chavón

More than 3,000 indigenous objects, the best small history stop in the area.

30–45 minutesConfirm on arrival

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00.

La Marina, Casa de Campo

A yacht marina with shops, galleries and restaurants. Boutiques sell larimar and amber jewellery, cigars and crafts.

1–2 hoursFree to look around once inside

Most shops open 10:00–20:00. Confirm access with your driver or tour before you set off, as it is inside the resort.

Parque Central and Santa Rosa de Lima Church

The town's square and main church, and the easiest look at everyday La Romana.

30–45 minutesFree

Keep to the square and the main streets, and keep phones and bags out of sight.

Mercado Municipal

The town market for local produce, fish and Dominican staples.

30 minutesFree

Bargaining is normal at outdoor stalls. Shops generally close from about 12:00 to 14:30.

Cueva de las Maravillas

A national-park cave with hundreds of Indigenous cave paintings, seen on a guided visit.

About 2 hours with travelPay at the ticket booth

Open 09:00–16:00, closed Mondays. About 25 minutes by car from the port. No photos inside.

Catalina Island

An uninhabited protected island about five miles from the port, with white sand and reef snorkelling at The Wall and The Aquarium.

Half a dayUS$48 adult with Casa de Campo (2026)

December to April has the calmest seas.

Saona Island

Known for natural pools and long beaches, and reached by a 45 to 90 minute boat ride.

A full dayDepends on the tour

Take the ship's tour or be sure your operator guarantees the return.

Beaches

Catalina Island

Boat tour from the port area · About 30 min by boat · US$48 adult with Casa de Campo (2026)

Loungers, drinks and water sports are on offer on shore excursions.

Bayahibe Beach

Taxi · 20–30 min · Agree the taxi fare first

A public beach with water sports. Agree your return with the driver.

Playa Minitas

Taxi or resort transport · 15–30 min · Ask the resort

A private beach inside Casa de Campo. Do not go without confirming access.

What to eat

Tacos · Chilango Taqueria, Altos de Chavón
Italian dishes · La Piazzetta, Altos de Chavón
Sancocho, mofongo and roast chicken · Comedores in La Romana town
Fresh seafood and fish stews · Seaside restaurants on Boulevard La Romana

On your own or a ship excursion?

This is a port where the ship's tour is often the better choice. Altos de Chavón is inside a private resort that limits entry, so a tour removes that risk. Saona Island is a full day with a 45 to 90 minute boat ride each way, so keep it to an organised trip and let the ship's guarantee protect your return. Catalina Island is worth comparing, because the resort's own trip is priced clearly but needs four people and an advance booking.

What	Ship	On your own	Saving
Catalina Island beach day	Varies by line; check your cruise planner	US$48 adult with Casa de Campo (2026), plus your taxi to the departure point	Not verified

Common mistakes

Assuming you can simply turn up at Altos de Chavón.
The resort restricts entry. Book a tour or get confirmation from the resort first.
Planning to walk from the ship to the sights.
Treat La Romana as a ride port. Agree a taxi fare and return time at the pier.
Booking an independent Saona trip on a short call.
The boat alone takes 45 to 90 minutes each way. Use the ship's tour, or skip it and go to Catalina.
Taking an unofficial or shared taxi to save money.
Use the licensed taxis at the pier. Robberies have been reported in unofficial taxis, and Australian advice warns against carros publicos.
Expecting a good beach at the port.
There is no beach to speak of at the terminal. Plan on Catalina or Bayahibe.

Safety, access and bad weather

Safety: The Dominican tourism board says crime is low for the region, but the UK and Australian governments warn of a high crime rate, and Australia advises a high degree of caution. Stay in busy areas, keep valuables out of sight, and hand over belongings if you are robbed. Do not drink tap water; buy bottled water. Road deaths are high, so avoid motorbike taxis and night driving. Lifeguards may be absent at beaches and on boat trips. The hurricane season runs from June to November. Emergency number: 911.
Scams to know: Bank card cloning: the UK government warns of cloned cards. Keep your card in view when you pay, or pay cash.
ATM and card fraud: Australian advice says this is common in resort areas. Use ATMs inside banks or the resort.
Robbery in unofficial taxis: Australian advice reports robberies and assaults. Use licensed pier taxis or a pre-booked company, and avoid carros publicos.
Accessibility: Docking makes La Romana easier than a tender port, but your day depends on road transport, so ask for an accessible vehicle in advance. Altos de Chavón has cobbled streets and is awkward for wheelchairs. The Cueva de las Maravillas is the most accessible sight, with an elevator and ramps listed by a cave reference site.
If it rains: Stay at the terminal, or go to La Marina's shops and restaurants. Rain and rough sea can cancel boat trips, and October is the wettest month. The Cueva de las Maravillas is a good indoor option when open.
Crowds: La Romana received 278,791 cruise passengers in 2025, about a tenth of the country's total, so it is calmer than Puerto Plata. Two ships can dock at once. On two-ship days, get a taxi early, and book Catalina in advance.

La Romana cruise port FAQ

Is La Romana a tender port?

No. Ships dock at La Romana Cruise Terminal. Anchorages exist for extra ships on busy days, so check your daily programme if the port is full.

Is La Romana walkable from the cruise port?

Not for the main sights. Casa de Campo, Altos de Chavón and the beaches need a taxi, shuttle or tour.

How do I get from La Romana cruise port to Casa de Campo?

It is about 6 km, roughly 15 minutes by taxi. Cruise lines often run a shuttle, so check your daily programme.

Can cruise passengers visit Altos de Chavón?

Yes on a tour. The resort limits entry to guests, residents and scheduled visits, so do not arrive without confirmation.

What can I do in La Romana in one day from a cruise ship?

Altos de Chavón on a tour, La Marina, or a half-day on Catalina Island. Saona is a full-day trip by boat.

Beaches near La Romana cruise port?

Catalina Island, Bayahibe and Playa Minitas. Minitas is private. There is no real beach at the terminal.

Do cruise passengers need the Dominican E-Ticket?

No. The tourism board says cruise passengers do not fill it in; paper forms are used instead.

Is La Romana safe?

Take care. Use licensed taxis, stay in busy areas and keep valuables out of sight. The UK warns of a high crime rate in the country.

Not yet confirmed

Taxi fares from the pier: the only figures found are undated or years old.
Whether the town can be walked from the terminal: sources conflict, from about 15 minutes to several miles.
Entrance fee at Altos de Chavón for non-guests, and whether independent visitors are admitted: the resort and the tourism ministry differ, and forum reports are from 2014 or earlier.
Current Casa de Campo day-pass price, and whether cruise passengers can buy one.
Current admission price at Cueva de las Maravillas: the latest figure found is from 2021.
Ship-excursion prices: cruise line pages showed none when checked.

Sources

Checked November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@porttrip.com.

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