Catalina Island Dominicana
384
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Costa Cruises (38 Cruises)
Costa Fascinosa
38 Cruises
Explora Journeys (16 Cruises)
MSC Cruises (324 Cruises)
MSC Opera
324 Cruises
| 29 October | 26 days | One-way from Civitavecchia-Rome to La Romana |
| 30 October | 25 days | One-way from Genoa to La Romana |
Windstar Cruises (6 Cruises)
Star Pride
6 Cruises
Frequently Asked Questions
By tender, straight onto the sand. There is no built pier: ships anchor off this coral island lying in front of the country's southeast coast, opposite La Romana. Bring water shoes and a dry bag.
Nobody lives there. No road, no village, no permanent shop: services depend entirely on what the cruise line sets up that day. This ten square kilometre strip of land is protected as a natural monument, and its highest point barely clears the tops of the coconut palms.
A full day of sea, reef and fins: the most stripped-down and perhaps the most enjoyable version of a Caribbean call. Swimming, snorkelling, barefoot walks out to the rocky points, a doze in the shade of a palapa, and grilled food under the palms around midday.
Shallow for a long way out and remarkably clear almost year-round. Families wade while swimmers work along the seagrass beds, where rays and boxfish appear often. The north and west beaches are where the cruise lines set up.
Yes, and the island has a solid regional reputation. The site known as The Wall drops away in terraces covered in sponges and sea fans; the Aquarium, shallower, lives up to its name. Currents are generally light, putting these sites within reach of inexperienced divers and plain snorkellers alike.
Yes. In 1699 the Scottish privateer William Kidd abandoned the Quedagh Merchant near these shores, a merchant ship taken in the Indian Ocean. The wreck, found in 2007 by a university team, is visited as an underwater museum: cannons and stone ballast lie in very shallow water, reachable by anyone with a mask.
Whatever the cruise line sets up for the day. Around midday the smell of grilling crosses the palm grove and gathers everyone under the thatched roofs: marinated chicken, rice and peas, pineapple cut with broad strokes. There is no permanent restaurant on the island.
Cash in small notes for vendors and tips; US dollars are accepted. The Dominican peso is the national currency, but on the island transactions are mostly in dollars. Do not count on cards.
Very much so. The water is shallow for a long stretch, pelicans dive into the sardine shoals, and a mask alone will occupy a child for an hour. The rest of the islet stays wild, scrub and cactus, a refuge for seabirds.
Yes. Several excursions add a run up the Chavón river between its green walls, or the climb to Altos de Chavón, a limestone artists' village perched above the river, with its workshops, amphitheatre and museum devoted to the Taíno people. The trip is short and fits the timing of a call.
