rmercedes

Yes we docked at Taino Bay w NCL Encore. Best port we’ve experienced!

Yes we did go on the NCL cruise on the Encore in Dec 2023. We booked a private tour guide in the Dominican Republic for a city tour for 4. Walking through the port was awesome. Really the best port we’ve been through in the entire Caribbean in our opinion. It took 10-15 min to get out to meet up w our tour guide and his van which was nice and clean. Got the tour all over the city and outskirts, a beach for a while, then Umbrella St, Pink St, shopping, city square, the Fort. He was going to take us to lunch at a local restaurant but we opted for more beach time. Tour guide was decent, but half of what we did was walkable on our own. He did drive us up to ride the cable car up the mountain. Nice ride but packed in there. Pretty view up top and walked us around up there. Then back down the cable car, again packed full. To his van and back to the ship. Top port area like I said and they have a man made beach type space w tons of lounge chairs, lazy river, to enjoy right outside the ship. So many great shops there too. We could have skipped the tour guide and done all but the cable ride on our own and had more time to enjoy that great port area.

That's good information because if we dock at Amber Cove, we can't get to the city without a tour or taxi. I'm going to check that out.

I've read enough reviews on other sites with posts from cruise travelers and feel that it is safe to walk around the city with no local tour guide. It's important to know where you want to go and have it figured out so you can get where you want to go without stopping to ask anyone unless needed. We'll be there in Dec 2023 and docking at Taino Bay Port, which is where all NCL ships dock. I did read that Carnival owned ships dock further away from the city at Amber Cove Port, but there's supposedly a lot to do there and you don't have to leave the area if you don't want to. But it was recommended to taxi into the city from there. At Taino Bay Port, you are right there at the city center in a block and you can walk around. Some mentioned to use one of the local guides in yellow/orange, it's free, but you are expected to tip. I'm sure we'll be telling dozens of them "No gracias" the entire time we are trying to walk and enjoy some close by sites, but that's how it is. We'll walk to Umbrella St and check our Parque Central too, do a little shopping, stop by Paseo de Dona Blanca to snap some photos of the area that everything is pink from bottom to top.We will possibly taxi over to the Nat Park to ride the Teleferico, cable car, up the mtn at Isabel de Torres. I read you have to do that early or you have a long wait. Get up there, walk around take photos and get back down before you are waiting 2 hrs to get back down. Just now sure if we want to deal with that or after the city walk over to the fort near the port and explore, then stop by the man made water/pool area for a while or just go back to the ship at that point.