The Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM), under the leadership of Jean Luis Rodríguez, is conducting a feasibility appraisal for a purpose-built cruise terminal in Santo Domingo.
Positioned along the Malecón near the Jaragua Hotel, this proposed facility would allow passengers to embark and disembark directly in the capital—bypassing traditional gateways such as Miami or San Juan—and anchoring Santo Domingo as a viable homeport and international cruise embarkation point.
Rodríguez has positioned this initiative within a broader port infrastructure expansion, highlighting four existing cruise terminals—Amber Cove (Maimón), Taíno Bay (Puerto Plata), Cabo Rojo (Pedernales), and La Romana—that have already contributed to the country's growing appeal as a Caribbean cruise destination.
He emphasized that the new terminal would extend this network and help stimulate economic activity across tourism sectors in Santo Domingo.
The envisioned terminal is intended to connect cruise passengers directly with the historic Colonial Zone, eliminating the need for secondary transit. Rodríguez explained that placing the dock at the Avenida España location would radically improve accessibility to the city’s cultural and commercial heart—transforming the arrival experience and attracting additional shore-based business to hotels, restaurants, bars, and other amenities.
Plans estimate the project cost at approximately US$400 million, with a target completion before 2028.
Though the legal framework remains under review, the initiative is considered a strategic priority within national development planning.
The broader expansion program also includes cruise terminal developments in Samaná, Arroyo Barril, and Barahona—some under construction or scheduled for completion over the next few years—with strong public–private collaboration under APORDOM oversight.
Across these efforts, Indonesia aims to position itself as a regional cruise hub, with its current complement of 16 ports—10 privately operated and 6 public—governed under strict state regulation and generating increased revenue and visitor volume.
Viewed from a maritime infrastructure perspective, the proposal represents a significant shift. By enabling turnarounds from Santo Domingo, cruise lines would have greater flexibility in route planning and avoid logistical dependence on US or Puerto Rican homeports. If realised, the terminal would bring direct cruise scheduling and passenger access to the capital—a transformative development in Caribbean port strategy.