Caribbean Cruise - Princess Cays, Grand Turk, Amber Cove - November 2023.

 It has been a long time since we planned to cruise with my siblings. This seven day Caribbean Cruise is the first for Peter and Amy and the third cruise for Tan and Lieu.

We flew in Miami to meet up with the Denver group the day before the cruise.  Peter had rented a van for our transportation and made reservation for our overnight stay in Fort Lauderdale. 

 The Caribbean Princess, same ship we cruised to Greenland the year before, took us to Princess Cays, Grand Turk (Turks & Caicos), Amber Cove (Dominica Republic) and San Juan (Puerto Rico). 

Miami - viewing Veterans' Day parade.

Miami - South Beach

Lummus Park @ South Beach.

 Ft. Lauderdale hotel where we stayed the night before the cruise.

Checking in - Ft. Lauderdale cruise terminal.

Welcome aboard!

On Board.

The girls - Enjoying the sun deck, waiting for the ship set sail. Fort Lauderdale in the background.

Our ship, the Caribbean Princess, home for the next seven days.

Our first night dinner. 

First excursion: Princess Cays, a private island of the Bahamas owned and operated by Carnival Corp./Princess Cruise Line.

Princess Cays with white-sand beach.

Beach day @ Princess Cays.

Fun and sun under the Caribbean sky.

Welcome to Grand Turk, our next port of call after Pricess Cays.

Grand Turk cruise port.

Grand Turk island is the capital island of the Turks and Caicos archipelago.

The Caribbean map at cruise center.

The beach at Grand Turk. 

The beach at Grand Turk, also known as Cruise Center Beach, a short walk from the cruise terminal.

Margaritaville @ Grand Turk Cruise Center.

Margaritaville Restaurant with a large pool.

Grank Turk evening when we set sail for Amber Cove, Dominica Republic.

Our next port of call was Amber Cove, one of the Caribbean's newest ports. The cruise port is located on the Bay of Maimon, near Puerto Plata in the Dominica Republic's North Coast. 

Welcome to Amber Cove, a province of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. 

 Amber Cove, the gateway to Puerto Plata, a popular Dominican  Republic vacation destination.

Amber Cove cruise port.

From Amber Cove cruise port , we hired a van with driver to take us to Puerto Plata to sight seeing the city. The trip took about 30 minutes one way. We visited an amber museum and a chocolatier before starting our walking tour in the city center.

Puerto Plata historic district.

Puerto Plata - "Umbrella" street.

"Umbrella" street, quite a tourist attraction

San Felipe Apostol Cathedral.

Inside the cathedral.

City Hall in Central Park.

Central Park with the cathedral in the background.

Puerto Plata - Central Park.

Nice refreshment for a warm Caribbean day!

Paseo de Dona Blance, another popular tourist attraction in Puerto Plata historic center.

Looking at those "magic" mirrors.

Where is Lieu?

Leaving the Puerto Plata city center, we made a stop at Plaza de Long Beach, a popular beach and Malecon in Puerto Plata.  

Long Beach, a fine beach and resort in Puerto Plata.

 Enjoying the Caribbean/ Atlantic seashore!

What a view!

Long Beach "photo" bridge.

Mangroves, palms and autograph trees at Long Beach.

The last stop before getting back to our ship in Amber Cove was Fort San Pelipe, named for King Felipe II of Spain. It is one of the oldest European structures in the Caribbean and the only remnant of the 16th century in Puerto Plata. 

The fort overlooking the entrance to (Puerto Plata) city's seaport.

Fortaleza San Felipe, a historic Spanish fortress located in the north of the Dominican Republic in the province of Puerto Plata.

Battery deck inside the fort.

Watch tower.

Protecting the city of Puerto Plata.

 

A cruise ship docked in Taino Bay, Puerto Plata.

Leaving Fort San Felipe.

Our formal night was in the evening when the ship left Amber Cove for San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Champagne fountain ready for the gala evening!!

A wonderful evening celebrating with family. What a memorable cruise!!.