Dominican Republic on track to surpass 3 million cruise passengers in 2025

The Dominican Republic is on track to exceed 3 million cruise passengers by the end of 2025, driven by record-breaking monthly arrivals and the expansion of key ports. According to the Central Bank, March 2025 saw a record 324,704 cruise passengers—an 18.7% increase compared to the same month in 2024.

Economist Henri Hebrard highlighted that the country surpassed 1 million cruise arrivals in the first quarter of 2025 for the first time in history, rising from 869,385 in Q1 2024 to 1,004,143—a 13.4% increase. Puerto Plata played a key role in this growth, contributing 99,129 additional passengers, while the newly opened Cabo Rojo port in Pedernales welcomed 20,287 cruise visitors.

With cruise ports across the country receiving a total of 2.76 million visitors—82.8% of them through Puerto Plata—officials anticipate that the Dominican Republic will surpass the 3 million cruise passenger milestone by year’s end if current trends continue.

Source: Dominican Today