A Beautiful Day in the Dominican Republic

Why a Tour outside the Cruise Ship Was the Best Decision I Made on My Caribbean Cruise Stop in the Dominican Republic?

I debated for weeks about what to do during our cruise stop in the Dominican Republic. Should I book a ship excursion? Wing it on my own? After a lot of research, I decided to book with Happy Drivers — and it turned out to be the single best decision I made during the entire cruise.

Finding Your Driver at Taino Bay (Royal Caribbean)

Our ship docked at Royal Caribbean's Taino Bay terminal in Puerto Plata. I learned that there are two ports, the other is Amber Cover and that one can also do a tour with this company. When you walk outside, you'll immediately be approached by taxi drivers but don't stop there. Keep walking past them to where the white vans are parked. That's where you'll find your Happy Drivers contact. Ours was  named Guillermo, waiting with a sign that said NabetsiTravels. 

Flexibility That Made the Difference

I had originally planned to visit Damajagua Falls, but when we met Guillermo, he gave us a heads-up: it's a 35-minute walk, mostly uphill, just to reach the falls. That day, I wasn't in the mood for a strenuous hike — and I appreciated that he told us the truth rather than just taking us there. Instead, I asked if we could spend the day exploring Puerto Plata, and he said he was at our service. We went over our options together and built the perfect itinerary on the spot.

What Made It Such a Great Day

Guillermo paid attention to the details that matter. His van had a cooler stocked with water, Sprite, and Coke — available whenever we wanted. He checked in with us regularly, informed us about each upcoming stop so we could decide if it was something we wanted to do, and never once made us feel rushed. We made it back to the ship an hour before all-aboard time. If you've ever stressed about missing your ship, you know how much that peace of mind is worth.

We cruise frequently, and this was genuinely one of the best days we've ever had in a cruise port.

What We Did in Puerto Plata

We packed a lot into one day. We learned about history, culture, food, and fun. Here's a look at what we experienced:

• Fort of San Felipe: An ancient fortress built in the 16th century to protect the city from pirates. The panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, the cruise ship, and Puerto Plata from the fort are absolutely stunning.

• The Colonial Zone — Vibrant Victorian-era houses lining cobblestone streets, including the famous Pink Street. Guillermo shared the history behind the buildings, which made it so much more meaningful than just walking past them.

• The Amber Museum — A fascinating look at the Dominican Republic's world-famous amber, including pieces with preserved prehistoric insects.

• Macorix Rum Factory — A full tour of the distillery where we learned about the history and production of Dominican rum, capped off with a tasting of five different rums. Highly recommend.

• Cable Car Area — We visited the base of the Puerto Plata cable car and even had a surprisingly sweet encounter with some friendly local cows.

• Authentic Dominican Lunch — Guillermo took us to a local Dominican restaurant where we ate a genuine, home-style meal. This was a highlight — not a tourist trap, but the real thing.

• We went to the top of the tallest mountain for amazing views of the city and we could see the ship in the distance!

Would I Recommend Happy Drivers?

Absolutely and without hesitation. If you're stopping in Puerto Plata on a cruise — whether on Royal Caribbean or any other line — and you want a personalized, unhurried, authentic experience, Happy Drivers is the way to go. Guillermo made our day feel like we were exploring with a knowledgeable local friend, not just checking boxes on a tour.

Start by messaging them on Whats App at +18296694978 and letting them know that NabetsiTravels sent you.  Their english on Whats App is understandable but not perfect and you will need to send them a deposit over paypal, I sent $40 USD.  Have questions? Email me: nabetsi@nabetsi.com