by Donald Wood
Last updated: 5:00 PM ET, Wed October 7, 2015
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Carnival Corporation has officially opened its new cruise port at Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, welcoming the Victory as the first ship to dock.
The Amber Cove port is located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, and it will serve as a gateway to the exotic city of Puerto Plata. Victory arrived Tuesday morning with its nearly 3,000 passengers to help celebrate the new port.
For the first time in nearly 30 years, a cruise ship will regularly tour Puerto Plata's beautiful beaches and diverse historical landmarks. The cruise line has invested more than $85 million into the facility.
Carnival will be holding an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 2 at the Amber Cove port, and eight of company's 10 global brands will eventually make calls in the Dominican Republic starting over the next several months.
One of the brands that will make stops at the port for Carnival is the new social impact line called Fathom. Riding the wave of popularity related to voluntourism, travelers will be able to lend a helping hand to the people of the Dominican Republic while also touring the world.
Carnival CEO Arnold Donald told CNBC.com in September, "While the Dominican is a beautiful island, it is also in great need, with 40 percent of the population living below the poverty line. We are looking forward to bringing hundreds of Fathom travelers … to work alongside people in the Dominican communities to make a significant impact in terms of education, environment and economic development."
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