Port Samaná Sets November 24 Opening With MSC Opera Arrival
The new Dominican Republic cruise terminal expects three additional calls in December and about 10,000 passengers during the final weeks of 2026.
Port Samaná, a new cruise terminal at Arroyo Barril on the Dominican Republic’s Samaná Peninsula, is scheduled to begin operations on November 24. The Dominican government and project developer ITM Group previously confirmed that date for the terminal’s opening.
MSC Opera is due to become the first cruise ship received at the facility when it arrives on November 24, according to the terminal’s management. Three more cruise calls are expected during December.
Port Samaná projects that approximately 10,000 passengers will pass through the terminal during the closing weeks of 2026. As cruise activity grows, the development is expected to support about 1,000 direct jobs and more than 3,000 indirect positions.
The Arroyo Barril facility is distinct from Samaná Bayport, a separate cruise development in the same province. Samaná Bayport has already opened the first phase of its project.