Caribbean cruise with Carnival – travel report – Day 4: La Romana
In 2018 we docked at La Romana on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic on day four of our Carnival cruise. Here’s what makes the port and the nearby islands of Catalina and Saona some of the most beautiful stops in the Caribbean.
On day four of our Carnival Caribbean cruise, La Romana lay ahead of us: a port on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic that serves as the gateway to two of the Caribbean’s most stunning islands, Catalina and Saona. This travel report dates from 2018. We’ve re-ordered it for you and added today’s updates.
- La Romana sits on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, with roughly 130,000 residents in the city and about 215,000 in the metropolitan area.
- The port has been a fixed cruise stop since 2002 and welcomes around 200,000 passengers annually; Carnival continues to call here.
- Directly opposite lies Catalina, while the second dream island, Saona, is reached via the fishing village of Bayahibe.
- Both islands deliver the Caribbean cliché in pure form: white sand, turquoise water, coral reefs.
- Independent island excursions can be risky; tours booked through the cruise line are the safer route.
La Romana: Sugar City with a Caribbean Port
La Romana isn’t a postcard town-and that’s exactly why it’s worth visiting. With around 130,000 residents in the city and roughly 215,000 in the greater area, it ranks among the Dominican Republic’s larger destinations. Economically, it’s driven primarily by sugar: the region surrounding the refinery is one of the country’s most industrialized. That prime location on the southern coast has made La Romana a natural docking point for cruise ships.
The cruise port opened in 2002 and has since become well established. Two berths can accommodate large vessels simultaneously, welcoming around 200,000 passengers each year. If you dock with Carnival, as we did, you’ll quickly notice: the city itself is just a transit stop. The real highlight lies just off the coast.
Just across the water lies Catalina, a protected island with crystal-clear waters, thriving coral reefs, and pristine white-sand beaches. That’s the Caribbean you have in mind.
Catalina and Saona: Two Islands, One Promise
Catalina sits right off the port city and is a protected nature reserve. Its transparent waters, intact reefs, and fine white sand make it a prime snorkeling and diving destination. The second dream island is Saona, part of Cotubanamá National Park. You won’t reach it directly from La Romana, but from the fishing village of Bayahibe, about 20 kilometers and roughly twenty minutes away by car. That’s where the boat tours depart.
Both islands deliver the same picture: turquoise water stretching to the horizon, swaying palms, and sandbars. If you have only one day in port, pick one island instead of trying to tick both off. Catalina wins for quick access and excellent snorkeling, while Saona offers sweeping natural beaches and the boat ride through the national park as its own adventure.
Excursions: Why the Booked Tour Is the Safe Choice
One piece of advice from our own experience-and it still holds true: independent exploration in the area isn’t risk-free. If you leave the port, do it on an organized tour. Carnival offers a wide selection that’s still available today. The classics range from boat trips to Catalina and Saona, snorkeling and beach outings, to ATV and horseback rides into the island interior. Cultural tours through the city center-including Santa Rosa de Lima Church and the baseball fields-are also on the menu, because baseball in La Romana is practically a religion.
For us, the day remains a memory of the calmest, clearest beach time along the entire route. No crowds, no schedule-just water and sand. Exactly what you book a Caribbean cruise for.
What Has Changed Since Our Visit
This travel report dates to 2018, yet the day itself has lost little of its relevance. La Romana remains on Caribbean routes, Carnival still calls at the port, and shore excursions can now be booked comfortably online in advance. What has changed is the booking logic: you reserve excursions online up to the evening before departure, and the offerings are continuously adapted to each itinerary.
What hasn’t changed is the most important part. Catalina and Saona are still protected natural paradises, the sand is still white, and the water still turquoise. A port day in La Romana isn’t a city program-it’s a beach day in its purest form. If you know that and choose your tour accordingly, you’ll get the most out of those few hours on land.
Good to Know
▸Is a stopover in La Romana worth it for just one day?
Yes, if you use the day for Catalina or Saona. The city itself is just a transit point; the real experience lies on the offshore islands with their white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters.
▸How do I get from La Romana to Saona?
You don’t reach Saona directly from the port, but via the fishing village of Bayahibe, about 20 kilometres and roughly twenty minutes away. That’s where the boat tours into Cotubanamá National Park begin.
▸Are DIY excursions a good idea?
Not really. In this region, it’s best to go through an organised tour. Carnival still offers a wide programme on-site, from boat and snorkel trips to quad and culture outings.
▸Does Carnival still call at La Romana today?
Yes. La Romana has been a cruise port since 2002 and remains on Caribbean routes, including Carnival’s. Shore excursions can be booked through the cruise line before departure.
Find more from this voyage in our Day 3 report from Grand Turk and then in Day 5 in Curaçao.
