Amber Cove · Wednesday, December 23, 2026

Top 3 Amber Cove Tours for Carnival Sunshine & Carnival Celebration

Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Celebration are both at Amber Cove on Wednesday, December 23, 2026: Carnival Sunshine from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Carnival Celebration from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. These are the three excursions we’d book for this port day, with guaranteed pickup in the Amber Cove terminal lobby, drive times from the pier, minimum ages and the weather to expect.

Carnival Sunshine guests: available All 16 of our excursions are open. Book online until 7:00 PM on Tuesday, December 22.

Carnival Celebration guests: available All 16 of our excursions are open. Book online until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, December 22.

See the top 3 tours Weather for December 23
4.7 3,202 reviews ★★★★★ 4.8 Google reviews
The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship, with a dark blue hull, red whale-tail funnel and colorful waterslides, docked at a cruise terminal under an overcast sky.
Carnival Sunshine Carnival Cruise Line · 7:00 AM–4:00 PM Photo: David (dbking) · CC BY 2.0
Stern view of the Carnival Celebration cruise ship, with its name on the stern and a red, white and blue funnel, leaving Funchal harbour with hillside houses behind.
Carnival Celebration Carnival Cruise Line · 8:00 AM–5:00 PM Photo: A Guy Named Nyal · CC BY-SA 2.0
Carnival Sunshine
7:00 AM–4:00 PM · all aboard ~3:30 PM
Carnival Celebration
8:00 AM–5:00 PM · all aboard ~4:30 PM
Pickup
Guaranteed in the terminal lobby
Ships in port
2 · Busy day: book early
Chance of rain
38% on a typical December 23

Your Wednesday port day at a glance

Port day timeline for each ship at Amber Cove on Wednesday, December 23, 2026
Ship Docks Meet your guide Excursion window All aboard Departs
Carnival SunshineCarnival Cruise Line 7:00 AM ~7:30 AM in the lobby 7:30 AM–2:30 PM7 hours ~3:30 PM 4:00 PM
Carnival CelebrationCarnival Cruise Line 8:00 AM ~8:30 AM in the lobby 8:30 AM–3:30 PM7 hours ~4:30 PM 5:00 PM

Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Celebration are both in port. Together they carry about 8,364 guests at double occupancy, so it’s a busy day: book your excursion early. All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before departure; check your cruise line’s app.

Top 3 Amber Cove tours for Carnival Sunshine & Celebration on December 23

Chosen to suit guests of both ships, their time in port and the weather December 23 usually brings. Each tour has a booking button for each ship, with its arrival time already filled in.

Best overall

1. Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch

Slide, jump and swim through the seven Damajagua waterfalls, then sit down to a Dominican lunch.

Price
From $49 per guest
Duration
3 hours
Pickup
Amber Cove lobby Guaranteed
Drive from the pier
31 min 23.8 km (14.8 mi)
Minimum age
7+
Back at the terminal
Carnival Sunshine ~10:30 AM · Celebration ~11:30 AM Carnival Sunshine all aboard ~3:30 PM · Celebration all aboard ~4:30 PM

Why it’s a top pick for Carnival Sunshine & Celebration on December 23

Carnival Sunshine guests are back around 10:30 AM and Celebration guests are back around 11:30 AM, at least 5 hours before all-aboard. Rain falls on 38% of days around December 23; showers don’t stop it, and guides check the river after heavy rain. Ages 7+.

  • Dry: Great
  • Showers: Great
  • Rainy: Depends
Book · Carnival Sunshine guests Book · Celebration guests See the full itinerary

Each button opens the booking form with that ship, Dec 23, 2026 and its arrival time already filled in.

Route to 27 Charcos de Damajagua

Amber Cove Cruise Terminal → 27 Charcos de Damajagua: 31 min · 23.8 km (14.8 mi)

Fastest driving route on Google Maps as of November 1, 2026. Tour vans may take longer in traffic. Open in Google Maps

Best for families · all ages

2. Monkey Home + Butterflies + Birds

Feed squirrel monkeys, walk through a butterfly garden and hand-feed colorful birds at an easy pace.

Price
From $57.99 per guest
Duration
3 hours
Pickup
Amber Cove lobby Guaranteed
Drive from the pier
18 min 16.3 km (10.1 mi)
Minimum age
All ages Kid friendly
Back at the terminal
Carnival Sunshine ~10:30 AM · Celebration ~11:30 AM Carnival Sunshine all aboard ~3:30 PM · Celebration all aboard ~4:30 PM

Why it’s a top pick for Carnival Sunshine & Celebration on December 23

Carnival Sunshine guests are back around 10:30 AM and Celebration guests are back around 11:30 AM, at least 5 hours before all-aboard. Rain falls on 38% of days around December 23, and this one runs rain or shine. Good for all ages.

  • Dry: Good
  • Showers: Great
  • Rainy: Great
Book · Carnival Sunshine guests Book · Celebration guests See the full itinerary

Each button opens the booking form with that ship, Dec 23, 2026 and its arrival time already filled in.

Route to Monkey Home Puerto Plata

Amber Cove Cruise Terminal → Monkey Home Puerto Plata: 18 min · 16.3 km (10.1 mi)

Fastest driving route on Google Maps as of November 1, 2026. Tour vans may take longer in traffic. Open in Google Maps

Best rain-or-shine adventure

3. Double Buggy Adventure

Share a two-seat buggy on muddy country trails, taste Dominican coffee and chocolate, then rinse off at Teco Beach.

Price
From $50 per person · 2 sharing
Duration
3 hours
Pickup
Amber Cove lobby Guaranteed
Drive from the pier
10 min 5.7 km (3.5 mi)
Minimum age
8+
Back at the terminal
Carnival Sunshine ~10:30 AM · Celebration ~11:30 AM Carnival Sunshine all aboard ~3:30 PM · Celebration all aboard ~4:30 PM

Why it’s a top pick for Carnival Sunshine & Celebration on December 23

Carnival Sunshine guests are back around 10:30 AM and Celebration guests are back around 11:30 AM, at least 5 hours before all-aboard. Rain falls on 38% of days around December 23, and this one runs rain or shine. Ages 8+.

  • Dry: Good
  • Showers: Great
  • Rainy: Great
Book · Carnival Sunshine guests Book · Celebration guests See the full itinerary

Each button opens the booking form with that ship, Dec 23, 2026 and its arrival time already filled in.

Route to Playa Teco, Maimón

Amber Cove Cruise Terminal → Playa Teco, Maimón: 10 min · 5.7 km (3.5 mi)

Fastest driving route on Google Maps as of November 1, 2026. Tour vans may take longer in traffic. Open in Google Maps

Weather in Amber Cove on Wednesday, December 23

Around December 23, rain falls on about 4 in 10 days in Puerto Plata, and about 2 in 10 are properly rainy (10 mm or more). When it does rain, the day’s total is typically around 7 mm. Use the live forecast to pick the right plan below.

Live forecast · Amber Cove

Forecast for December 23

The live forecast shows up here about nine days ahead, from December 14. Until then, plan with the typical weather for this date.

Forecast data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), refreshed every 30 minutes. Forecasts more than three days out can still change.

Typical weather around December 23

Chance of rain (1 mm+)
38%
Rainy day (10 mm+)
15%
Heavy rain (25 mm+)
5%
Average high
30 °C (86 °F)
Average low
20 °C (68 °F)

Source: NOAA daily records from the Puerto Plata airport weather station, 1996–2024, using every day within a week of December 23 (367 days).

Best excursions for each kind of weather

Rain or shine, there’s a good tour for your day. Once the forecast is in, the plan that matches it is highlighted.

Dry day

Less than 1 mm of rain between 8 AM and 8 PM

Dry weather is made for sightseeing and the zip line, and the waterfall pools are at their most turquoise.

  1. Puerto Plata City Tour Great pick From $44.55 All ages Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
  2. 7 Waterfalls + Zip Line + Lunch (private transfer) Great pick From $110 Ages 8+ Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
  3. Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch Great pick From $49 Ages 7+ Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
  4. Monkey Home + Butterflies + Birds Runs as normal From $57.99 All ages Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration

Passing showers

1–10 mm of rain between 8 AM and 8 PM

Showers on the north coast are usually short. Pick a tour where getting wet or muddy is part of the plan.

  1. Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch Great pick From $49 Ages 7+ You get wet in the canyon anyway, so a passing shower changes little. Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
  2. Double Buggy Adventure Great pick From $50 Ages 8+ Rain means more mud, which is half the fun. You will get dirty either way. Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
  3. Monkey Home + Butterflies + Birds Great pick From $57.99 All ages Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
  4. Double ATV Adventure Great pick From $45 Ages 8+ Rain means more mud, which is half the fun. You will get dirty either way. Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration

Rainy day

10 mm of rain or more between 8 AM and 8 PM

Go for the buggy and the monkeys and butterflies. Damajagua depends on how much it rains: guides check the river that morning.

  1. Double Buggy Adventure Great pick From $50 Ages 8+ Rain means more mud, which is half the fun. You will get dirty either way. Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
  2. Monkey Home + Butterflies + Birds Great pick From $57.99 All ages An easy, short-drive visit that still works when it rains. Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
  3. Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch Depends on the rain From $49 Ages 7+ Runs in light rain. After heavy rain, guides can close the falls until the river is safe; then we offer another tour or a full refund. Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
  4. Double ATV Adventure Great pick From $45 Ages 8+ Rain means more mud, which is half the fun. You will get dirty either way. Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration

Guaranteed pickup

We meet you inside the Amber Cove terminal lobby

1. Before your port day

We email your exact meeting point in the lobby, your driver’s ID badge photo and a contact number.

2. About 30 minutes after docking

Walk off your ship and into the terminal lobby, where your guide is waiting. If the ship runs late, we adjust to its real arrival.

3. Back before all-aboard

Round-trip transportation is included, and we plan every tour to bring you back to Amber Cove well before your ship’s all-aboard time.

  • Teco Beach (buggy & ATV) 10 min · 5.7 km (3.5 mi)
  • Monkey Home 18 min · 16.3 km (10.1 mi)
  • Downtown Puerto Plata 18 min · 12.5 km (7.8 mi)
  • Damajagua waterfalls 31 min · 23.8 km (14.8 mi)

About Carnival Sunshine

The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship, with a dark blue hull, red whale-tail funnel and colorful waterslides, docked at a cruise terminal under an overcast sky.
Photo: David (dbking), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Carnival Sunshine is a Carnival Cruise Line ship of the Sunshine class, sailing since 1996 (formerly Carnival Destiny).

In port
7:00 AM–4:00 PM
Cruise line
Carnival Cruise Line
Ship class
Sunshine class
In service since
1996
Gross tonnage
102,853
Guests (double occupancy)
3,002
Crew
1,040
Length
272 m (892 ft)

Onboard highlights

  • Three-deck Serenity adults-only retreat
  • WaterWorks park, where the Speedway Splash racing slide debuted
  • SportSquare with a ropes course, mini-golf and a sports court
  • Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse

This sailing: 8-night Eastern Caribbean from Norfolk, Virginia

  1. Norfolk, Virginia
  2. Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
  3. Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
  4. Amber Cove
  5. Norfolk, Virginia

Arrives from Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. Next stop after Amber Cove: Norfolk, Virginia.

Itinerary source: cruisetimetables.com. Check your booking for your exact ports.

Carnival Sunshine returns to Amber Cove on Dec 29, 2026. All of its dates are on our Carnival Sunshine Amber Cove excursions page. See Carnival Sunshine on the Carnival Cruise Line website.

About Carnival Celebration

Stern view of the Carnival Celebration cruise ship, with its name on the stern and a red, white and blue funnel, leaving Funchal harbour with hillside houses behind.
Carnival Celebration in Funchal, Madeira. Photo: A Guy Named Nyal, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Carnival Celebration is a Carnival Cruise Line ship of the Excel class, sailing since 2022.

In port
8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Cruise line
Carnival Cruise Line
Ship class
Excel class
In service since
2022
Gross tonnage
183,521
Guests (double occupancy)
5,374
Crew
1,735
Length
344.5 m (1,130 ft)

Onboard highlights

  • BOLT, the second roller coaster ever built at sea
  • The Gateway zone, with travel-inspired bars and restaurants
  • Golden Jubilee bar showcasing memorabilia from retired Carnival ships
  • Emeril's Bistro 1397 by chef Emeril Lagasse

This sailing: 7-night Eastern Caribbean from Miami, Florida

  1. Miami, Florida
  2. Nassau, Bahamas
  3. Amber Cove
  4. Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
  5. Celebration Key, Bahamas
  6. Miami, Florida

Arrives from Nassau, Bahamas. Next stop after Amber Cove: Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

Itinerary source: cruisetimetables.com. Check your booking for your exact ports.

Carnival Celebration returns to Amber Cove on Jan 7, 2027. All of its dates are on our Carnival Celebration Amber Cove excursions page. See Carnival Celebration on the Carnival Cruise Line website.

Every excursion for Carnival Sunshine & Celebration on December 23

“Back by” assumes you meet your guide about 30 minutes after your ship docks. Every tour includes round-trip transportation and pickup in the Amber Cove terminal lobby.

Swipe sideways to see the full table.

Excursions for Carnival Sunshine & Carnival Celebration at Amber Cove on Wednesday, December 23, 2026, with price, duration, return time, minimum age and weather fit
Excursion From Duration Back by · Carnival SunshineBack by · Celebration Ages If it rains Book
Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch 31 min from the pier · Challenging $49per guest 3 hours ~10:30 AM ~11:30 AM 7+ Depends on the rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Damajagua Waterfalls 31 min from the pier · Challenging $39per guest 3 hours ~10:30 AM ~11:30 AM 7+ Depends on the rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Monkey Home + Butterflies + Birds 18 min from the pier · Easy $57.99per guest 3 hours ~10:30 AM ~11:30 AM All ages Great in rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Monkey Home Adventure 18 min from the pier · Easy $60per guest 3 hours ~10:30 AM ~11:30 AM All ages Great in rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Double Buggy Adventure 10 min from the pier · Moderate $50per person · 2 sharing 3 hours ~10:30 AM ~11:30 AM 8+ Great in rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Single Buggy Ride 10 min from the pier · Moderate $95per buggy · 1 rider 2 hours 30 minutes ~10:00 AM ~11:00 AM 8+ Great in rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Double ATV Adventure 10 min from the pier · Moderate $45per person · 2 sharing 2 hours 30 minutes ~10:00 AM ~11:00 AM 8+ Great in rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Single ATV Ride 10 min from the pier · Moderate $85per ATV · 1 rider 3 hours ~10:30 AM ~11:30 AM 8+ Great in rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Puerto Plata City Tour 18 min from the pier · Easy $44.55per guest About 4 hours ~11:30 AM ~12:30 PM All ages Depends on the rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
7 Waterfalls + Zip Line + Lunch (private transfer) 31 min from the pier · Challenging $110per guest 4 hours ~11:30 AM ~12:30 PM 8+ Depends on the rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Damajagua + Zip Line + Buggy 31 min from the pier · Challenging $149per guest 5 hours ~12:30 PM ~1:30 PM 8+ Depends on the rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Damajagua + Buggy + Dominican Food 31 min from the pier · Challenging $110per guest 5 hours ~12:30 PM ~1:30 PM 8+ Depends on the rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Damajagua + Monkey Park + Lunch 31 min from the pier · Challenging $99per guest About 4 hours ~11:30 AM ~12:30 PM 8+ Depends on the rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
City Tour + Double Buggy 18 min from the pier · Moderate $75per person · 2 per buggy About 6 hours ~1:30 PM ~2:30 PM 8+ Depends on the rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
City Tour + Double ATV 18 min from the pier · Moderate $75per person · 2 per ATV About 6 hours ~1:30 PM ~2:30 PM 8+ Depends on the rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration
Monkey Home + Double Buggy 18 min from the pier · Moderate $107per person · 2 per buggy About 5 hours ~12:30 PM ~1:30 PM 6+ Great in rain Book · Carnival SunshineBook · Celebration

Traveling with kids? Minimum ages

All ages

Monkey Home + Butterflies + Birds, Monkey Home Adventure, Puerto Plata City Tour. On Monkey Home + Butterflies + Birds, kids 3–11 pay US$39 and infants 0–2 go free.

6+

Monkey Home + Double Buggy. Feed the squirrel monkeys, then share a double buggy on muddy country trails.

7+

Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch, Damajagua Waterfalls. Kids swim, slide and jump with a helmet and life jacket, always with a guide.

8+

Buggy and ATV rides, plus these combos with Damajagua, a buggy or an ATV: 7 Waterfalls + Zip Line + Lunch (private transfer), Damajagua + Zip Line + Buggy, Damajagua + Buggy + Dominican Food, Damajagua + Monkey Park + Lunch, City Tour + Double Buggy, City Tour + Double ATV.

The rule for combos: when a combo includes Damajagua, a buggy or an ATV, the buggy and ATV minimum age of 8 applies to the whole tour. The one exception is Monkey Home + Double Buggy, which starts at age 6.

Carnival Sunshine & Celebration at Amber Cove: FAQs

What time do Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Celebration arrive in Amber Cove on December 23, 2026?

Carnival Sunshine is scheduled from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Carnival Celebration is scheduled from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time (UTC−4) on Wednesday, December 23, 2026, according to the official Amber Cove port schedule (checked November 3, 2026). Port times can change, so confirm them in your cruise line’s app before going ashore.

How much time will I have in port?

Carnival Sunshine: 9 hours, with all-aboard around 3:30 PM; Carnival Celebration: 9 hours, with all-aboard around 4:30 PM. All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before departure, so plan to be back at the pier about an hour before it. Every excursion we offer fits both port days.

Where do we meet our guide at Amber Cove?

Inside the Amber Cove cruise terminal lobby. Pickup there is guaranteed on every excursion on this page, and the return trip brings you back to the same terminal. Before your port day we email your exact meeting point, your driver’s ID badge photo and a contact number.

Do you have availability on December 23, 2026?

Yes, for guests of both ships. Carnival Sunshine guests can book online until 7:00 PM on Tuesday, December 22; Carnival Celebration guests can book online until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, December 22 (12 hours before each ship docks). Groups of 6 or more get 5% off automatically (10% off for 11 or more), and you can reserve with a 30% deposit.

Which excursions are best for kids on December 23?

For any age: Monkey Home + Butterflies + Birds, Monkey Home Adventure, Puerto Plata City Tour. Kids 3–11 pay US$39 on Monkey Home + Butterflies + Birds, and infants go free. From age 6: Monkey Home + Double Buggy. From age 7: Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch, Damajagua Waterfalls. From age 8: the other buggy and ATV rides and combos that include Damajagua, a buggy or an ATV.

What is the minimum age for Damajagua, buggies and ATVs?

Damajagua: 7 years. Buggy and ATV tours: 8 years. Any combo that includes Damajagua, a buggy or an ATV follows the buggy and ATV minimum of 8, except Monkey Home + Double Buggy, which starts at 6. The city tour and the monkey tours are open to all ages.

What if it rains on December 23?

Around December 23, rain (1 mm or more) falls on 38% of days and a properly rainy day (10 mm or more) on 15%, based on NOAA records for Puerto Plata. Buggy, ATV and the monkey and butterfly tours run rain or shine. Damajagua runs in showers, but guides can close the falls after heavy rain; if a tour can’t run for weather or safety reasons, we offer another tour or a full refund.

How busy is Amber Cove on December 23?

Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Celebration are both in port. Together they carry about 8,364 guests at double occupancy, so it’s a busy day: book your excursion early.

What happens if my ship is late or skips Amber Cove?

We adjust your tour to the ship’s actual arrival, so let us know as soon as the cruise line announces a delay. If your ship was scheduled to dock at Amber Cove but doesn’t, you get a full refund.

Can I cancel my excursion?

Yes. Cancel at least 25 hours before the scheduled start of your excursion for a full refund.

Plan the rest of your port day

More ways to get ready for Carnival Sunshine & Celebration at Amber Cove: compare excursions by activity and read our travel guides.

Port-day guides

Ready for your Wednesday at Amber Cove?

Start with our #1 pick, Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch, or ask our local team which tour fits your group.

Book the #1 pick · Carnival Sunshine guestsBook the #1 pick · Celebration guests Ask about your group

Free cancellation up to 25 hours before your tour · 5% off groups of 6+, 10% off 11+ · Reserve with a 30% deposit

Ship times: official Amber Cove port schedule, checked November 3, 2026; times are local (UTC−4) and can change. Typical weather: NOAA daily records for Puerto Plata. Live forecast: MET Norway. Drive times: Google Maps’ fastest route from the Amber Cove terminal. Prices are our current direct-booking rates in US dollars.