This Cruise Port SHOCKED Us! | Puerto Plata Taino Bay Vlog | Oasis of the Seas 2026

Day 5 of our Spring Break cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas brought us to our final port: beautiful Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. We docked at Taino Bay, and honestly, this port completely exceeded our expectations.

Our first stop of the day was Monkey Island, a convenient and budget-friendly 30-minute experience located directly inside the Taino Bay cruise port. This is not to be confused with Monkeyland, which is a much larger commercial nature reserve located about 30–45 minutes away and typically requires a 2–3 hour excursion. If you’re looking for something quick, affordable, and easy without leaving the port area, Monkey Island is a fantastic option.

When we arrived, the first available reservation time wasn’t until 1:20 PM, so we had about a 90-minute wait. Thankfully, there is plenty to do around Taino Bay. One of the highlights of the port is the gorgeous lazy river, so Ray and Rider decided to jump in while we waited. It takes about 20 minutes to float the entire loop, and they absolutely loved it.

Cruise tip: bring towels off the ship if you plan to use the lazy river or pools in port. I didn’t think we would need them, and quickly learned there are no complimentary towels available. I ended up spending $33 on a very cheap towel, and even finding one was difficult. Definitely a lesson learned for next time.

We also stopped into one of the small pharmacies inside the port to pick up some over-the-counter medicine. If you forget something or need basic medications, this is actually a great port for that.

Finally, it was time for our squirrel monkey interaction — and it was easily one of the highlights of the entire cruise. After a short introduction, we were guided into an enclosed sanctuary where we were given bowls of fresh fruit to feed the monkeys. The squirrel monkeys were incredibly friendly and full of personality. They climbed all over our shoulders and heads and ate directly from our hands.

Before entering, all loose jewelry had to be removed because the monkeys will absolutely try to grab shiny objects. We also had to empty our pockets and sanitize our shoes to help protect the animals. Phones and cameras were allowed, although the guides occasionally asked guests to put them away during feeding moments so the monkeys wouldn’t steal them.

Professional photographers were onsite taking photos throughout the experience, and pricing depended on group size. For the three of us, the photo package was $40 and completely worth it for the memories we captured.

What we loved most about this experience was how easy and affordable it was. We never had to leave the port, it didn’t take up the entire day, and it still felt incredibly unique and memorable.

After Monkey Island, Rider decided he wanted to conquer the zipline inside the port. He was definitely nervous, but determined to do it — and he did! Even better, some new friends we met onboard were staying in the Crown Loft Suite overlooking the area, and their parents cheered him on the entire way down. Thanks to their incredible vantage point, we even got an amazing video of the moment.

This ended up being one of our favorite port days of the cruise, and we already can’t wait to visit Puerto Plata again.

If you enjoy cruise vlogs, Royal Caribbean content, family travel, and honest cruise reviews, make sure to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Oasis of the Seas videos!

Ready to book a Royal Caribbean Cruise? Request a free cruise quote here: https://app.tern.travel/public/forms/Hi-9JYIG4j69mhmSuc1sKQ/responses/new

I also have some exclusive group rates for Spring Break cruises for Spring Break 2027 & 2028, contact me below for a quote request:

Allure of the Seas Spring Break 2027: https://app.tern.travel/public/forms/KCCq1obAfHU6pPX-sFDrOg/responses/new

Hero of the Seas Spring Break 2028: https://app.tern.travel/public/forms/e2WKjRvf7QOQwCD1kODbvw/responses/new