How my 'refined' cruise turned into an unexpected pool-side carnival

Here's what happens when two mega ships dock side by side.

A pool party at Amber Cove.

By Louise Goldsbury

August 4, 2025

Docking in the Dominican Republic's Amber Cove, I expected a lazy day of poolside lounging and souvenir shopping. What I didn't anticipate was a full-blown, half-naked dance party with hundreds of people from another ship.

Amber Cove is Carnival Corporation's private island-style village, so it's shared by Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises.

Although these three brands are owned by the same company, the clientele is quite different. Carnival passengers are the youngest, Holland America the oldest, and Princess is a mix of everyone.

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Last week I was onboard Enchanted Princess when we pulled up alongside Carnival's Mardi Gras. There was a distinct shift in the vibe, as the Carnivallers were already in celebration mode while I was still having breakfast.

At Amber Cove's resort complex, the two ships collided in the best way possible. A DJ was spinning hip-hop and R&B as both groups of guests mingled at the swim-up bar, beers and frozen cocktails in hand, dancing waist-deep in the water.

Revellers in bikinis and boardshorts sang along and threw their hands up in the air. The infectious energy was impossible to resist.

"We bring the party with us," a 20-something woman told me, grinning behind mirrored sunglasses.

Enchanted Princess docked alongside Carnival's Mardi Gras.

And it was true. I may have chosen a week of elegance and premium service on Princess, but for a few hours, I got to crash a Carnival bash.

The next day, it happened again in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where we woke up beside the same ship at Grand Turk. This time the joint party was at Margaritaville at the end of the wharf.

It was like "jumping ship" for no extra charge. Choose your own cruise adventure in the Caribbean. Now that's value.

The chance of this happening on Australian cruises is next to zero. Two ships rarely dock at the same pier, and our region doesn't have any private islands where cruise guests are corralled together.

Back onboard Enchanted Princess, I resumed my refined behaviour in the relaxed ambience of Crooners Bar, enjoying a pianist playing the classics, followed by a civilised dinner at the Crown Grill steakhouse.

I was happily in bed by 10pm, but I bet my Mardi Gras mates were still going strong in the nightclub much, much later.

MYTH BUSTER: Cruisers don't 'travel'

Cruising is not just a getaway, it's a gateway to future travel. A few hours in a port can be enough time to spark the desire to revisit the destination, often leading to plans for an extended holiday on land. Six in 10 passengers return to a destination that they first discovered by ship, according to a report by the Cruise Lines International Association. The brief stops allow travellers to decide if they would want to explore more of the country, culture or evening attractions. It's a low-risk way to preview a place without committing to the cost or time of a whole week or longer.