Within the Amber Cove terminal complex, it is an easy walk to a complimentary pool with plenty of lounge chairs for passengers. If not taking an excursion, it is an excellent way to spend the day.
All-day passes are available for the zip line, ($10 for kids and $20 for adults), and there are other rentals as well.
We chose to look for a private tour. Taxis lined up outside the terminal, and we approached the taxi pick up area to inquire about a tour. For our party of 4, we agreed to $20 each for the day. I asked, “How long?” and Junior said, “However long you want to go.” He also informed us that if we wanted to ride the cable car it would be $10 per person extra when we got there, and other attractions would have their own admission prices.
Junior drove us through the grounds of the rum factory and cigar factory, but we chose not to get out and tour either of those.
Junior and our little group boarded the teleferic (cable car)…..
….which took us up to Mount Isabel de Torres. We are so high up, a person in the parking lot can barely see the statue of Jesus at the top of the mountain in the distance.
Be careful with “complimentary” photographers at the top of the mountain. We offered a tip, but he said the pictures are free. Afterward, high pressure tactics follow to come look at their souvenir booths inside the dome. I told him that I didn’t see anything I wanted in his shop, and then he said he would accept some money for taking the pictures. I really liked the photos he took so I didn’t mind a tip for the service. But if someone goes and just wants to take their own photos, I recommend they just keep saying, “No, thank you,” and take their own pictures. Then DO NOT go inside the dome unless you don’t mind high pressure souvenir sales.
A botanical garden is atop the mountain and Junior showed us around.
From here, we headed to Puerto Plata. Along the way, we noticed a statue of Neptune or (Poseidon?) on a little island out in the water. He is too far away to show up in my quick picture out of the taxi window while driving, but I thought I’d include it anyway. This looked like a good place to stop and spend some time if I ever go back to the area.
Next stop, a fort. We did not go inside – just walked around the grounds.
Junior took us through downtown and asked if we wanted to stop and look around. We were immediately approached by a “guide” who would show us around (for a tip of course). There were several costumed characters ready to pose for pictures (again for a tip). Our guide showed us through the Catedral San Felipe Apostol (Cathedral of the Apostle Philip) and told us a little history of the area.
We were on a mission to find some local coffee, so he took us to a shop. As it turned out, the coffee at the cruise terminal shops was less expensive.
On the return, Junior pointed out all the trash along the side of the road. 
When the cruise terminal was built, the best access road went straight through the landfill. The government is in the process of moving all this trash behind the mountain so that it will not be viewed by the tourists coming from cruise ships.
We had the opportunity to go to the chocolate factory but decided to save that for another time. Instead, we returned to the terminal to have plenty of time to do a little shopping and look around at the port facilities before leaving Amber Cove.