This post was written in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line. All opinions are my own. This blog post may contain affiliate links.

We all know that there was horrible, mind-blowing damage through the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in September...while we hear constantly on the news that our sister island, Puerto Rico, is still struggling to recover, most of the Caribbean is open for tourism!

They need our tourism dollars NOW more than ever, to help rebuild, stimulate their economy and of course, to be financially stable enough to lend a hand to Puerto Rico! Here are 5 Reasons to Visit Punta Cana, Dominican Republic!

5 Reasons to Visit Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Norwegian Cruise Line is now sailing to one of my favorite islands in the Caribbean, Dominican Republic!

Punta Cana is one of my favorites places to travel, and there is so much to do and see there! As many of my regular readers already know, I love cruising and it's really my preferred way of traveling through the Caribbean!

That being said, here are 5 Reasons to Visit Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with #CruiseNorwegian this fall and winter season!

You can find out more about available dates and itineraries through this Cruise Destinations list from Norwegian Cruise Line, but here are some of the reasons why I think you should go to Punta Cana this fall and winter season!

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5 Reasons to Visit Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with #CruiseNorwegian

Winter never visits Punta Cana!

It's true. The average year-round temperature in Punta Cana is 82 degrees. Yes, it gets blazing hot during the summers, but even when the "winter," is bombarding most of America with sleet, rain and snow...Punta Cana is a tropical paradise in every sense of the word!

The coldest weather that Punta Cana ever sees is about 77 degrees IN JANUARY. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be floating on a float in the warn Caribbean sea in Punta Cana than shoveling a snow-filled driveway somewhere in the Northeast...or being without power due to a blizzard!

The Domincan Peso exchange rate is equal to the US Dollar.

I know that this may not seem like a big deal to some, but having just come back from Europe, where the exchange rate left me broke and penniless upon my return after a 3 week long trip...an equal exchange rate is something that makes my little travel-loving heart sing!

You don't have to worry about converting the amount you're spending, and I've found that aside from some things like Larimar and certain wood carvings, most things in the Dominican Republic are either the same price as in the USA, or even less!

One point to note is that many financial institutions will not allow you to use your credit or debit card in Dominican Republic, so please make sure to either exchange currency into Domincan Pesos before heading down that way, or calling your financial institution and notifying them that you will be in Punta Cana so that they release the hold on your cards.

My ex husband and I once found ourselves in Punta Cana with only $100 cash, as our small credit union wasn't open on weekends for us to call and release the hold...and we had no way to pull out cash! Fortunately, we were at all all inclusive resort and had already paid for everything, and only needed tip money in the way of cash.

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Another thing to note is that most places in Domincan Republic accepts US Dollars! Most of the time, you don't even need to worry about changing your money over to the Peso.

The food is AMAZING in Dominican Republic!

I highly recommend visiting a local eatery and filling up on the local cuisine! Especially if you haven't had many Caribbean dishes in the past. Dominican food is hearty and delicious, and it's not spicy as you may find in places like Jamaica or Trinidad.

The available excursions are not be missed!

I once took my family ziplining in Dominican Republic, and it was one of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen in my life.

That's saying a lot, as I've traveled to everywhere from Cambodia to Iceland.

The Dominican people are warm, friendly and inviting.

One of the friendliest places I've ever traveled to is Punta Cana. As roughly 80% of Domincan Republic's economy relies on tourism, you can imagine that no one dislikes tourists, as you may find in some places.

What can I say? Dominican Republic is my absolute favorite island in the Caribbean, and Punta Cana is my favorite spot to visit! I've traveled there via cruise ship as well as via airplane many times over the last few years, and I am always trying to plan a trip back!