I've read enough reviews on other sites with posts from cruise travelers and feel that it is safe to walk around the city with no local tour guide. It's important to know where you want to go and have it figured out so you can get where you want to go without stopping to ask anyone unless needed. We'll be there in Dec 2023 and docking at Taino Bay Port, which is where all NCL ships dock. I did read that Carnival owned ships dock further away from the city at Amber Cove Port, but there's supposedly a lot to do there and you don't have to leave the area if you don't want to. But it was recommended to taxi into the city from there. At Taino Bay Port, you are right there at the city center in a block and you can walk around. Some mentioned to use one of the local guides in yellow/orange, it's free, but you are expected to tip. I'm sure we'll be telling dozens of them "No gracias" the entire time we are trying to walk and enjoy some close by sites, but that's how it is. We'll walk to Umbrella St and check our Parque Central too, do a little shopping, stop by Paseo de Dona Blanca to snap some photos of the area that everything is pink from bottom to top.We will possibly taxi over to the Nat Park to ride the Teleferico, cable car, up the mtn at Isabel de Torres. I read you have to do that early or you have a long wait. Get up there, walk around take photos and get back down before you are waiting 2 hrs to get back down. Just now sure if we want to deal with that or after the city walk over to the fort near the port and explore, then stop by the man made water/pool area for a while or just go back to the ship at that point.