Royal Caribbean suspends visits to Labadee, Haiti amid gang violence

Multiple reports confirm that Royal Caribbean, in response to the deteriorating situation in Haiti, has suspended all calls to Labadee, a peninsula where the cruise company’s day-use property is located.

According to Cruise Hive and Royal Caribbean Blog, guests on current and upcoming sailings have been notified of the change.

In a communication sent to guests and partners, Aurora Yera-Rodriguez, assistant vice-president of Royal Caribbean International, wrote: “Due to the evolving situation in Haiti, and in an abundance of caution, we're temporarily suspending our visits to Labadee for our entire fleet. We continue to monitor and assess the situation with our Global Security & Intelligence Team.”

The update follows a recent prison break in Haiti during which some 4,000 inmates escaped from two prison facilities.

Violence in Haiti escalated in February when the country’s criminal gangs, which already controlled large parts of the economy and most of Port-au-Prince, launched a series of attacks on police stations, prisons and other government buildings.

Haiti has long been subject to travel advisories, although this has traditionally not had an impact on cruises. Labadee sits on the northern coast of Haiti, some 130 miles north of the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, which has been gripped by a wave of violent gang attacks.

A U.S. Department of State’s Level 4 travel advisory (“do not travel,” the highest warning level), for Haiti was updated on July 27, 2023, citing “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure.”

Canada, similarly, has an active “avoid all travel” warning for Haiti.

As a private destination, Labadee is only accessible to cruise ship passengers. The day experience is meant to serve as an extension of the onboard experience. The beach location is fenced in and monitored by private security.

Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by Royal Caribbean Group, also lists Labadee as a stop aboard several of its ships.

Itinerary changes

Still, escalating violence in the country has prompted Royal Caribbean to change course with itinerary changes.

For guests currently on route to Labadee, Yera-Rodriguez said passengers onboard Adventure of the Seas on a March 14 sailing will be re-routed Grand Turk, Turks, and Caicos.

Others have reportedly received emails saying that they will have a sea day in lieu of a port day in Labadee.

Guests onboard Symphony of the Seas as part of a March 14 sailing, were told: “We'll now enjoy a Sea Day instead of visiting Labadee. We've also added extra time to our visit to Falmouth, Jamaica, so you'll have more time to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer.”

Sailings aboard Oasis of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas will also be impacted.

Royal Caribbean has also addressed the issue of lost money from booked excursions.

“Any pre-paid Royal Caribbean International shore excursions booked for Labadee will automatically be refunded to your original form of payment,” a communication said.

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