Royal Caribbean Drops All Labadee Visits Through 2...

The brand new 12 months isn’t fairly two weeks outdated, however cruise vacationers hoping so as to add Labadee, Haiti to their “been there, completed that” listing of port visits in 2026 will now be dissatisfied.

Royal Caribbean has begun the latest spherical of notifications eradicating the port of name from deliberate itineraries by means of the whole 12 months, impacting a dozen ships and greater than 65 sailings.

Visitors booked on numerous cruises that had initially included Labadee have now began receiving letters informing them of the modifications and the way their particular person itineraries have been impacted.

“Now we have been monitoring the evolving state of affairs in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and out of an abundance of warning, we’re cancelling our go to to Labadee,” the notification emails learn.

Completely different ships have totally different modifications to different ports of name each time attainable.

For instance, company booked on the May 2, 2026 departure of Freedom of the Seas now know they won’t be visiting Labadee, however they are going to be going to Nassau as an alternative as a part of the 5-night itinerary.

Likewise, the September 12, 2026 departure of Adventure of the Seas shall be visiting Grand Turk on that 6-night itinerary as an alternative of Labadee.

Not all ships might be accommodated in different ports of name, nonetheless. The May 3, 2026 departure of Star of the Seas will get pleasure from a day at sea somewhat than the Labadee port go to on the 7-night cruise.

It isn’t shocking that the Icon-class ship may have a sea day somewhat than one other port go to. The choices to accommodate one of many largest cruise ships on the planet are naturally extra restricted, however Royal Caribbean is making what preparations are attainable.

Relying on the ship, crusing date, itinerary, and general port availability, different ports can embrace Nassau, Grand Turk, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Costa Maya, Cabo Rojo, and extra.

If company had already booked shore excursions for Labadee by means of Royal Caribbean, these excursions shall be robotically cancelled and refunded.

Why So Many Cancellations?

Royal Caribbean started cancelling visits to Labadee following extreme civil unrest and gang exercise that precipitated a widespread authorities collapse in 2023 and 2024. Whereas at occasions some visits have been cautiously resumed, the cruise line has not had a robust presence in Haiti for greater than a 12 months.

The US Division of State has Haiti listed as a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory on account of kidnapping, crime, potential terrorist exercise, and different considerations.

Probably the most extreme circumstances in Haiti are concentrated across the capital of Port-au-Prince, which is 85 miles south of Labadee.

As a result of legal exercise is now extending nicely previous the capital metropolis, nonetheless, it’s best to be cautious and guarantee vacationers are protected by selecting totally different locations.

Varied ships do proceed to carry humanitarian provides to Haiti to assist the Royal Caribbean crew members based mostly in Labadee. These are operational stops solely, nonetheless, and company should not permitted to disembark or benefit from the port go to.

Will Royal Caribbean Abandon Haiti Altogether?

With the civil stress in Haiti unlikely to ease for years, it’s attainable that Royal Caribbean may think about pulling out of their personal improvement in Labadee altogether.

For the reason that cruise line is now creating new personal seaside golf equipment and locations, such because the newly opened Royal Seaside Membership Paradise Island within the Bahamas in addition to the upcoming Good Day Mexico in Costa Maya, such a transfer may be into account.

Finally, the cruise line is a enterprise and it’ll make no matter selections are finest for its backside line, the protection of company and ships, and the satisfaction of shareholders.