Royal Caribbean Extends Labadee Cancellations for ...

Cruise visitors typically select their holidays primarily based on port locations and total itineraries, and a port cancellation generally is a disappointment – particularly when cruises are sometimes booked months upfront.

Friends booked on choose upcoming Royal Caribbean sailings may have that disappointment, nevertheless. The cruise line is now persevering with to cancel visits to its non-public vacation spot in Labadee, Haiti, properly into the summer season months.

For instance, vacationers booked on the July 20, 2025 departure of Oasis of the Seas – a 6-night Western Caribbean crusing from Fort Lauderdale – have been notified that they won’t be visiting Labadee as initially deliberate.

“We’ve been monitoring the evolving scenario in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and out of an abundance of warning, we’re swapping our go to to Labadee for a Sea Day, and we’ll now go to Nassau, Bahamas on Day 6 as a substitute,” the e-mail defined.

On the unique itinerary, Oasis of the Seas was to have spent Day 6, the final day of the crusing, having fun with leisurely time at sea. Now, the ship will go to the capital of the Bahamas as a substitute.

Moreover, Oasis of the Seas‘ go to to Falmouth, Jamaica, on Day 4 (July 23) has additionally been tweaked to allow extra time in port, giving visitors further time to take pleasure in that incredible vacation spot.

In latest weeks, Royal Caribbean has as soon as once more begun cancelling all calls to Labadee as gang violence and different prison exercise escalates within the nation.

Whereas the scenario will not be unprecedented (several months of visits were cancelled in 2024), as a result of the cruise line is now adjusting itineraries months upfront, it seems unlikely that visits to the non-public vacation spot will resume anytime quickly.

Equally, itineraries in July 2025 for Journey of the Seas, homeported from Port Canaveral, in addition to Liberty of the Seas from New Jersey, are additionally cancelling visits to Labadee.

Even the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has been diverted away from the destination in latest weeks.

Royal Caribbean is making an attempt to supply various ports similar to Nassau, Grand Cayman, or CocoCay at any time when potential, however some itineraries should make do with an additional sea day when Labadee is eliminated.

Booked visitors are notified with the precise modifications to their itineraries as quickly as such plans are confirmed.

Why Not Go to Haiti?

To be clear, the capital metropolis of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, is positioned roughly 90 miles due south of Labadee. Due to the nation’s mountainous geography and meandering street methods, nevertheless, driving between the 2 can usually take 6-7 hours.

As the e-mail states, the cruise line is making these scheduling selections out of an abundance of warning. Not solely does cancelling port visits hold cruise visitors protected, but it surely additionally ensures that native port workers, tour operators, and different residents of Haiti should not in danger to service a visiting ship.

The US Division of State presently has a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for all of Haiti. The advisory particularly notes crime, kidnapping, and civil unrest as issues.

“Since March 2024, Haiti has been underneath a State of Emergency. Crimes involving firearms are widespread in Haiti. They embrace theft, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom,” the advisory reads. “Kidnapping is widespread, and U.S. residents have been victims and have been damage or killed.”

As not too long ago as Friday, Might 2, 2025, a special alert was issued by the US Embassy a couple of gunfire incident on Rue Romain in downtown Port-au-Prince. Embassy workers and guests had been requested to keep away from the world, to not be outdoors after darkish, and to be ready to shelter in place if essential.

Learn Additionally: How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation

Personally, regardless of a number of Royal Caribbean cruises, I’ve by no means managed to make it to Labadee. Violence and tumult will not be unusual in Haiti, and on a number of itineraries the port has been dropped from our deliberate sailings.

Whereas I’ve been upset to not but go to what appears to be a stunning and distinctive vacation spot, it’s onerous to argue with security first. I’d somewhat skip the port and remember to have a protected and pleasing cruise!