Royal Caribbean Prolongs Haiti Port Suspension Until April 2026 Due to Safety Concerns
Royal Caribbean has announced the continuation of its suspension of all cruise visits to its private destination, Labadee in Haiti, until April 2026. This decision has been made in response to escalating safety concerns amidst the ongoing civil unrest in the Caribbean nation.
The extended cancellation has been declared “out of an abundance of caution” as Haiti remains under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning issued by the U.S. State Department. This suspension impacts over 40 planned itineraries and affects eight different Royal Caribbean ships, including Freedom of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Adventure of the Seas.
Labadee, situated on Haiti’s northern coast, is one of the few remaining international cruise destinations in the Caribbean. The private resort area, operated by Royal Caribbean since the 1980s, boasts beaches, a zip line, and various attractions, all secured within a perimeter guarded by private security forces.
Passengers who had booked on the affected cruises are being rerouted to alternative Caribbean destinations. These include Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos, Nassau in the Bahamas, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Those who had purchased shore excursions for Labadee will receive onboard credit refunds.
The suspension carries significant economic implications for the local Haitians who rely on cruise tourism for their livelihoods. Gang violence has been on the rise in Haiti since March 2024, when the country declared a state of emergency following an increase in criminal activity in Port-au-Prince, located about 100 miles from Labadee.
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Source: Royal Caribbean Blog