Cruiseships

Royal Caribbean cancels visits to this Caribbean port amid violence

There are extra cruises that will not go to Royal Caribbean’s personal vacation spot in Haiti.

The cruise line knowledgeable journey brokers their ships is not going to make any scheduled visits to Labadee till a minimum of Could 2026.

It is a cruise line personal vacation spot operated by Royal Caribbean. The resort space is guarded by a non-public safety power.

In emails despatched to journey brokers and friends, the change was made “in an abundance of warning” based on the cruise line:

“We’ve been monitoring the evolving scenario in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and out of an abundance of warning, we’re cancelling our visits to Labadee by means of April 2026.”

Friends that bought shore excursions in Labadee shall be refunded the worth to their SeaPass Account as an onboard credit score.

The letter goes onto say, “We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change.”

This is an inventory of the cancelled visits and what shall be changed with every as an alternative: 

Journey of the Seas:November 22 and December 6We’ll now take pleasure in a Sea Day as an alternative of visiting Labadee. Moreover, we’ll arrive in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 AM as an alternative of seven:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM as an alternative of 4:00 PM.December 20We’ll now take pleasure in a full day in Nassau, Bahamas, as an alternative of visiting Labadee. Moreover, we’ll arrive in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 AM as an alternative of 9:30 AM and depart at 5:00 PM as an alternative of 5:30 PM.Explorer of the Seas:November 10We’ve needed to modify the time we’ll arrive at Good Day at CocoCay. We’ll now arrive at 7:00 AM as an alternative of 8:30 AM, supplying you with much more time to take pleasure in every little thing this stunning vacation spot has to supply! Whereas we cannot be visiting Labadee throughout this crusing, we’ll now take pleasure in a day at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, as an alternative.December 22We’ll now take pleasure in our Sea Day on Day 4, and go to Nassau, Bahamas, on Day 5, as an alternative of our go to to Labadee.Freedom of the Seas:November 1, November 6, November 20, and December 4We’ll now go to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, as an alternative of our go to to Labadee.November 15 and December 18We’ll now go to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, as an alternative of our go to to Labadee.November 29We’ll now go to George City, Grand Cayman* as an alternative of our go to to Labadee. Kindly word, we’ve additionally shifted the instances we’ll go to Nassau, Bahamas. Whereas we’ll lose no time in port, we’ll now arrive at 7:00 AM as an alternative of 8:00 AM and depart at 3:00 PM as an alternative of 4:00 PM.December 13 and December 22We’ll now go to Falmouth, Jamaica, as an alternative of our go to to Labadee.Independence of the Seas:December 7We’ll now take pleasure in a Sea Day as an alternative! Moreover, we’ll arrive in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 AM as an alternative of seven:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM as an alternative of 4:00 PM.Jewel of the Seas:October 31We’ll now go to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, as an alternative of our go to to Labadee.Oasis of the Seas:November 9, November 23, and December 7We’re swapping our go to to Labadee for a Sea Day. Moreover, we’ve adjusted the instances by which we’ll go to Falmouth, Jamaica, supplying you with some further time to take pleasure in every little thing this stunning vacation spot has to supply!December 21We’ll now go to Cozumel, Mexico, as an alternative of our go to to Labadee, Haiti.Symphony of the Seas:November 16, November 30, December 14, and December 28We’re swapping our go to to Labadee for a Sea Day. Moreover, we’ve adjusted the instances by which we’ll go to Falmouth, Jamaica and Nassau, Bahamas. To not fear, you will nonetheless have loads of time to take pleasure in every little thing these stunning locations have to supply!

That is an extension of cancelled calls to the port that started earlier this 12 months.  Beforehand, the cancellations had gone by means of October 2025, however a brand new spherical of modifications had been introduced at the moment.

Royal Caribbean final visited Labadee within the first quarter of 2025, after pausing calls to the vacation spot in March 2024 and suspended all visits till October 2024.

Gang violence escalated in Haiti final 12 months, and it has been underneath a state of emergency since March 2024. The U.S. State Division presently designated the nation as a Stage 4 “Don’t journey” warning.

“Crimes involving firearms are widespread in Haiti,” the advisory reads. “They embody theft, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Don’t journey to Haiti for any motive.”

No different cruise traces sail to Haiti.

Extra cancelled visits to Labadee might be coming

Royal Caribbean does not know what the longer term will maintain for different visits, so it is a “wait and see” method.

Political and civil strife in Haiti just isn’t new, and the journey warnings have been in locations for a few years. 

Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s personal seaside space, is a walled-off, unique seaside on a peninsula in northern Haiti.

It is positioned 130 miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Why Royal Caribbean is continuous to skip Labadee

Haiti is experiencing gang violence that’s concentrating on the nation’s authorities.

Gangs have grown in energy for the reason that assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. They now management 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have expanded their actions, together with looting, kidnapping, sexual assaults and rape, into the countryside. Haiti has not had a president for the reason that assassination.

The primary Kenyans arrived in Haiti in June 2024 and the power was speculated to have 2,500 troops. That Kenyan power has had points with lack of funding and its present energy is beneath 1,000.

This week, the US and Panama are proposing to interchange the power with a “gang-suppression power” with a most of 5,550 uniformed personnel. 

The power would have arrest and detention powers and extra military-grade capabilities and deadly gear.


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Ryan

Ryan O'Neill is a maritime enthusiast and writer who has a passion for studying and writing about ships and the maritime industry in general. With a deep passion for the sea and all things nautical, Ryan has a plan to unite maritime professionals to share their knowledge and truly connect Sea 2 Shore.

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