Royal
Caribbean International has officially extended its pause on cruise visits
to its private beach destination in Labadee, located on Haiti’s northern coast,
citing safety concerns due to ongoing unrest in the country
The cruise line
announced that ships will not return to Labadee until at least October 2025,
stretching a suspension that was already in place earlier this year. Labadee
had previously been a popular stop on Royal Caribbean itineraries, but guests
aboard upcoming voyages will now be rerouted as part of the cruise line’s
response to the current situation in Haiti.
“This decision was
made out of an abundance of caution,” a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told
USA
Today in an email. “We have communicated with guests directly on this
change.”
While the company
hasn’t disclosed how many sailings are impacted, the suspension continues a
trend that began in 2024 when Royal Caribbean first
halted port calls to the destination amid rising violence in Haiti. Ships
briefly returned earlier in 2025, but deteriorating conditions on the Caribbean
island prompted the cruise line to once
again steer clear.
Haiti has been in
a state of emergency since March 2024, with widespread gang violence, political
instability and growing civil unrest disrupting daily life across the country.
In response, the U.S. State Department maintains a Level 4 “Do Not Travel”
advisory (its highest warning level) for Haiti.
“Crimes involving
firearms are common in Haiti,” the State Department warns. “They include
robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Do not travel
to Haiti for any reason.”
The advisory also
offers detailed precautions for those who must travel to the region, such as
arranging airport transfers in advance, avoiding public gatherings and
demonstrations, and preparing an evacuation strategy that doesn’t depend on
U.S. government assistance.
Labadee itself has
long been separated from the rest of the country, operating as a fenced-off,
cruise line-controlled area reserved exclusively for Royal Caribbean
passengers. Despite its private status and security measures, the surrounding
area’s instability appears to have made continued visits too risky for now.
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