Why Haiti remains a popular stop for cruises

About 130 miles north of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, where there have been recent gang attacks, there is a private cruise port welcoming guests to a resort with its own security measures and restricted entry.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships are continuing to visit Labadee, which is the cruise company's day-use property situated on a peninsula over six hours away from Port-au-Prince. A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean has mentioned that the company is keeping a close eye on the situation in the surrounding area.

A Level 4 travel advisory, the highest warning level, has been issued by the US Department of State for Haiti. This advisory was last updated on July 27, 2023, due to concerns such as kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. It is advised not to travel to Haiti. The neighboring country of the Dominican Republic has a Level 2 advisory, suggesting increased caution. Other countries with Level 4 advisories include Russia, Syria, and Burkina Faso.

Haiti has been in the news recently due to gang violence and a mass prison break in Port-au-Prince on March 3. This incident led the government to declare a state of emergency as thousands of inmates escaped. The US Embassy has recommended that American citizens leave Haiti as soon as possible.

Labadee is located on the northern coast of the country, about 128 miles away from Port-au-Prince. This port is a special destination that can only be visited by employees and guests of Royal Caribbean. It is reserved solely for ships belonging to the Royal Caribbean Group, and visitors must arrive by ship and stay within the resort during their time on land.

Which cruise ships have access to Labadee?

Royal Caribbean has not canceled any calls or sailings visiting Labadee at this time. According to the company’s spokesperson, only guests and employees are allowed on site, and there is private security in place to limit access.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority,” said a Royal Caribbean spokesperson in a statement sent to media outlets, including CNN. "Our global security teams are closely monitoring the situation in the area. We always remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore and follow all State Department guidelines. If any changes are necessary, guests will be notified directly."

Labadee, Royal Caribbean's day-use resort pictured here in a file photo, is located on a peninsula in northern Haiti.

Labadee, Royal Caribbean's day-use resort pictured here in a file photo, is located on a peninsula in northern Haiti.

The spokesperson announced that the following ships will be visiting Labadee in the upcoming weeks: Independence of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas. Next up is the Oasis of the Seas, which is scheduled to visit during a seven-night Caribbean & Perfect Day itinerary departing from Miami on March 10, 2024. (Perfect Day at CocoCay is a private Royal Caribbean resort in the Bahamas).

Currently, there are no plans for Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, to visit Labadee in 2024, according to the spokesperson.

All shore excursions in Labadee, which take place within the private resort area, remain unaffected and have not been cancelled.

Celebrity Cruises, a part of the Royal Caribbean Group, includes Labadee as a port of call on some of its ships like Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Ascent for cruises departing from Florida ports in December 2024.

Should travelers on these cruises be worried?

Cruise ships continue to visit Labadee, according to Cruise Critic’s Editor-in-Chief, Colleen McDaniel. She describes Labadee as Royal Caribbean’s exclusive private destination, situated on Haiti’s northern coast.

McDaniel explained to CNN that Labadee is a private destination exclusively for cruise ship guests. The experience is fully managed and operated by the cruise line, with the goal of seamlessly extending the onboard experience to the destination.

She mentioned that cruise lines pay close attention to situations in all ports. For travelers who may be worried, whether they are traveling by land, air, or sea, she suggested checking for any travel alerts from their home country. If guests have any concerns about a port of call, they can choose to stay on the ship.

Columbus Cove Beach in Labadee in 2018

Columbus Cove Beach in Labadee in 2018

Ron Buskirk/UCG/Getty Images/FILE

A recent post on a Cruise Critic forum asked if Royal Caribbean would skip Labadee port due to a recent jailbreak. The post, dated Monday, March 4, 2024, has received over 7,000 views since then.

According to Stewart Chiron, also known as The Cruise Guy, who is a cruise industry expert, Labadee has private security and is completely fenced in. He has visited Labadee many times while cruising with Royal Caribbean, although not within the last year.

Ships continue to visit Labadee without any problems, according to Chiron. The private beach area owned by RCG is located quite a distance away, about 6-8 hours north of Port Au Prince. Concerns initially arose following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Chiron mentioned that RCG ships were the first to provide relief supplies at the scene.

In 2016, there were local protests that led to at least one cruise ship deciding to bypass docking in Labadee.

Dominique Moussignac, aged 38, used to work as a journalist and currently resides in Hinche, located in Central Haiti. According to him, there are no political tensions in Hinche like those in Port-au-Prince. He also mentions that Labadee, situated in the North, is completely safe and free from any danger.

Royal Caribbean began leasing the Labadee port in the mid 1980s and has since invested millions of dollars to turn it into a private resort.

Labadee is a popular stop for cruise ships, offering a day visit experience similar to other private destinations in the Caribbean. Cruise lines like Disney, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean have their exclusive spots like Castaway Cay, Great Stirrup Cay, and CocoCay in the Bahamas.

Labadee, owned by Royal Caribbean Group, offers five different beachfront areas on a peninsula. Guests step off the ship into a space managed by the cruise line, where they can relax in a private bungalow at Nellie’s Beach with attendant service ensuring a steady flow of refreshments.

According to Royal Caribbean’s website, Labadee promises "beachside bliss" and "endless adventure" with pristine sands, coral reefs, and jungle-covered hilltops surrounding lagoon-like bays.

Moussignac visited Labadee in 2022 to understand how it operates. He expressed disappointment that local residents are unable to enjoy the private beaches.

He observed that the locals can only watch the cruise ships from a distance and are forced to find alternative, less appealing locations for their own leisure activities.

During his visit in December 2022, Moussignac went swimming at a beach that was not part of the exclusive paradise spots for Royal Caribbean guests.

Although some visitors highly praise this picturesque spot, it is located in a fenced-off area in Haiti, which has led to online remarks about a strange atmosphere at the secluded resort.

What recent guests have to say about Labadee

Some recent guests report great experiences in Labadee.

Erica McNamara, 32, from Tampa, Florida, embarked on a six-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale aboard Odyssey of the Seas. Her favorite port of call during the February 28, 2024 trip was Labadee, which she found to be the highlight of the entire itinerary. The cruise also included stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and a port in the Dominican Republic.

McNamara, accompanied by 12 family members including her husband and two young sons, shared that her cousins went snorkeling, her parents went on a catamaran trip, and her three-and-a-half year old son was fascinated by the tram. They spent the day at Nellie's Cove beach, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience for the whole family.

Erica McNamara and her family visited Labadee in late February.

Erica McNamara and her family visited Labadee in late February.

Erica McNamara

McNamara said her mother was the only one in the family who expressed concern about calling into port in Haiti.

McNamara shared that when he informed his friend about his plan to disembark from the ship alone that morning, she expressed concern, calling him crazy and advising against it. He reassured her that the area was owned by Royal Caribbean and therefore a private space.

Another traveler, Alexandra Graham, aged 45 and hailing from Tampa, also visited Labadee on Sunday, March 3, 2024, the same day as the prison break, aboard Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas. She mentioned feeling safe during her visit.

"We only realized the increased security measures when we boarded the bus that would take us to the highest point on the mountain for the zip line," she mentioned. "During the bus ride to the top, we went through a security checkpoint with armed guards who were very vigilant."

Graham described Labadee as a place that was "very well organized and offered plenty of activities."

Graham mentioned that she only found out about the jailbreak when she got back to the ship that evening. She added, "Honestly, we felt quite secure."

McNamara, a frequent traveler who had been on numerous cruises before having children, viewed her family's first international trip as a gentle reintroduction to traveling abroad with young kids.

She mentioned that the stops on the trip felt artificial and not very exciting. Despite that, she had a fantastic time in Labadee.

Terry Ward, a travel writer from Florida, resides in Tampa. She has visited Leogane and Port-au-Prince in Haiti, but she has never been to Labadee.

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