Royal Caribbean Cruises has announced it is suspending all scheduled visits to its private port in Haiti, citing serious safety concerns as violence and instability continue to worsen in the country. The decision affects the company’s popular stop at Labadee, located on Haiti’s northern coast, and will remain in place until at least April 2026.
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group told Fox News that the company made the move “out of an abundance of caution” and that it is “communicating with our guests directly” about the changes. Labadee has long been marketed as a relaxing Caribbean retreat, but the growing threat of violence on the mainland has forced the cruise line to reassess passenger safety.
The pause comes after the U.S. Department of State escalated its travel advisory for Haiti to the highest warning level — “Do Not Travel” — on July 15. The advisory warns Americans not to travel to Haiti due to rampant kidnapping, violent crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and the breakdown of basic health care services.
The State Department has reported that American citizens have been targeted in Haiti, with kidnappers often demanding large ransoms. In some cases, victims’ families have been forced to pay tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure their loved ones’ release.
Royal Caribbean currently lists 41 itineraries that include stops at Labadee on its website. The company promotes the port as offering “pristine sands, coral reefs and jungle-covered hilltops nestling lagoon-like bays” and describes it as a place where “the fascinating culture, history and natural beauty of Haiti’s spectacular coasts wait to be discovered.”
While the company highlights Labadee’s scenic appeal, the reality of the security crisis has made continuing operations there untenable in the near term. Royal Caribbean has said it will review the situation next spring before deciding whether to resume visits.
Despite the disruptions in Haiti, the cruise industry overall remains strong. AAA released its first-ever “Cruise Travel Forecast” in January, projecting that 19 million Americans plan to take a cruise in 2025. Many cruise lines are instead prioritizing routes through more stable parts of the Caribbean and Western Hemisphere.
Royal Caribbean has not announced alternative stops to replace Labadee on affected itineraries, but the company emphasized that passenger safety remains its top priority as it adjusts to changing conditions in the region.
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Beautiful beaches yes, but Haiti has otherwise always been a schiffhole.
Haiti can keep their hate.