Labadee Cruise Calls Unaffected by Haiti Violence, But Excursions Canceled

Royal Caribbean International has no plans to remove Labadee from its itineraries any time soon, but it is canceling any excursion that leaves the gated section of the private port. 

The country has been under a state of emergency for more than a week since thousands of gang members escaped multiple prisons in Port-au-Prince. Additionally, the U.S. State Department continues to maintain a Level 4 warning for the country, meaning all travel to the country is discouraged. 

But while violence reigns in Port-au-Prince, all is normal on Labadee, some 128 miles away from the capital city.

In order to keep the private port safe, Royal Caribbean does not permit anyone on the island other than cruise ship guests and employees. Additionally, guests are not permitted to leave the Royal Caribbean facilities. At this point in time, that includes any excursions that leave the Royal Caribbean facilities including things like jet skiing, fishing, snorkeling, and other water-based activities. 

An affected cruiser posted the letter they received from Royal Caribbean about the cancellation on CruiseCritic.com: “Out of respect to our local communities surrounding Labadee, Haiti, and to ensure our guest and crew safety, we’re temporarily adjusting our tour offerings.”

The line also employs private security to ensure no unauthorized people get in.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority,” a spokesperson for the cruise line said. “Our global security teams are closely monitoring the situation in the area, and at all times, we remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore. Should any changes be required, guests will be notified directly.”

Trapper Martin, a Dream Vacations franchise owner that TMR spoke with, said that surprisingly, while he used to get lots of questions about the safety of Labadee, he hasn’t heard anything from cruisers about it in the last couple of months – despite the violence being in the news.