Royal Caribbean cancels Labadee stops amid Haiti travel advisory

Royal Caribbean has canceled all upcoming cruise calls to Labadee, its private beach resort on Haiti’s northern coast, through at least April 2026 due to growing safety concerns tied to the country’s political instability and a renewed U.S. travel advisory. The decision affects dozens of itineraries that had included stops at Labadee, a port described by the line as a place where Haiti’s natural beauty can be discovered around every corner. Royal Caribbean Group officials told Fox News Digital that they paused visits through April 2026 and are directly notifying affected guests.

An updated U.S. State Department travel advisory reissued the Level 4 Do Not Travel warning for Haiti, citing kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest and limited health care. The advisory describes the security situation in detail and notes that kidnapping is widespread and often involves well planned operations with victims including U.S. citizens who have been injured, killed or held for ransom. It also warns of mob violence, designated terrorist organizations among gangs and limited emergency response, with additional restrictions such as the FAA prohibiting U.S. carrier flights to the country’s airports. Haiti has been under a State of Emergency since March 2024, and in July 2023 the U.S. ordered nonessential government employees and their families to evacuate.

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While Labadee remains a private resort owned by the cruise line, the halt comes as the company had already begun diverting ships from Labadee earlier this year. The cruise line said it will reassess whether to return to the port before May 2026, depending on regional safety conditions. In the meantime, ships originally scheduled to dock in Haiti will instead visit alternate ports, including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay, the Dominican Republic and other destinations. Some itineraries may also replace the Haiti stop with an additional day at sea.

Despite the suspension, interest in Caribbean cruises remains strong. AAA’s Cruise Travel Forecast indicates 19 million Americans plan to cruise this year, with 72 percent choosing Caribbean destinations. Cruise expert Stewart Chiron, known as The Cruise Guy, told Fox News Digital that 2025 is shaping up to be another record year for the industry, with demand surging in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe. As the situation in Haiti remains volatile, Royal Caribbean emphasized that the safety of its guests and crew remains its top priority, adding that the company is communicating with guests directly.