Royal Caribbean pauses Labadee visits through 2026 amid Haiti safety concerns
Cruise line suspends private port calls as U.S. issues travel advisory and kidnappings raise safety questions
Royal Caribbean Cruises has canceled scheduled visits to Labadee, its private port on Haiti's northern coast, through April 2026 because of kidnapping incidents and broader safety concerns in the country, the company said.
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said, 'out of an abundance of caution, we have paused our upcoming visits through April 2026.' The spokesperson added, 'We are communicating with our guests directly.'
Labadee, a private resort leased by Royal Caribbean and accessible only to its guests, sits along Haiti's northern coastline and has long been marketed as a tropical escape. Royal Caribbean lists 41 itineraries on its website, including calls at Labadee.
The move comes as the U.S. Department of State on July 15 raised Haiti to a 'Do Not Travel' advisory, warning travelers not to go to the country due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest and limited health care. State Department notes kidnappers 'demand ransoms' and that victims' families have paid tens to hundreds of thousands.
Industry context shows continued demand for Caribbean cruises. In January, AAA released its first-ever Cruise Travel Forecast, projecting 19 million Americans plan to take cruises this year. Stewart Chiron, a Miami-based cruise industry expert known as 'The Cruise Guy,' told Fox News Digital that '2025 is another record year.' He said demand is surging in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe. The forecast found that 72% of passengers are heading to Caribbean destinations.
With Labadee off the itinerary for now, guests with bookings may seek alternatives within Royal Caribbean's Caribbean offerings, but details depend on future schedules. Royal Caribbean's spokesperson said the company will continue to communicate with guests and provide updates.
