Royal Caribbean has canceled all visits to Labadee, Haiti, for the entire year of 2026, impacting dozens of cruise itineraries on 12 ships. The decision affects thousands of booked passengers who will experience revised cruises with alternate ports or added sea days.
Security Concerns Prompt 2026 Labadee Cancellations
The cancellations stem from ongoing violent gang activity and civil unrest in Haiti, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, which has been under gang control since March 2024. The Haitian government’s state of emergency declared in the same month has not resolved these security challenges, compelling Royal Caribbean to extend its avoidance of Labadee through the end of 2026.
Alternate Ports Replace Labadee on Most Itineraries
Most affected sailings now include substitute ports such as Nassau, Bahamas; Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos; Cozumel, Mexico; Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Nassau is a frequently chosen alternative and recently gained a new Royal Beach Club operated by Royal Caribbean. On a small number of itineraries, Labadee has been replaced with a sea day due to the lack of a viable alternative port.
Abrupt Cancellation of Spectrum of the Seas Sailing
Among the adjustments is the sudden cancellation of the four-night Spectrum of the Seas cruise. This cancellation highlights the broader itinerary disruptions caused by the withdrawal from Labadee. Passengers
on these sailings are being rerouted to other planned destinations, necessitating significant itinerary changes.
U.S. Government Advisories and Warnings
The U.S. State Department maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Haiti citing serious security risks, although it does not explicitly ban cruise visits to Haitian ports. The U.S. Coast Guard has also issued warnings advising mariners and cruise passengers to exercise caution in Haitian ports due to security concerns.
In a communication to travel agents, Royal Caribbean stated, “We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and out of an abundance of caution, we’re cancelling our visits to Labadee through December
of 2026.” The company’s decision follows earlier pauses and resumptions of visits to Labadee during 2024 and early 2025 as gang violence expanded beyond the capital.
