Royal Caribbean announced on July 10, 2026, that it is canceling all scheduled visits to Labadee, Haiti, for the entire 2026 cruise season. The cancellations affect dozens of itineraries across 12 ships in the cruise line’s fleet.
Security Crisis Drives Cancellations
The decision follows ongoing civil unrest and violent gang control in Haiti, especially in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, where gangs have controlled most of the area since March 2024. These security challenges have prompted Royal Caribbean to pause and resume Labadee visits multiple times between 2024 and 2025 before extending the suspension through the end of 2026.
Labadee, a private beach resort
on Haiti’s northern coast operated exclusively by Royal Caribbean, is deemed unsafe due to the instability in the country despite being physically distant from Port-au-Prince.
Alternate Ports and Route Adjustments
To compensate for the canceled calls to Labadee, Royal Caribbean has revised affected itineraries by substituting other ports when possible. Replacement destinations include Nassau, Bahamas; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Cozumel, Mexico; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On some itineraries where no suitable alternate port was available, Labadee port visits have been replaced with sea days to maintain schedule integrity. The choice of substitute port varies by ship and sailing.
Impact on Passengers and Itineraries
Passengers
who booked 2026 Royal Caribbean cruises with planned stops at Labadee will no longer be able to visit the port. Instead, altered itineraries featuring alternate destinations or additional sea days will be in effect, leading to a cruise experience different from what was originally offered.
Official Communication and Safety Advisories
Royal Caribbean informed travel agents, including the partner agency Postcard Travel affiliated with Come Cruise With Me, that visits to Labadee are canceled through December 2026. The cruise line cited ongoing monitoring of the situation in Port-au-Prince and emphasized a precautionary approach to passenger and crew safety.
A Royal Caribbean official stated via email, “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.”
Haiti has been under a state of emergency since March 2024, and the U.S. State Department maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel Advisory due to widespread violence. The U.S. Coast Guard has also issued warnings urging caution for mariners and passengers in Haitian ports amidst unresolved security concerns.
If instability persists beyond 2026, further cancellations of Labadee visits may occur in 2027.
