Royal Caribbean announced in early July 2026 the cancellation of all scheduled visits to Labadee, Haiti, for the entire year. This decision impacts dozens of cruise itineraries involving 12 Royal Caribbean ships that had planned to call at the private destination on Haiti’s northern coast through December 2026.
Security Concerns in Haiti Prompt Extended Cancellations
Haiti has been under a state of emergency since March 2024 due to persistent violent gang control over Port-au-Prince, the capital city. Despite Labadee’s remote location and secure cruise line facility status, Royal Caribbean initially paused visits in 2024 and again in spring 2025 amid the deteriorating security situation. The continued unrest
led the company to extend the suspension of all Labadee calls through the end of 2026 as a precautionary measure.
Alternate Ports Replace Labadee in 2026 Itineraries
Most canceled visits to Labadee will be replaced with calls at other Caribbean ports or sea days. Replacement ports include Nassau in the Bahamas, where Royal Caribbean recently opened a Royal Beach Club, Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos, Cozumel in Mexico, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, and San Juan in Puerto Rico. These substitutions vary by itinerary and ship, and some sailings have sea days instead when alternative ports are not operationally feasible.
Passenger Impact and Itinerary Adjustments
Passengers booked on affected 2026
Royal Caribbean cruises will no longer disembark at Labadee. Instead, their itineraries will feature alternate ports or additional sea days. Travelers should expect changes ahead of their sailing dates. The cruise line has communicated the cancellations to travel agents, including Postcard Travel, a partner of Come Cruise With Me, to facilitate rebooking and itinerary updates.
Official Statements and U.S. Government Advisories
Royal Caribbean stated in a July 2026 email to travel agents: “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 U.S. State Department continues to maintain
a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Haiti due to ongoing security concerns. The U.S. Coast Guard advises mariners and passengers traveling through Haitian ports to exercise caution until security issues are resolved.
Travel Advisory and Possible Future Extensions
The U.S. State Department’s travel advisory warns of violent crime and gang activity, particularly in Port-au-Prince, though it does not explicitly prohibit cruise passengers from visiting Haitian ports. If unrest persists beyond 2026, Royal Caribbean may extend its suspension of Labadee visits into 2027. The evolving security environment will continue to dictate cruise operations in the region.
