Royal Caribbean announced on July 10, 2026, that it will cancel all scheduled visits to Labadee, Haiti, for the entire 2026 cruise season. This suspension affects dozens of itineraries and 12 ships that had Labadee included as a port of call.
Scope of Itinerary Changes and Alternative Ports
The cancellation impacts dozens of Royal Caribbean cruise itineraries planned throughout 2026. The affected routes involve 12 different ships in the line’s Caribbean fleet. In most instances, Royal Caribbean replaced Labadee stops with visits to other regional ports including Nassau in the Bahamas, Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos, Cozumel in Mexico, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, and
San Juan in Puerto Rico. For itineraries where no suitable alternative port was available, the cruise line inserted a sea day.
Prior Cancellations and Timeline
Royal Caribbean initially paused visits to Labadee in 2024 due to security concerns. Visits briefly resumed later that year but were cancelled again in spring 2025 as violent gang activity escalated beyond Port-au-Prince. The cruise line has now extended this suspension of Labadee calls through December 2026.
Security Concerns and Official Warnings
The cancellations stem from ongoing civil unrest and violent gang control primarily in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. The U.S. State Department has held a Level 4 Do Not Travel Advisory for Haiti since
March 2024. The U.S. Coast Guard has issued advisories urging caution for mariners and passengers traveling through Haitian ports. Although Labadee is a secured private cruise facility several hours away from Port-au-Prince, the cruise line cited these security concerns as its reason for cancelling visits.
Traveler Impacts and Official Statements
Passengers booked on voyages including Labadee stops are advised to contact Royal Caribbean for options such as alternative accommodations or refunds. The changes mean travelers should expect modifications to their originally planned cruise experiences in 2026. In an official statement, Royal Caribbean said, “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. Coast Guard also stated, “The U.S. Coast Guard has concerns about security in the ports of Haiti. Until those are addressed, the Coast Guard advises mariners and passengers traveling through the ports of Haiti to exercise caution.”
