Royal Caribbean has extended its suspension of cruise port visits to its private destination of Labadee, Haiti, through at least April 2028, resulting in revisions to 44 cruise itineraries across its fleet, according to Cruise Mummy. The stoppage affects voyages scheduled up to spring 2028 on nine Royal Caribbean ships, including Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas.
Itinerary Adjustments and Alternate Ports
Royal Caribbean is modifying affected itineraries by adding alternate ports of call
or extra days at sea where necessary. Examples include the Allure of the Seas’ June 18, 2027 sailing, which now replaces Labadee with Nassau, Bahamas on a six-night cruise departing Miami, with itinerary adjustments to sea days to accommodate the change. Another example is the Allure of the Seas’ February 6, 2028 departure, where San Juan, Puerto Rico substitutes Labadee on a seven-night voyage, and the visit to Samana Port, Dominican Republic has been moved by one day. Other substitute ports used depend on routing and dock availability and include Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos), Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), Cozumel
(Mexico), Grand Bahama Island, Costa Maya (Mexico), Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Ponce (Puerto Rico), George Town (Grand Cayman), and Ocho Rios (Jamaica).
Passenger Impact and Shore Excursion Policies
Passengers on affected sailings will not visit Labadee but can expect the cruise line to manage itinerary changes without required action. Royal Caribbean’s Shore Excursions team will automatically refund prepaid shore excursions for visits to Labadee that are canceled. For other impacted shore excursions, the cruise line will reschedule bookings where possible. Any tours that cannot be accommodated will be canceled and refunded to the original payment method within 14 business days. These policies were communicated to passengers
via notification emails as of October 30, 2026.
Background and Security Concerns
The extension stems from ongoing gang violence and political instability in Haiti, including a major prison break in Port-au-Prince in early 2024. Labadee is located on Haiti’s northern coast approximately 150 kilometers from Port-au-Prince. Visits to Labadee were initially suspended in March 2024 following heightened security risks, briefly resumed late 2024 to early 2025, and then suspended again from May 2025. The U.S. Department of State has maintained a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Haiti since July 10, 2026, citing crime, kidnapping, terrorism, civil unrest, and limited health care access.
Official Statements and Travel Advisories
Royal Caribbean has not issued a broad public statement about the long-term status of Labadee but has communicated itinerary revisions and refund policies directly to affected passengers. The company cited an “abundance of caution” in suspending visits despite Labadee’s geographic separation from Haiti’s most troubled areas. Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley has expressed hopes to return only when conditions allow safe operations. The U.S. State Department’s Level 4 advisory emphasizes sustained security risks across Haiti, underpinning the cruise line’s continued suspension.
Labadee’s Role in Royal Caribbean’s Portfolio
Labadee has been part of Royal Caribbean’s itinerary portfolio since 1986, serving as a private destination known for controlled
beach experiences and water sports facilities. The destination supports local Haitian employment and economic activity. The ongoing suspension represents an unprecedented extended absence from a location that has historically been a staple of the cruise line’s Western Caribbean routes. Even during suspension, Royal Caribbean continues to support local employees by delivering provisions during operational calls when passengers are not allowed to disembark.
