Royal Caribbean has extended the closure of its private destination Labadee, Haiti, cancelling all planned visits through at least April 2028.
The cruise line has begun notifying booked guests across nine ships that their itineraries will be adjusted, with alternative ports substituted where possible.
This marks what could become a three-year absence from the once-popular private destination.
The latest round of cancellations impacts dozens of sailings across Royal Caribbean’s fleet, affecting both smaller and larger vessels.
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 will all see multiple itinerary modifications throughout the extended closure period.
This represents a significant operational challenge for Royal Caribbean, which has historically relied on Labadee as a key component of its Western Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.
The private destination has been a fixture in the cruise line’s portfolio for decades, offering passengers a controlled beach experience in Haiti’s northern coast.
Replacement Ports Vary Across Different Sailings
The substitute ports vary considerably depending on individual sailing routes, ship positioning, and berth availability at alternative destinations.
Royal Caribbean is customising replacement plans for each affected voyage rather than implementing a blanket substitution policy.
For instance, passengers booked on the 18th July 2027 sailing of Allure of the Seas will now visit Nassau, Bahamas, instead of Labadee during their six-night Caribbean itinerary from Miami.
The cruise line has also adjusted a sea day to accommodate the port change, ensuring the overall voyage structure remains cohesive.
However, the same ship’s 6th February 2028 departure will substitute San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the cancelled Labadee call during its seven-night voyage.
That particular itinerary will also see the visit to Samana Port in the Dominican Republic shifted by one day to accommodate the new routing.
Alternative Destinations Include Caribbean Favourites
Booked guests discussing their itinerary changes on social media platforms report a range of substitute ports across different ships and sailings.
The replacement destinations include Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Cozumel, Samana Port, and in some cases additional days at sea when suitable port alternatives cannot be arranged.
The specific replacement port depends on multiple operational factors that cruise lines must balance when making last-minute itinerary adjustments.
Berth availability at alternative ports during peak Caribbean season can be limited, as multiple cruise lines compete for the same dock space.
The ship’s planned sailing route and whether it can logistically reach certain ports within the timeframe also plays a crucial role.
Itinerary length presents another constraint, as some ports may be too far off the original route to visit without significantly altering the voyage structure.
Royal Caribbean must also consider whether replacement ports can accommodate its largest vessels, some of which exceed 200,000 gross tonnes and require specialised docking facilities.
Shore Excursion Refunds And Rebooking Handled Automatically
Royal Caribbean has assured affected passengers that all shore excursion arrangements will be managed without requiring action from guests.
The cruise line’s Shore Excursions team will automatically process refunds for any pre-paid Royal Caribbean shore excursions booked for Labadee.
For shore excursions at other ports that are impacted by the itinerary adjustments, the cruise line will automatically reschedule bookings where possible.
“Any tours that can’t be reaccommodated will be cancelled and refunded to your original form of payment within 14 business days,” the cruise line confirmed in notification emails sent to affected guests.
This streamlined approach reflects lessons learned from previous mass itinerary changes, when cruise lines faced criticism for requiring passengers to navigate complex refund and rebooking processes themselves.
By handling adjustments automatically, Royal Caribbean aims to minimise inconvenience for passengers who may have booked their cruises months or even years in advance.
Cruise Line Continues Supporting Local Staff During Closure
Despite the absence of regular guest visits, Royal Caribbean has maintained its commitment to supporting team members who live in Labadee and whose livelihoods depend on ship operations.
The cruise line continues to provide for these employees even as the private destination remains closed to passengers.
Some Royal Caribbean ships make brief, unannounced stops at Labadee specifically to deliver supplies for local staff and their families.
During these operational calls, passengers are not permitted to disembark, and the vessels depart immediately after unloading provisions to continue to their next scheduled port of call.
This ongoing support demonstrates Royal Caribbean’s long-term investment in the local community, even during extended periods when the destination cannot operate commercially.
The cruise line has employed Haitian nationals at Labadee for decades, creating a significant economic impact in the surrounding region when operations are normal.
Previous Closures Followed Political Instability And Violence
This is not the first extended closure Labadee has experienced in recent years.
Royal Caribbean cancelled all calls to the private destination for several months beginning in March 2024 following a surge in widespread gang violence across Haiti.
The initial closure came after a dramatic jail outbreak in Port-au-Prince that saw 4,000 prisoners escape, contributing to an already volatile security situation.
Political instability in the capital and broader concerns about the country’s governance added to the cruise line’s decision to suspend operations at the northern destination, despite Labadee’s geographical separation from the troubled areas.
Visits to Labadee resumed for several months in late 2024 and early 2025, suggesting the situation had stabilised sufficiently for Royal Caribbean to resume guest operations.
However, calls began to be cancelled again in May 2025, and no regular guest visits have taken place since that time.
Three-Year Gap Represents Unprecedented Absence From Destination
If visits do not resume until May 2028 or later, Royal Caribbean guests will have experienced at least a three-year absence from Labadee.
This represents an unprecedented gap for a private destination that has been a cornerstone of the cruise line’s Caribbean offerings since Royal Caribbean first leased the property in 1986.
The extended closure raises questions about the long-term viability of cruise operations in Haiti, even at private destinations geographically isolated from areas experiencing the worst violence and instability.
Labadee is located on Haiti’s northern coast, approximately 150 kilometres from Port-au-Prince, where much of the gang violence and political turmoil has been concentrated.
Royal Caribbean has invested significantly in Labadee over the decades, developing beaches, water sports facilities, zip lines, and other attractions that have made it a highlight of many Caribbean cruises.
The destination can accommodate multiple large cruise ships simultaneously and has been particularly popular with families seeking a safe, controlled beach experience.
US State Department Maintains Highest Travel Warning Level
The broader security situation in Haiti remains severe, with the U.S. Department of State maintaining a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for the country.
This represents the highest warning level issued by the State Department, typically reserved for countries experiencing armed conflict, extremely high crime rates, or other severe threats to visitor safety.
The advisory specifically notes high risks of crime, gang violence, kidnapping, terrorism, and civil unrest throughout Haiti.
Whilst Labadee itself is a private, controlled environment separated from public areas, the overall country situation makes it challenging for cruise lines to justify resuming operations, even at isolated destinations.
Royal Caribbean has not issued any public statement regarding the ultimate future of Labadee or whether the cruise line is considering alternative strategies for the destination.
The lack of a definitive timeline for reopening suggests the cruise line is taking a cautious, wait-and-see approach rather than committing to specific resumption dates that may need to be revised.
Industry observers note that cruise lines face complex decisions when political instability affects destinations, balancing guest safety, operational viability, and commitments to local communities.
The extended closure through April 2028 indicates Royal Caribbean is prioritising passenger safety whilst maintaining flexibility to resume operations if conditions improve sufficiently.
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