Overview:
Royal Caribbean Cruises has suspended visits to its private port in Labadee, Haiti, through April 2026, after the U.S. State Department issued a “do not travel” advisory for the country. The advisory cited kidnappings, crime, and unrest as escalating safety concerns.
NEW YORK-Royal Caribbean Cruises has suspended visits to its private port in Labadee, Haiti, until April 2026, citing escalating safety concerns, the cruise line announced last week.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have paused our upcoming visits through April 2026,” a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told Fox News. “We are communicating with our guests directly.”
The announcement follows a U.S. Department of State travel advisory issued July 15 that classified Haiti as a “do not travel” country. The advisory cites “kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care” as reasons for the warning.
The department noted that U.S. citizens have been targeted in kidnappings, with ransom demands ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Royal Caribbean had listed 41 itineraries featuring stops in Labadee, a resort-style port on Haiti’s northern coast known for its beaches and coral reefs. The company’s site promotes the area as a “wilder way to experience paradise,” highlighting its natural beauty and cultural attractions.
The suspension comes as the cruise industry experiences a surge in demand. A January forecast from AAA projected that 19 million Americans would take cruises in 2025, with 72% of passengers opting for Caribbean destinations.
Stewart Chiron, a Miami-based cruise industry expert known as “The Cruise Guy,” said demand remains high. “2025 is another record year,” he said, pointing to growth in Caribbean, Alaska, and European itineraries.
Labadee, one of Haiti’s few international cruise stops, has long been a significant point of contact between the country and global tourism. The pause in visits highlights the challenges Haiti faces as violence and instability continue to affect travel and the economy.
“Honestly, I can see why someone would feel uneasy about Royal Caribbean stopping in Labadee, Haiti, right now because of all the violence,” Mecca Grimo Marcelin, a media personality and poet described by the Little Haiti Cultural Center as a “cultural ambassador” who promotes Haitian culture, including through trips to Haiti, told The Haitian Times.
“Even if Labadee is private and guarded, it still feels close to the danger we hear about on the news.”
The suspension carries immediate consequences for Haitians in the area. Labadee is one of Haiti’s few cruise destinations, and many local vendors, tour operators, and service workers rely on the steady stream of cruise passengers for their livelihoods.
“I feel the sentiments of the locals who depend on cruise visitors for their income. It’s a tough balance between wanting the cruise passengers to stay safe and not wanting to hurt people’s livelihoods,” Marcelin said.
“This is an example of the negative domino effect that plagues the country because of the lack of insecurity in parts of Haiti. Besides the locals, Haiti’s economy doesn’t benefit from Royal Caribbean bringing passengers to Labadee.”
For the Haitian diaspora, the move underscores how political instability continues to ripple outward, not only affecting safety perceptions abroad but also deepening the economic crisis at home. Families in Haiti often depend on relatives in the diaspora to make up for lost income when tourism slows.
Royal Caribbean’s pause in Labadee highlights the stark contrast between global travel demand and Haiti’s struggle to maintain its place in the industry. For local workers, the absence of ships means fewer opportunities to earn income, putting more pressure on an already fragile economy.
Additional reporting by Zoltan Lucas