Royal Caribbean Cruises has just announced that it will no longer stop in Haiti’s private port of Labadee—for the next two years.
This sudden change comes as tensions and dangers rise in the region, and passengers with plans to visit are now being told those stops are off the schedule through April 2026.
For many travelers, this news feels unexpected. Labadee has been one of Royal Caribbean’s most promoted destinations, described as a tropical escape with coral reefs, calm waters, and five serene beaches. It’s located on the northern coast of Haiti and has long been marketed as a relaxing, secluded spot for cruisers.
But now, it’s off the map.
The cruise line explained the decision in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying, “Out of an abundance of caution, we have paused our upcoming visits through April 2026.” The company added that guests are being contacted directly about the change.
This follows an update from the U.S. Department of State, which reissued its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti in mid-July. That’s the highest travel warning available, and it’s not given lightly.
The advisory warns Americans to avoid the country altogether because of kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care access. It also mentions terrorist activity.
The State Department says American citizens have been victims, and in some cases, kidnappers demanded ransom payments in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Despite all this, Royal Caribbean’s website still lists 41 cruise itineraries that include Labadee as a destination, with vibrant descriptions about its “natural beauty,” “jungled hilltops,” and “lagoon-like bays.” The website paints a picture of a remote paradise — but that image now stands in sharp contrast to the real-world security risks.
JUST IN: More visits to Labadee are cancelled https://t.co/UFwzWA03aP #cruise #travel
— Royal Caribbean Blog (@theRCLblog) September 5, 2025
This paradise is in Haiti.
Since the 80s it has been a private resort owned by Royal Caribbean, where their cruise ships dock.
Thanks to a big fence, the peninsula was safe.
But now closed thanks to even more violence than usual in Haiti. pic.twitter.com/L5u8BcsRW3— Whyvert (@whyvert) May 29, 2024
The cancellation hits during a time of high demand for cruises.
In January, AAA released its first-ever Cruise Travel Forecast and projected 19 million Americans would take a cruise this year. Travel experts are calling 2025 another record-breaking year, and travelers are especially drawn to warm-weather destinations.
Cruise analyst Stewart Chiron, known in the industry as “The Cruise Guy,” said demand is surging in the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe. According to the forecast, about 72% of passengers will sail to the Caribbean in search of sunshine and scenic stops.
That includes thousands of travelers who had been hoping to explore Labadee. Now, they’ll need to look elsewhere.
This story raises questions about how the cruise industry will respond to growing unrest in areas previously seen as safe. And for travelers planning upcoming trips, it may prompt a closer look at where ships are going—and what could change next.
Getting to and around Haiti is increasingly dangerous. Flights to the airport in the capitol Port au Prince are very few since planes were shot at.Armed gangs control everything and everyone entering and leaving the capitol by road. Helicopter is one of the safe few options left pic.twitter.com/xbE6OFismJ
— Jonathan Dumont (@jonathandumont1) September 16, 2025
While Labadee once looked like a hidden getaway spot, Royal Caribbean’s decision shows just how quickly paradise can turn into uncertainty.
