Royal Caribbean announced this week that this will be the case canceling certain offshore excursions and in-port activities at the port of Labadee in Haiti to improve safety for both passengers and locals amid ongoing political unrest.
This announcement comes after the official alert from the US Embassy in Haiti, issued on March 10, 2024, reminding US citizens of the situation in the country.
“The U.S. Department of State travel advisory for Haiti remains at level four: do not travel to Haiti. The current security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous. We are aware that there are currently few to no commercial options to safely leave Haiti. When they become available, we urge American citizens to take advantage of them.” says the embassy alarm.
Royal Caribbean has canceled jet ski tours, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing and several other activities at this port until further notice to keep visitors on land and close to the ship.
Spending time on the beach is still allowed, but cruisers should avoid going beyond the boundaries of Royal Caribbean’s private dockside property.
Although Royal Caribbean cruise ships dock at a private port owned by the cruise line in Labadee, the company is currently hesitant to promote business far from shore. Although Royal Caribbean ships will continue to dock in Labadee for the time being, the cruise line prefers that passengers remain near the ship and also discourages planning independent excursions.
Royal Caribbean offers full refunds for canceled excursions, which passengers can expect to receive within approximately fourteen business days.
These adjustments have been made to protect cruisers and to respect the challenging situation facing the local population. While leisure travel to Haiti is not yet banned, Royal Caribbean is prioritizing facilitating tourism in a manner that minimizes additional disruption to the lives of Labadee area residents.
With Haiti currently under one Travel advice level four The US State Department also currently advises against visiting the country alone. Short and limited access through a cruise line remains the safest option at this time, but cruisers should anticipate possible last-minute itinerary or activity changes even after boarding the ship as conditions develop.
As always, take extra precautions to ensure you get back to your ship before the scheduled departure time with plenty of time to spare. This is especially important if you are visiting a remote location that is potentially unsafe and offers few other options for leaving.
